The ongoing 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar is set to witness a purely Arab encounter in the showdown between Qatar and Jordan, scheduled for next Saturday at 5:00 PM at the Lusail Stadium.
The Qatar national team secured their spot in the final after defeating Iran with a scoreline of 3-2, while Jordan progressed to the final after eliminating South Korea with a convincing 2-0 victory.
Awards for the AFC Asian Cup
The champion of the AFC Asian Cup receives $5 million, while the runner-up gets $3 million. The third and fourth-place teams each receive $1 million, with the remaining participating teams awarded $200,000.
Jordan’s Journey
The Jordanian national team began their journey in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup with a strong performance, defeating Malaysia 4-0. They then drew 2-2 with South Korea in their second match and suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Bahrain in their third group stage match, advancing to the quarter-finals as the third-placed team with 4 points.
In the Round of 16, the Jordanian team, known as “Al-Nashama,” caused a major upset by defeating Iraq, one of the title contenders, with a thrilling 3-2 victory, making a significant mark in this round.
Their journey continued with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tajikistan in the quarter-finals, continuing to impress spectators in the tournament, a scenario few had imagined.
Jordan made history by eliminating South Korea, led by star player Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur, in the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory, securing a place in the AFC Asian Cup final for the first time in their history, with one match remaining to inscribe their name in the annals of champions.
Qatar’s Journey
The Qatar national team kicked off the AFC Asian Cup hosted on their home soil with an impressive start, topping Group A, which included Tajikistan, China, and Lebanon, with a perfect record after defeating Lebanon 3-0, Tajikistan 1-0, and China 1-0.
Qatar progressed to the round of 16, facing Palestine in an all-Arab encounter, and managed to secure a 2-1 victory, continuing their steady progress in the tournament amidst their home crowd.
In a tightly contested match, Qatar narrowly edged past Uzbekistan with a 3-2 victory on penalties after the original and extra time ended in a 1-1 draw. They then defeated Iran in the semi-finals with a 3-2 scoreline, securing their place in the final against the Jordanian national team.
The final promises to be an electrifying encounter as two Arab nations battle it out for the prestigious title of AFC Asian Cup champions.
