Doha, Jan 11 (Representative) Nearly one million tickets have been sold so far for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup which will kick off on Friday here in Qatar, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) said. “Qatar is ready to welcome the best teams from Asia to what we hope will be the best ever editionof the AFC Asian Cup. Our stadiums and sporting infrastructure are set to deliver a memorable tournament to players and fans,” Hassan Al Kuwari, marketing and communications executive director of the organizing committee, said at the press conference on Wednesday. The 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, which will be held from January 12 to February 10, marksthe first time that Qatar hosts a major football event after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Twenty four teams will play 51 games in nine stadiums, seven of which have hosted World Cup matches, with the opening match and final to be held at the iconic Lusail stadium.
Since Qatar has hosted the Asian Cup twice before, in 1988 and 2011, and the 2022 World Cup, the LOC said they were confident and ready to stage another exciting football gala. “Just over a year ago, Qatar hosted an exceptional World Cup – the first in the Middle East, delivering a meaningful and long-lasting legacy,” Al Kuwari added, saying that the Asian Cup builds on this sporting legacy and reaffirms Qatar’s place as a global sporting country. The LOC also noted that a total of 6,000 volunteers have been recruited to support the month-long event, which will welcome more than 3,000 journalists, photographers, broadcasters and digital content creators from 55 countries and regions. According to the LOC, fans from Qatar, India, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the Philippines and Indonesia now lead in ticket buying. “Hosting mega sporting events of this scale is more than just about football. The Asian Cup will give fans from across the continent the opportunity to learn about new cultures, build life-long friendships and create meaningful memories,” Al Kuwari said.
In addition, free shuttle service will be available from Lusail, Al Wakrah, Free Zone and Qatar University stations to Al Bayt, Al Janoub, Al Thumama and Abdullah bin Khalifa stadiums respectively. All tournament transportation will offer wheelchair-accessible travel to passengerswith disabilities. The local tourism industry also expects the event to stimulate the market, as a number of activities are planned as part of tournament celebrations to create a carnival-like atmosphere across the country. Doha will also set up a large-scale fan festival area so that fans can gather and enjoy the beautiful game. “We are pleased to partner with different stakeholders to provide an exceptional experience for fans during the tournament,” said Omar Abdulrahman Al-Jaber, director of shared services at Qatar Tourism.