A family of three pose for a photograph alongside the AFC Asian Cup champions trophy and Zkriti, one of the mascots.
Doha, Qatar: With the highly anticipated AFC Asian Cup 2023 just around the corner, Doha is buzzing with football excitement.
The city is witnessing an upsurge of enthusiasm as various events unfold, allowing the public to fully immerse themselves in the upcoming sporting extravaganza.
The Peninsula recently explored the Old Doha Port on a weekend, observing a significant influx of people, particularly families with children, actively engaging with the AFC Asian Cup mascots. Saboog, Tmbki, Freha, Zkriti, and Traeneh have become the centre of attention, eliciting positive responses from visitors – both young and old alike as they hug the mascots and take selfies from their mobile phones.
Jessica from the Philippines, accompanied by her five-year-old daughter, said: “It’s starting to feel like the World Cup again; events are everywhere, and Doha comes alive anew.” Matthew from the United Kingdom, visiting with his family and two sons, expressed how the mascots contributed to the vibrant Winter Festival at the port. He hopes that the family-friendly atmosphere continues throughout the year.
As 11 out of the 24 competing teams have already arrived in the country, anticipation for the tournament’s kickoff on January 12 is palpable. The opening match at Lusail Stadium will feature defending champions and host Qatar facing Lebanon.
Beyond the mascots, attendees have the opportunity to witness the official trophy up close and take memorable photos with it. The champions trophy tour recently made a stop at Souq Waqif’s Ahmed Square and The Pearl-Qatar on the weekend, drawing a crowd eager to capture souvenir photos alongside both the trophy and the official mascots.
Ameera with his husband and three-year old son who’s supporting team Qatar and Palestine said they are looking forward for the first match happening next week. “We’re going to Lusail Stadium and hoping that team Qatar will win, fingers crossed.”
Mohammad, a ten-year old who’s been living in the country since he was three said “it’s a different feeling seeing the trophy first hand which is half of my size, last year, I also took photos with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2023 trophy, and it was fantastic.”
For those eager to catch a glimpse of the trophy and mascots, various locations across Doha will host viewings, including Alhazm Mall today, West Walk on January 8, City Centre Doha Mall on January 11, Doha Festival City on January 12, and Expo 2023 Doha on January 13.
Viewing times range from 4pm to 8pm for all locations except Alhazm Mall, which is from 6pm to 10pm.
