00:00Bridging east and west, Kazakhstan steps into the spotlight of European football.
00:05For the first time, an unexpected draw brings Real Madrid, one of the world's most titled teams, to face Almaty's football club Kairat.
00:13This game takes the Champions League to its easternmost point ever and 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 is 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 foundation of a sand, which is painted with artificial molecules, 20 cm.
00:56What allows the air to be strong and stable to any load.
01:00In 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.
01:26After the Real Kairat match was announced, KazNet exploded with speculation.
01:31Would Kylian Mbappe come to Kazakhstan?
01:34Soon social media was flooded with AI-generated clips of Mbappe in traditional Kazakh robe, tasting local dishes.
01:41In Kazakhstan, such gestures show respect for honored guests.
01:45Some businesses took it even further, using playful Mbappe 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 Mbappe 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.
02:14And for one day, it's painted in yellow and black, the colors of the local team.
02:23Guys, who are you rooting for tonight?
02:25Kairat!
02:26Fans 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.
02:53Did you get a ticket?
02:54We couldn't buy a ticket because it was a huge amount.
02:59But we have a chance to buy it right now.
03:03The ticket is for me.
03:07I'm 17 years old.
03:08If I'm living in Real Madrid's life, I won't have a fight.
03:11I won't have a fight.
03:12I won't have a fight.
03:13I won't have a fight.
03:14I won't have a fight.
03:15I won't have a fight.
03:16Despite the dramatic loss to Real Madrid, Kazakhstan gained something far bigger.
03:21A surge of global attention that's already boosting sports tourism.
03:25According to our data, Almaty was hosting about 5200 tourists at one time during this game
03:39and between Cairo and Real Madrid, mostly coming from China.
03:43It was the top one next to Russia, India.
03:47We can count this as an immediate effect, which generated roughly about 7 million US dollars to the economy of the city.
03:57And it's not just about major sports.
04:00Marathons have become another engine of sports tourism in Kazakhstan, with many events now drawing international participants.
04:08This year, the Almaty Marathon brought together 16,000 runners, including nearly 1,500 from abroad.
04:15Set against the city's iconic mountain backdrop, the 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 and from other cities of Kazakhstan.
04:39And it helps to support the tourism business during this off-peak season.
04:45Big or small, these events are putting Kazakhstan on the global sports map, turning casual visitors into returning travelers
04:52and inspiring many to choose the country for their next adventure.
04:56.
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