Qatar Donates Ticket Revenue from Asian Cup to Palestinians

Qatar – Ticket revenues for the Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar are to be donated to support Palestinian relief efforts, the football tournament's local organizing committee announced on Monday, as Israel's bombardment of Gaza continued.

"We have decided to donate ticketing revenue generated from the Asian Cup in Qatar to much needed relief efforts in Palestine," the committee's chairman said without giving details on what proportion of sales would be given in aid.

"We will be certain that this corporate social responsibility initiative will benefit those most affected, and that football fulfils its role as a support mechanism for people during the most difficult of times," Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani continued as rerpoted from Barron site. 

Israel rolled out its assault on Gaza in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 240 taken as hostages, according to Israeli authorities.

Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 13,000 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory with increasing alarm over its dire humanitarian situation.

Qatar will host the Asian Cup beginning in January and, like other Gulf nations, has donated aid and medical supplies to Gaza via Egypt.

Currently, the Asian Cup organizers have opened the second batch of ticket sales to the public on Monday after the first batch of ticket sales received a good response and sold out.

Ticket prices start from QAR 25 (IDR 106,108). Asian football fans can purchase tickets online at the official website of the 2023 Asian Cup Qatar.

Spectators can book seats for any of the 51 matches that will take place in Qatar, including the opening and final matches at Lusail Stadium; the 88,000-seat venue that hosted the final match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.