Fan leaders from across Asia count down to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023

Asian Fan Leaders

Recently, fan leaders from across Asia gathered in Doha, fueling excitement for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. A delegation of 27 leaders from 20 countries engaged in a three-day visit to explore what fans can expect during the tournament.

Immersing themselves in local culture, the leaders toured Qatar's attractions, sampled traditional cuisine, and participated in a friendly match as part of a stadium tour, including the 88,000-seater Lusail Stadium, the venue for the opening and final matches.

Faisal Khalid, Fan Engagement Senior Manager of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Local Organizing Committee, emphasized the importance of building a supporter network for the tournament's success. The visit aimed to provide a preview of the broader celebrations awaiting fans during the event.

As the first mega-sporting event post-World Cup, the tournament will feature Asia's top 24 teams, including debutant Tajikistan, alongside former champions and host Qatar. Fan leaders expressed enthusiasm, with Behruz Hafizov from Tajikistan seeing it as a historic opportunity for his country.

Countries like Malaysia, making their fourth appearance, and India, represented by fan leader Hadiya Hakeem, anticipate strong fan support. Shin Park, a South Korean fan leader, looks forward to her first AFC Asian Cup experience after attending the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Qatar, hosting the AFC Asian Cup for the third time, will hold 51 matches across nine stadiums from January 12 to February 10, 2024. For more information, visit http://asiancup2023.qa and follow @Qatar2023 on social media.