The start of the 2023 Asian Cup, moved to Qatar, is scheduled for January 12. Qatar, the first and only country in the Middle East to host the World Cup, became a replacement for the continental tournament after China refused to participate due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Asian Football Confederation postponed the tournament due to high temperatures in the summer and Qatar’s participation in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.
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When will the tournament take place?
The 2023 Asian Cup is the 18th continental championship and is held once every four years. Qatar, being both the host and defending champion of the previous tournament in 2019 (which was held in the UAE), is serving as the tournament organizer. Date: from January 12 to February 10. The opening ceremony, titled “The Lost Chapter of Kelile and Demne”, is planned at Lusail Stadium ahead of the first match between Qatar and Lebanon.
Which stadiums will host the tournament?
Nine stadiums are expected to be used to host 51 matches. Eight of them have already been used during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha has been added to the list of playing venues for the Asian Cup.
These are the main stadiums:
Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor) – 68,895 (capacity).
Lusail Stadium (Lusail) – 88,966.
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan) – 45,032.
City Education Stadium (Al Rayyan) – 44,667.
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium (Al Rayyan) – 15,000.
Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan) – 45,857.
Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium (Doha) – 10,000.
Al Thumama Stadium (Doha) – 44,400 people.
Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah) – 44,325.
Participant’s teams
The tournament will feature 24 teams from across the continent. Tajikistan will make its debut at the tournament, while Hong Kong will return after a 56-year absence. Among the participating teams: China, Japan, Syria, Qatar, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Oman, Vietnam, Lebanon, Palestine, Uzbekistan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain, Malaysia, Jordan, Indonesia.
Top 5 players to watch in the tournament
At the tournament, close attention will be focused on the main stars.
Son Heung-min
The Tottenham Hotspur striker is the heart of South Korea’s bid to win a third Asian Cup. Although the team had already won the first two tournaments in 1956 and 1960, they faced setbacks in the three subsequent finals. Son is one of the continent’s leading strikers and is in his best form after a superb start to the 2022/23 season in which he scored 12 Premier League goals. Leading the team and serving as a talisman under coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the 31-year-old must play his best football to help Korea succeed in Qatar.
Salem Al-Dawsari
Al-Dawsari, named Asia’s Best Player at the AFC Awards, continues to showcase his talent. The Saudi Arabia winger is in fine form after scoring the winner against eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. Al-Dawsari has surpassed many of his peers by signing for the Saudi Professional League, scoring nine goals in the last six months, leading his team, Al-Hilal, to the top of the league table. At 32, he is looking to cement his place among Asia’s top players and lead his country to its first continental title since 1996.
Takefusa Kubo
Touted as the continent’s next superstar, the 22-year-old Japanese winger could make the Asian Cup his breakthrough moment. He was unsuccessful at Real Madrid but is currently thriving at Real Sociedad, helping the Spanish club reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. If Kubo shows the same potential he showed at the 2022 World Cup, Japan could achieve more than they did five years ago.
Mehdi Taremi
The Iranian striker is struggling for playing time and goals at Porto this season, despite a successful start in Portugal. His 86 goals in three and a half seasons at Porto demonstrate his scoring ability, while his 22 league goals made him the Primeira Liga’s top scorer last season. With 41 goals for Iran, he is becoming a player that defenders will fear. Iran are hoping for a third Asian Cup title and first since 1976 and Taremi could play a key role in the race.
Ali Mabkhout
This striker from the UAE is the most successful player in the history of the national team and the league. Having played a crucial role in his country’s run to the semi-finals of the 2015 Asian Cup, Mabkhout is a legend at his club Al Jazira, where he scored 256 goals and his 85 goals for the national team is also a record. At 33 years old, he realizes that the time to win a medal on the international stage is inexorably running out. His 10 goals in 14 appearances this season suggest Mabkhout is still capable of bringing his talent to the big stage.