Dazzling opening ceremony sets stage for Asian Cup Qatar

Just over a year since Qatar successfully hosted the FIFA World Cup, the country last night kicked off another football extravaganza - the AFC Asian Cup - with a spectacular opening ceremony that took place at the magnificent Lusail Stadium.
Having hosted the Asian crown jewel last time in 2011, Qatar has since transformed into a regional powerhouse in football. Al Annabi’s maiden Asian Cup victory in 2019 and the breathtaking architectural marvels of the eight stadiums built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is a sign of Qatar’s emergence in the football world.
Hosting the Asian Cup in 2011 marked the initial stride on a journey that would elevate Qatar's power and influence in the football world to unprecedented levels in this region. Over the next one month, Qatar returns to the spotlight as it hosts the best teams in Asia, featuring 51 matches, with the tournament reaching its pinnacle at the iconic Lusail Stadium on February 10.
More than 82,000 fans arrived in to watch Qatar’s 3-0 win over Lebanon Friday, making it a perfect launch of their title defence.
Ahead of the competition’s highly-anticipated opening clash, the ceremony commenced with a spectacular theatrical performance ‘The Lost Chapter of Kelileh & Demneh’, based on the ancient fable of the same name.
The performance, which celebrated the spirit of camaraderie across the diverse cultures of Asia, transcending borders and languages, was followed by Qatar captain Hassan al-Haydos shifting from tradition to pass the honour to his Palestine football counterpart Musab Battat to take the players’ oath.
Battat wore the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh head scarf along with his team tracksuit. There was Palestinian music at the start of the colourful ceremony and a part of their anthem was played at the conclusion. The Palestinian team will kick off their Asian Cup campaign against Iran on Sunday.
The electric atmosphere was further enhanced by a show of mesmerising fireworks followed by the performance of Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme.
The chairperson of the Organising Committee of Asian Cup Mariano V Araneta Jr hailed Qatar’s readiness to host another outstanding event.
“This is the first Asian Cup to be hosted in FIFA World Cup venues and the seamless connectivity and world-class infrastructure in Qatar will ensure that we will experience the most accessible edition of Asia’s crown jewel to date,” he said.
“We have to praise the Asian Cup Qatar Local Organising Committee and Qatari authorities for their immaculate hosting capabilities. From the moment you land in Qatar, the sense of excitement is palpable and so much of that is a tribute to our incredible host,” Araneta Jr added.