DOHA, QATAR – The Qatar Football Association is excited to officially announce that Doha will play host to the reigning European and world football champions, Spain, and the current South American champions, Uruguay, in an international friendly match at Khalifa International Stadium on 6 February 2013 at 21:00.
H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association, said: “We are extremely eager to host the champions of Europe and South America for what promises to be an intriguing battle.
“2013 is already shaping up to be another important year for football for fans here in Doha with the successful resumption of January’s training camps at Aspire – this year with Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 – and now an enthralling spectacle between Spain and Uruguay to look forward to,” he added.
The Battle of the Champions will be a dramatic prelude to the teams’ match-up in Group B of the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 in June.
Spain finished 2012 ranked as the best team in the world, winning the UEFA Euro 2012 and having previously won the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, where Uruguay finished fourth.
Uruguay, known as La Celeste, ended the year ranked sixteenth in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
The last time the two teams faced each other was in 2005, when Jorge Fossati, the former Al Sadd manager, was coaching Uruguay. Spain won 2-0 at the Estadio El Molinón in Gijón, Spain.
Squad line-ups will be announced closer to match day.
Tickets for the match are priced at QR 30, QR 100, QR 150 and QR 300 (for VIP seats). Fans can purchase tickets now at official Ticket Sales Outlets at City Center, Lagoona Mall and Landmark.
For the first time in Qatar, fans purchasing tickets online at http://www.qfa.com.qa have the option of printing their tickets at home without having to subsequently pick up their tickets from the box office.
However, those who prefer may still purchase tickets the traditional method, by picking them up at one of the Ticket Sales Outlets in the three malls.
If the match is not sold out in advance, tickets will also be available at Khalifa International Stadium on match day.
A pre-match festive fan zone will establish the mood, offering games, exhibitions, and live entertainment that celebrate the best of Spanish, Uruguayan and Qatari culture.
More information about the match, fan zone and ticketing and media accreditations is available at http://www.qfa.com.qa
In the past few years, Qatar has successfully hosted several high-profile international friendly matches, including Brazil vs. England in 2009, Argentina vs. Brazil in 2010 and Egypt vs. Brazil in 2011.
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