The upcoming Asian Cup in Qatar, scheduled from January 12 to February 20, 2023, will be hosted across nine stadiums, including seven venues that were used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The local organizing committee made this announcement on Monday, highlighting the anticipation of tremendous interest in the tournament, where the best players from across Asia will compete for glory.
The tournament’s opening match and final will take place at Lusail Stadium, an 88,966-seat venue that also hosted the World Cup final. In total, 24 teams will participate in the competition, and they will be drawn into six groups.
The seven World Cup venues set to host Asian Cup matches include Lusail, Al Bayt, Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Ahmad bin Ali, Al Thumama, and Education City stadiums. Additionally, two other venues, the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium and Abdulla bin Khalifa Stadium, will also be used for the tournament.
Qatar, the host nation, is the defending champion of the Asian Cup, having won the title in 2019 with an impressive unbeaten run. They have been placed in Group A for the upcoming tournament, along with China, Tajikistan, and Lebanon.