Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: For the first time in the history of the AFC Futsal Championship the tournament will feature a dedicated 'Fan Zone' which the Local Organising Committee (LOC) expects will create a family-friendly experience throughout the eight-day competition.
The tournament is taking place in the West Asian zone for the first time and the sporting authorities in Dubai have been working on a number of new initiatives to attract fans to the matches as Chairman of the LOC Ali Omar Al Balooshi explained to www.the-afc.com.
"The biggest challenge for us is attracting the audience. Football generates an immense audience and many people follow it but futsal is still relatively new.
"We opened up the Futsal Executive Office and we call on everyone to come and enjoy the game. You just come and enjoy the game, this is our aim. Once you see it we are confident you will be coming back.
"We have created the fan zone, to attract families as well as futsal fans. We put on special allocation for families and have created a Fan Zone," Al Balooshi said referring to a section of the Al Wasl arena above the goal.
"We choose this place because everyone will see it during the championship. Once one family comes they will help bring more families. It's a celebration 'package' as people will come not only to watch a match and leave but to enjoy the whole day out."
The futsal action kicks-off on Friday at 1200 local time with Japan – the only side other than Iran to have won the tournament – taking on Lebanon at the Al Wasl Stadium and Uzbekistan and Kuwait squaring off over at the Al Shabab Stadium.
The official opening ceremony is schedule for 1605 after Chinese Taipei have played Tajikistan in the second Group B match at Al Wasl.
Hosts UAE make their finals debut after the opening ceremony while the match between 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup hosts Thailand and Kyrgyzstan brings the first day at the main venue to a close.
In the other matches played on Friday at Al Shabab Stadium Indonesia take on China and Australia face Qatar before the all-conquering Iranians begin their quest to make it 11 titles in 12 tournaments when they open their Group C campaign against Korea Republic.