October 18 – The first batch of just over 150,000 tickets for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 has sold out a week after going on sale. A total of 81,209 tickets were sold within the first 24-hours.
Local organisers report that Qatari, Saudi Arabian and Indian fans are leading the ticket buying.
Match tickets start at 25QAR (€6.5) and fans can pick from a variety of packages enabling them to follow their favorite team through a variety of packages. With the distances between Qatari stadiums close, matches will be scheduled to enable fans to watch two games a day.
The opening match between hosts and defending champions Qatar and Lebanon on January 12 will be played at the iconic Lusail Stadium, with a capacity of approximately 88,000 spectators. Lusail hosted the final of the 2022 World Cup and will also host the final match of the 2023 Asian Cup on February 10.
Seven of the 2022 World Cup venues will feature at the Asian Cup – as well as Lusail, they are Al Bayt, Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Ahmad bin Ali, Al Thumama and Education City stadiums.
The Jassim bin Hamad Stadium and Abdulla bin Khalifa Stadium will also host matches in the 24-team, 51 game schedule.
This will be the third time that Qatar has hosted the Asian Cup, having organised before in 1988 and 2011. It is the first time Qatar has hosted the AFC’s blue riband men’s national team event in its expanded format.
The Qataris stepped in late in the day to host the finals after China pulled out of hosting in Summer 2023.
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