The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ was a big success for Qatar, showcasing the country's impressive sporting infrastructure. The tournament, which acts as Asia's Olympic qualifying event for soccer, featured 32 matches played across four state-of-the-art stadiums over just 18 days.

This was the second time Qatar has hosted this biennial competition, having previously organized it in 2016. But this edition was the first played entirely in FIFA World Cup stadiums leftover from hosting the 2022 World Cup just months earlier.

The Al Janoub and Khalifa International stadiums were joined by the Hamad Bin Jassim and Abdullah Bin Khalifa stadiums in hosting the U23 matches. The venues offered exceptional fan experiences, including accessibilities for disabled spectators and media centers for journalists.

"We chose the four venues based on criteria like capacity, proximity to training sites, transportation and accommodation," explained Eng. Abdulla Al Fehani from the tournament's organizing committee. "This tournament reaffirms Qatar's position as a global leader for hosting major sporting events."

The compact nature of Qatar allowed athletes, fans and media to stay in one accommodation throughout the 16-team tournament. Many could even attend multiple matches per day thanks to the close Stadium locations and good transportation networks.

"With two stadiums used previously in the 2022 World Cup, this competition showcased the direct legacy left behind by hosting that major event," added Al Fehani. "Qatar is able to host any mega sporting event going forward, whether football or any other sport."

The U23 Asian Cup continued Qatar's busy stretch of hosting top competitions, including the 2023 AFC Asian Cup where the home nation defended their title. FIFA has also selected Qatar to host the next five U17 World Cups.

"This is a journey for Qatar that began with the 2006 Asian Games and will continue long into the future as a global sports hub," stated Al Fehani. The U23 tournament highlighted the human legacy created by these major events.

Source and cover image: Press Release