Kairat Almaty takes UEFA Champions League to Central Asia

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Kairat Almaty takes UEFA Champions League to Central Asia  Real Madrid’s visit to Kazakhstan became a national celebration and a major tourism boost, as Europe’s elite stage reached Almaty for the first time.  In partnership with MDQ  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/11/05/kazakh-football-fans-cheer-as-almatys-fc-kairat-makes-champions-league-debut  Spark your senses, wake your wonder. Euronews Culture seeks to show creativity in action and inspire our audience to explore the world through the five senses. Start your journey through the best of Europe's arts, gastronomy, traditions and high-end craftsmanship.

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00:00Bridging east and west, Kazakhstan steps into the spotlight of European football.

00:05For the first time, an unexpected draw brings Real Madrid,

00:09one of the world's most titled teams, to face Almaty's football club Kairat.

00:14This game takes the Champions League to its easternmost point ever

00:18and could redefine Kazakh football identity.

00:21Welcome to Kazakhstan, welcome to modern nomads!

00:30Surrounded by the awe-inspiring Tian Shan mountains, Almaty in south-eastern Kazakhstan

00:36is more than 6,000 km away from Madrid, home of the legendary football club.

00:42Now, the city opens its doors to a top-tier team and gets ready for the big game.

00:47Our stadium is unique. It has the base of a sand,

00:52which is filled with artificial molecules, 20 cm.

00:56What gives the air to the air to be strong, and it is safe to any load.

01:01In any climate conditions, this air is ready to take any match.

01:08Tickets for the match sold out in just 4 hours.

01:11Nearly a million fans queued online, hoping to get in.

01:15But only 22,800 were lucky enough.

01:19That's all the stadium can hold.

01:21And the excitement is easy to understand.

01:23Real Madrid is one of the world's top football teams.

01:27After the Real Kairat match was announced, KazNet exploded with speculation.

01:32Would Kylian Mbappé come to Kazakhstan?

01:34Soon social media was flooded with AI-generated clips of Mbappé in traditional Kazakh robe,

01:40tasting local dishes.

01:42In Kazakhstan, such gestures show respect for honored guests.

01:45Some businesses took it even further, using playful Mbappé memes to promote their products.

01:51Like this one.

01:52It wasn't just the fans who went wild over Real Madrid's visit to Kazakhstan.

01:57The players of Almaty's Kairat football club did too.

02:01Concerns that Kylian Mbappé might skip the trip were quickly dismissed.

02:08He arrived in Almaty with Real Madrid's star-studded squad.

02:12The city is bubbling with football fever and for one day it's painted in yellow and black,

02:18the colors of the local team.

02:20Kairat champion!

02:22Kairat champion!

02:24Guys, who are you rooting for tonight?

02:26Kairat!

02:28Hey guys, who's gonna win tonight?

02:30Kairat definitely.

02:32Fans found different ways to show their hopes.

02:35Some bought merchandise, others painted their faces.

02:38Everyone wanted to show their faith in the team.

02:41As for me, I'm a journalist, so I'll stay neutral.

02:44Emotions kept rising as the match drew closer.

02:47Roads were blocked and the entire perimeter was packed with people.

02:51Lines stretched far beyond the stadium.

02:54Did you get a ticket?

02:55We couldn't buy a ticket because it was a huge amount.

03:00But we have a chance to buy it now.

03:04The ticket was 70 years old.

03:09If we were to go to Real Madrid, we would have to go to Real Madrid.

03:13We would have to go to Real Madrid.

03:15Despite the dramatic loss to Real Madrid,

03:19Kazakhstan gained something far bigger.

03:21A surge of global attention that's already boosting sports tourism.

03:26According to our data,

03:28Almaty was hosting about 5200 tourists at one time

03:37during this game between Kairat and Real Madrid.

03:42Mostly coming from China, it was the top one next to Russia, India.

03:48We can count this as an immediate effect,

03:51which generated roughly about US$7 million to the economy of the city.

03:58And it's not just about major sports.

04:00Marathons have become another engine of sports tourism in Kazakhstan,

04:04with many events now drawing international participants.

04:08This year, the Almaty Marathon brought together 16,000 runners,

04:12including nearly 1,500 from abroad.

04:15Set against the city's iconic mountain backdrop,

04:18the race feels both demanding and accessible.

04:21Smaller events may attract fewer people, but they are no less authentic.

04:25October is low season for Turkestan.

04:27Only 2,000 runners attending this marathon in Turkestan.

04:33But these 2,000, most of them coming from neighboring countries,

04:37and from other cities of Kazakhstan.

04:40And it helps to support the tourism business during this off-pick season.

04:45Big or small, these events are putting Kazakhstan on the global sports map,

04:49turning casual visitors into returning travelers

04:52and inspiring many to choose the country for their next adventure.

04:56We'll see you in the next adventure.

04:57We'll see you in the next adventure.

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