DOHA: The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 came to a successful end in Doha. A total of 12,276 spectators made their way to Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium to watch Japan edge Uzbekistan 1-0 in a tightly contested match.
This was the second time that Qatar hosted the tournament, having previously organised it in 2016. It was the first time that the AFC U23 Asian Cupwas played at FIFA World Cupstadiums.
“Once again, Qatar has proven its ability to host tournaments to the highest standards,” said Jassim Al Jassim, CEO of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024Local Organizing Committee (LOC).
“It was a true pleasure to see Asia’s young stars and future Olympians make use of our world-class sporting infrastructure."
This edition of the biennial tournament acted as Asia’s qualifiers for the Men’s Olympic football tournament in Paris. Champions Japan were joined by runners-up Uzbekistan and third-place finishers Iraq in qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics, while fourth-place Indonesia will vie for a final spot at the summer games in a play-off match against Africa’s representative Guinea.
“We are truly committed to the ideals of the Olympic movement, and strongly believe in the power of football to unite people and promote peace,” added Al Jassim. “The under-23 Asian Cup embodied those ideals, and created an exciting platform for up-and-coming stars to make a name for themselves here in Qatar.”
A total of 32 matches were played by 16 teams in four stadiums over a span of 18 days during the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024. Al Janoub and Khalifa International stadiums, which previously hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, were joined by Abdullah Bin Khalifa and Jassim Bin Hamad stadiums.
Approximately 500 volunteers supported the delivery of the tournament across 10 functional areas. An additional 148 young people took part in the LOC’s Youth Programme as flag bearers and members of the ball crew.
“This tournament showcased the tremendous human legacy we have created in Qatar from hosting many successful mega-sporting events over the years,” said Al Jassim. “We now possess the talent and volunteer culture to deliver any tournament, in any sport, and that is in line with the national vision set out by the country’s leadership.”
The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024came only months after the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023which saw record-breaking attendance.
In 2022, Qatar hosted the first FIFA World Cupin the Arab world and Middle East, a tournament widely recognized as the best edition of the competition in its history. Most recently, FIFA announced that Qatar will host the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
