Dazzling opening ceremony sets stage for Qatar 2023

Lusail Stadium

The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 commenced with a breathtaking opening ceremony held at the splendid Lusail Stadium on Friday. Prior to the highly anticipated opening match between host nation Qatar and Lebanon, fans from across Asia gathered at the stadium to witness the magnificence of this pinnacle event.

Under the esteemed presence of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the ceremony unfolded with a remarkable theatrical presentation titled "The Lost Chapter of Kelileh & Demneh," inspired by the ancient fable of the same name. This performance, celebrating the essence of unity among the diverse cultures of Asia, went beyond borders and languages to create a memorable spectacle.

Qatar's captain, Hassan Al Haydos, broke from tradition by passing the honor of taking the players' oath to his Palestinian counterpart, Musab Battat. The ceremony left attendees, like the jubilant Hamad Al Ansari, attending his second consecutive AFC Asian Cup, awestruck. Al Ansari expressed, "Given that the FIFA World Cup took place here only a year ago, my expectations were high, but what we experienced was grander than anything I could have imagined."

The electric ambiance reached new heights with a mesmerizing fireworks display, followed by a captivating performance from Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme, contributing to the overall splendor of the AFC Asian Cup's opening moments.