DOHA: The Qatar Fan Zone at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena has welcomed more than 62,000 visitors so far, and more people are expected to throng the arena int the last week of the tournament with more live entertainment to match the mounting excitement of the games.

After a short break yesterday and today, the Fan Zone will re-open tomorrow to screen the semi-finals matches of the month-long tournament. During this stage, the Fan Zone’s music performances will feature Kuwaiti star Essa Almarzoug tomorrow, followed by his compatriot star Ibrahim Dashti the next day on Wednesday. Both singers’ performances are free and will begin at 7.30pm.

The concerts will be preceded by other entertainment features starting at 4pm, including Russian folk dances, enthralling Pixel Poi and Diabolo shows, cheerful roaming parades and upbeat performances by LED drummers.

Throughout the knockout and quarter final stages, football fans and music enthusiasts enjoyed live music performances by Moroccan star Hatim Ammor, world-renowned Rai icon Cheb Khaled, Iraqi singer Mohammed Al Fares and Lebanese artist Ziad Bourji. Football freestyle superstars Tobias Becs and Raquel Benetti also took the stage to show off their moves and share their tricks with the Fan Zone’s visitors.

Operating on match days only, the Fan Zone opens its doors to the public between 4pm and 12 midnight. It is powered by Vodafone Qatar as the official telecommunications partner and supported by The W Doha Hotel & Residences, the official hospitality partner.

Qatar Fan Zone is organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the Ministry of Culture and Sports (MCS) and Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).

Qatar Fan Zone is a highlight of this year’s Qatar Summer Festival (QSF), which kicked off on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. Organised by QTA, the 11-week festival is a nationwide celebration of the country’s diverse retail and hospitality offerings, complemented by a host of entertainment and sports activities.