AFC Asian Cup 2023: Qatar's Lusail Stadium set to host opening and final games

Qatar to play opening match against Lebanon on 12 January

Set to take place between 12 January and 10 February of next year, the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ will see the best teams from the continent compete across nine stadiums in Qatar. An updated match schedule sees both the opening and final matches taking place at the magnificent Lusail Stadium. The 88,000-seat stadium which famously hosted the final match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will host the opening match between hosts Qatar and Lebanon at 7 pm local time.

Six other Qatar 2022 stadiums – Al Bayt, Al Janoub, Al Thumama, Ahmad bin Ali, Education City and Khalifa International – will host matches during the tournament. The venues will be joined by Jassim bin Hamad and Abdulla bin Khalifa, homes to Qatar Stars League sides Al Sadd SC and Al Duhail SC respectively.

Twenty-four teams will make up six groups, with as many as three matches per day taking place during the group stage. Qatar’s compact nature will mean that fans will be able to attend more than one match during a day, giving visiting spectators the ability to stay in one place of accommodation throughout the tournament.

“The match schedule will see some exciting fixtures between Asia’s biggest teams. Once again, our stadiums will come to life with passion and excitement, as spectators from all around the continent will make their way to Qatar for the Asian Cup. We are thrilled to be hosting this prestigious tournament for a third time and are confident that this will be the best edition of the tournament thus far,” said Jassim Al Jassim, CEO of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Local Organizing Committee.

Qatar previously hosted Asia’s premier footballing competition in 1988 and 2011. The defending champions, who lifted the trophy after going on an unbeaten run in 2019, will be keen on retaining their title on home soil. The Ennabi were drawn into group A alongside China, Tajikistan and Lebanon. With the opener taking place at Lusail Stadium, Qatar’s remaining two group matches will be held at Al Bayt Stadium, versus Tajikistan, on 17 January, 5:30pm kickoff, and at Khalifa International Stadium, against China, on 22 January, 6pm kickoff.

The top two teams from each group as well as the four best third place teams will compete in the round of 16, which will start on 28 January. The final match will take place on 10 February at Lusail Stadium, 6pm kickoff.

When and Where will Team India play?

Competing in Group B against the likes of 2015 champions Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria, the Indian men’s football team will play in the following matches:

• Match 2- Australia vs India (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium)
• Match 16- India vs Uzbekistan (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium)
• Match 28- Syria vs India (Al Bayt Stadium)

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