Doha, January 10 (QNA) - The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 on Wednesday announced Qatar's full readiness to host the continental championship for a record third time. The event is set to kick off on Friday and will run through Feb. 10, 2024.
Communications and Marketing Executive Director of the LOC Hassan Al Kuwari affirmed Qatar's readiness to host the continental championship for a record third time and stated the country looks forward to welcoming fans from across the world.
Speaking at a press conference today, Al Kuwari said: "Qatar is ready to welcome the 24 teams from Asia to what we hope will be the best ever edition of the AFC Asian Cup. Our stadiums and sporting infrastructure are set to deliver a memorable tournament to players and fans." "Just over a year ago, Qatar hosted an exceptional World Cup - the first in the Middle East and Arab world, delivering a meaningful and long-lasting legacy. The Asian Cup builds on this sporting legacy and reaffirms Qatars place as a global sporting capital," he pointed out.
More than 900,000 tickets have been sold so far, with fans from Qatar, India, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Philippines and Indonesia leading the way. All tickets for the tournament are digital and can be purchased from https://tickets.qfa.qa/afc2023/. Group stage tickets start from as low as QR25 and include a number of accessible seating options for disabled fans.
Al Kuwari added that the ongoing ticket sales is indicative of the tremendous interest that the tournament has garnered across the continent. "Hosting mega-sporting events of this scale is more than just about the 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." A total of 51 matches will be played across nine stadiums from January 12 to February 10. This includes seven stadiums that previously hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venues. The Lusail Stadium, which hosted the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022, will host both the opening and final matches of the tournament.
A total of 6,000 volunteers have been recruited to support with 20 functional areas across the tournament. The month-long tournament will also welcome more than 3,000 journalists, photographers, broadcasters and digital content creators from 55 countries.
The Main Media Center, located in Msheireb Downtown Doha, will serve as a hub for all accredited media personnel, offering them a range of services, including press conference rooms, working stations equipped with WiFi and internet, as well as dedicated maintenance desks for photographers.
Qatars compact nature means that the farthest distance between any two stadiums is 75km. This will enable participating teams to avoid long travel between matches, allowing their players to be well rested for match days. Fans will also be able to attend more than one match per day.
Speaking at the press conference, Executive Director, Mobility and Logistics at the LOC, Faisal Al Moftah said: "Our modern public transport network will enable fans to enjoy an accessible, comfortable and seamless experience, from the moment they arrive in Qatar. The existing road and rail infrastructure will ensure that fans, teams and different stakeholders can move between competition venues and various key sites in the country." A free shuttle service will be available from Lusail, Al Wakra, 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 disabled passengers. (MORE)