The Expo Stars League (ESL) kicked off marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in Qatar football as the tournament returned with a fresh wave of enthusiasm under a new name.
The annual spectacle has partnered with Expo 2023 Doha, embarking on a journey that befits football fans and the upcoming International Horticultural Exposition to be hosted by Qatar.
The 2022-2023 season of the QSL will see a top-notch start as five World Cup stadiums host the fixtures across the first five rounds throughout August.
The venues include Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Al Thumama, Education City and Ahmad Bin Ali stadiums which are equipped with cooling technology to cope with hot weather conditions during the month, comforting the players and spectators alike. That also serves as a tes-tament to Qatar’s ability to host world-class sporting affairs year-round, captivating both local and international audiences.
The official sponsor of the League has adopted the Hayya Card entry system for the visitors bound for Expo 2023 Doha.
The Hayya Card was launched during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a Fan ID that allowed ticket-holders’ entry into Qatar and the stadiums while giving them free access to metro and bus services.
While addressing media at the official sponsorship signing, Expo 2023 Doha Secretary-General Mohammed Al Khoury said that the Hayya Card entry system is imple-mented in cooperation with Qatar Tourism for visitors to Expo 2023 Doha for its six months’ duration.
Al Khoury, after signing the sponsorship deal with Qatar Stars League CEO Hani Taleb Ballan, added that the entry procedures with the Hayya Card for Expo 2023 Doha will be announced later, and said that the organizers expect the participation of 80 countries and the entry of three million visitors to Doha during the exhibition period.
The Expo Stars League, which kicked off on Wednesday, has all the ingredients of delivering an exhilarating expe-rience as usual, and has already seen four dramatic face-offs in the opening round.As the opening round unfolded in splendid fashion, two out of the matches ended in thrilling draws, with Al Shamal holding Amir Cup title-holders Al Arabi in a 1-1 draw, while rivals Qatar SC and Al Gharafa shared points in a 4-4 goal fest.
Al Wakrah beat Muaither 3-0, while Al Rayyan beat Al Markhiya 1-0. Today, Al Ahli will take on reigning cham-pions Al Duhail, while former champions Al Sadd meet Umm Salal in the last game of the opening round.The Expo 2023 Doha will begin on October 2, 2023 and conclude on March 28, 2024
