The premier football championship of Asia is set to unveil its 18th edition on January 12 in Qatar. The 2023 AFC Asian Cup’s opening clash shall see the home side and Group A favourites take on Lebanon at the iconic Lusail Stadium.
The clash is majorly expected to be exceptional as the Gulf state are not just the home side but also the defending champions of the tournament, grabbing the coveted trophy in the previous edition in 2019. That time, Lebanon had lost against Qatar in their opening game.
Qatar are ready to do everything in their power to defend their crown at home. But the Lebanese side shouldn’t be taken lightly as they represent a meticulous unit and can present a tough fight. The highly anticipated clash is set to begin at 16:00 UTC.
Qatar vs Lebanon: Are the two sides ready?
The Qatari side’s Almoez Ali has been in red hot form in the last couple of months. He is Qatar’s leading goal scorer, having a staggering 50 goals to his name. The player also grabbed the Golden Boot at the 2019 edition for scoring nine goals for his side.
Lebanon has not beaten the Gulf team in seven meetings. But Captain Hassan Maatouk of Lebanon has said: “We are motivated to make every Lebanese person happy, and will not spare one drop of sweat, so we can make people happy, amid their hardship,” reported SCMP.
By January 11, nearly 1 million tickets had been sold for the tournament, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) noted. The tournament – from January 12 to February 10 – marks the first time Qatar hosts a major football event after FIFA 2022.
For the AFC Asian Cup, 24 teams are set to play 51 games in nine stadiums. Since the country has already hosted the event twice – in 1988 and 2011 – the LOC expressed their readiness to stage another exciting football gala.
Making lasting memories at Asian Cup 2023
6,000 volunteers have been recruited for the month-long event, the Committee highlighted. In addition, more than 3,000 journalists, photographers, broadcasters and digital content creators from 55 countries and regions are expected to mark their presence.
Fans from Qatar, India, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia and the Philippines currently lead in ticket buying. The event is expected to give fans from across the continent an opportunity to learn about new cultures, build strong friendships and create meaningful memories.
The local tourism industry hopes the tournament shall stimulate the market, as a number of activities are planned as part of celebrations to create a carnival-like atmosphere in Qatar. Enthusiasts can expect a large-scale fan festival area in the capital Doha.
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