Qatar will host the 2023 AFC Asian Cup for the third time, and the continental event will be held at nine stadiums in the 2022 World Cup host country.
Fans will watch 24 teams compete for the trophy, with the first match taking place at the Lusail Stadium on January 12. The event will use the seven stadiums used during the World Cup and two other football pitches.
The following is an introduction to the competition venues:
1. Lusail Stadium
capacity:88,000 seats
Completion time:September 2022
Place:Lusail City
Lusail Stadium is the largest venue of the Asian Cup and will host the opening ceremony and first match (the match between Lebanon and Qatar), and will host the final on February 10.
The stadium was built in Lusail, a planned city of 200,000 people 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of central Doha, and was where Messi lifted Argentina’s victory over a year ago. The third World Cup trophy.
Lionel Messi holds up the World Cup trophy after Argentina beat France in the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 (Al Jazeera)
2. Ahmed Ben Ali Stadium
capacity:45032 seats
Completion time:December 2020
Place:Lai Yang
The Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, named after the former emir of Qatar, will host seven matches, including the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Designed to reflect a tent in the desert, the stadium was built on the site of an old stadium, more than 90% of which was reused or recycled. The venue was inaugurated on December 18, 2020 to host the Amir Cup finals of the Qatar men’s football tournament.
Ahmed Ben Ali Stadium in Rayyan (Al Jazeera)
3. Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium
capacity:10,000 seats
Completion time:February 2013
Place: Doha
The Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium is located in the Duhail district of Doha and will host six group matches and one knockout round of 16.
Unlike most other venues, the stadium has not hosted any World Cup matches, but it has witnessed several domestic cup finals as well as the final of the 2016 AFC Under-23 Championship. It is also considered the home of Qatar Stars League Duhai The home ground of the Le team.
4. Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
capacity:13030 seats
Completion time:2010 (renovated)
Place:Lai Yang
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium was first inaugurated in 1975 and underwent renovations in 2004 and 2010. In the 2014-2015 season, the stadium witnessed the Italian Super Cup match between Napoli and Juventus.
During the Asian Cup, the venue will host six group matches and one knockout round of 16. In 2011, it also hosted the AFC Asian Cup, including the quarter-finals.
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium is the home of Al Sadd FC, Qatar’s most successful football club (Getty Images)
5. Khalifa International Stadium
capacity:45857 seats
Completion time:May 2017
Place: Doha
Khalifa International Stadium is the first venue in Qatar to be ready for the competition in 2022. During the Asian Cup, it will host six matches, including a round of 16 match.
Khalifa International Stadium was built in 1976 and is one of the oldest stadiums in Qatar. It was upgraded after Qatar’s bid to host the World Cup, with the number of seats increased from 20,000 to more than 45,000.
Khalifa International Stadium (Al Jazeera)
6. Education City Stadium
capacity:44667 seats
Completion time:June 2020
Place:Education City
Education City Stadium, which was inaugurated in June 2020 at a virtual event to pay tribute to frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, will host the pre-quarter-final matches.
The site is located on a university campus west of Doha and is accessible by metro.
Education City Stadium in Laiyang (data map)
7. Southern Stadium
capacity:44325 seats
Completion time:May 2019
Place:Wakla
The Southern Stadium will host matches including the quarter-finals during the Asian Cup. This is Qatar’s first event venue built from scratch in 2022, and has hosted important competitions such as the 2020 AFC Champions League final and six games of the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.
Located in the city of Al Wakrah, south of Doha, the stadium’s design was inspired by traditional boats used for pearling and fishing and was designed by the late renowned architect Zaha Hadid.
Southern Stadium in Al Wakla (file photo)
8. Bayit Stadium
capacity:68895 seats
Completion time:November 2021
Place:Hall
Bayit Stadium will host four matches during the Asian Cup – two group matches, a round of 16 match and a quarter-final match. During the World Cup, it witnessed the semi-finals between France and Morocco and the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador.
It is built in the form of a Bedouin tent and is located on Qatar’s northeast coast, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Doha.
In 2022, Morocco became the first Arab team and the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals, but their title hopes were dashed by France at the Bayit Stadium (Al Jazeera)
9. Atumama Stadium
capacity:44,400 seats
Completion time:October 2021
Place: Doha
Atumama Stadium will host the match leading up to the semi-finals. In 2022, it hosted 8 World Cup matches, including Morocco’s quarter-final victory over Portugal.
The stadium is located south of downtown Doha, close to Hamad International Airport, and is built in the form of an Arabic gahfiya (a traditional hat worn by men in the Middle East).
Atumama Stadium (Al Jazeera)
2024-01-10 07:48:50
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