Doha: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Local Organising Committee (LOC) today confirmed that the opening match and eagerly anticipated Final of the upcoming edition of Asia’s crown jewel are set to be played at one of the largest match venues ever in tournament history. The iconic Lusail Stadium, which most recently staged the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final, will rise to the fore again by hosting the first match between defending champions Qatar and Lebanon in Group A on Friday, 12 January, 2024. The kick-off will now be at 7pm local time. The addition of the world-class Lusail Stadium, which hosted 10 World Cup matches, will elevate the match-going experience for the passionate Asian football fans in Doha as they get the opportunity to take in an architectural marvel that showcases the heritage and culture of Qatar, who are hosting the showpiece for a record third time. The rest of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ will take place at eight other stadiums, as confirmed in April, including the Al Bayt Stadium, which was the original venue for the first and final matches.