An official of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 has said there are plans to provide an outstanding experience for fans and participating teams at the continental showpiece taking place in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2024.
Ali al-Mahmoud, executive director of the Planning and Implementation Department, AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 LOC,
also said the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was just a link in the chain of major world sporting events that Qatar intends to host in the coming years.
Speaking exclusively with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asian Cup draw ceremony at the Katara Opera House, al-Mahmoud highlighted the LOC's huge aspirations and doubled efforts, promising an outstanding experience for fans and participating teams.
This edition of the Asian Cup, the third to be staged by Doha, will reflect the experiences Qatar has gained from hosting previous global tournaments, he said, wishing the Qatar team success in their campaign to defend their crown. He also voiced hopes that the participating Arab sides would deliver overwhelming performances.
Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, director of LOC's Marketing and Communications, expressed happiness with the appropriate manner in which the AFC Asian Cup 2023 draw ceremony served as the initial step for the continental tournament.
Qatar's campaign in the 18th edition of the Asian Cup to retain the title will be tough against many major Asian teams, al-Kuwari said. Both the players and fans will be under pressure to secure a second successive trophy, he said, stressing that the heavy support of Qatari fans is likely to help the national team retain the title.
Khaled Mubarak al-Kuwari, director of Marketing and Communications at Qatar Football Association, highlighted Qatar's readiness to host the tournament perfectly, voicing hopes that Qatar would win the title, especially in light of their strong pre-tournament preparations that include featuring in the Concacaf Gold Cup, as well as many trial matches.