SC/TNN
Doha
The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 kicked-off with thrilling matches on Monday. It is the second time that Qatar is hosting the tournament, having previously organized it in 2016. This is also the first time that the competition is being played at FIFA World Cup stadiums.
An opening ceremony was held at Jassim bin Hamad stadium prior to hosts Qatar defeating Indonesia 2-0. Earlier in the day, Jordan drew 0-0 with Australia in a tightly contested match at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. Two FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums, namely Al Janoub and Khalifa International stadiums, will also be hosting 14 of the 32 matches of this tournament within a period of 19 days.
The top three teams in the tournament will qualify directly to the Summer Olympics in Paris, with the fourth-place team taking on an African team for the final spot. This will be the sixth edition of the AFC U23 AFC Asian Cup, after being held for the first time in 2013.
“Once again, Qatar’s world-class infrastructure will be on display when we host Asia’s youngest and most promising players. With this year’s tournament acting as a qualifier to the Summer Olympics in Paris, the competition will surely be a launching stage for stars of the future, reaffirming Qatar’s place as a sports capital of the world,” said Jassim Al Jassim, Local Organizing Committee (LOC) CEO.
The tournament is set to feature a number of exciting matches during the group stage. Hosts Qatar will take on Jordan in a much-anticipated matchup between the two AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 finalists at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday 18 April, at 6.30pm.
Drawn alongside hosts Qatar in Group A are Australia, Jordan and Indonesia, while Group B will bring together Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and China. Group C comprises title holders Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Thailand and Tajikistan, with Group D containing Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Kuwait and Malaysia.
Prices for group stage match tickets start at QR15 and can be purchased online through the Hayya to Qatar mobile app. Spectators from outside Qatar can also purchase tickets from the same platform. Disabled spectators can apply to purchase accessible tickets through [email protected].
