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The 2023 AFC Asian Cup begins in Qatar on January 12, 2024, with the host nation kicking off the tournament with a match against Lebanon.
From there, 24 teams will battle it out for continental glory, beginning with a group stage comprising six groups of four nations. A single-elimination knockout round follows, running from the Round of 16 all the way to the final.
Qatar, the hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, are the defending champions and will once more hope to stage an exciting international tournament even if they are not considered among the favourites to win the trophy themselves.
Instead, continental heavyweights Japan, South Korea and Australia are the likely main contenders, while Saudi Arabia, who shocked eventual winners Argentina in their opening World Cup match, cannot be discounted.
Keen to watch the action unfold? Here is how the time difference works for Qatar and some of the major English-language territories, plus the kickoff times during the group stage.
MORE: The full schedule of fixtures, results, and group tables for the 2023 Asian Cup
What is the time difference in Qatar during Asian Cup 2023?
The opening match at the 2023 Asian Cup, between Qatar and Lebanon, kicks off at 7 p.m. local time on Friday, January 12, 2024.
Apart from that game, all group-stage fixtures kick off in one of four time slots (local time): 2.30 p.m., 5.30 p.m., 6 p.m., or 8.30 p.m..
But what does that mean for you? For those around the world, the following guide should help you determine what time matches will kick off in your country.
| Local kickoff time | ET | AEDT | GMT | IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.30 p.m. | 6.30 a.m. | 10.30 p.m. | 11.30 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| 5.30 p.m. | 9.30 a.m. | 1.30 a.m.* | 2.30 p.m. | 8 p.m. |
| 6 p.m. | 10 a.m. | 2 a.m.* | 3 p.m. | 8.30 p.m. |
| 7 p.m. | 11 a.m. | 3 a.m. | 4 p.m. | 9.30 p.m. |
| 8.30 p.m. | 12.30 p.m. | 4.30 a.m.* | 5.30 p.m. | 11 p.m. |
*The following day
What is Qatar’s time zone?
Qatar is in the Arabia Standard Time Zone. Here’s how that compares to the rest of the world.
| City, Country | UTC +/- | Time Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Doha, Qatar (host) | +3 | Arabian Standard Time (AST) |
| Los Angeles, USA | -8 | Pacific Standard Time (PST) |
| New York City, USA | -5 | Eastern Standard Time (EST) |
| London, England | 0 | Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) |
| Perth, Australia | +8 | Australia Western Daylight Time (AWDT) |
| Sydney, Australia | +11 | Australia Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) |
| Toronto, Canada | -5 | Eastern Standard Time (EST) |
| Vancouver, Canada | -8 | Pacific Standard Time (PST) |
| New Delhi, India | +5:30 | India Standard Time (IST) |
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