(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 25, 2022 a view of the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha. - Six of Qatar's eight World Cup stadiums will be used for the Asian Cup to be staged in the Gulf state in January 2024, the AFC has announced. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced that six of Qatar’s World Cup stadiums will be used for the Asian Cup, which will take place in January next year. The 24-nation tournament will not feature the Lusail stadium, which hosted the World Cup final, and the iconic 974 stadium built from containers. Originally scheduled to take place in China this year, the Asian Cup was postponed and relocated due to Covid-19 restrictions. The AFC president, Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, expressed confidence in Qatar’s ability to deliver a unique spectacle. The stadiums to be used include Al Janoub, Al Bayt, Ahmed Bin Ali, Al Thumama, Education City, and Khalifa International. The Jassim bin Hamad and Abdullah bin Khalifa stadiums will also be utilized. The 974 stadium is scheduled to be dismantled and given to a developing country, and the Lusail stadium will be modified at an unspecified future date.
