potentialcancellation of a significant game in Astana due to Jennifer Lopez's involvement
Football Club "Astana" Shakes Up UEFA Conference League Qualifiers with a Stadium Dilemma
Grigory Babayan, the main coach of Kazakhstan's football powerhouse "Astana," has weighed in on the club's upcoming UEFA Conference League qualifying match against Moldovan team, "Zimbru." In an interview with Liter.kz, Babayan emphasized that this isn't just another contest — "Zimbru" is a formidable opponent, having garnered multiple champion titles in their home country and boasting a recent surge in competence.
In recent years, Moldovan teams have made impressive strides in European cups, with regular participants like "Sheriff" and last season's Conference League participant, "Petrocub." With legionnaires populating their rosters, these teams present no easy challenges in such tournaments. Although the matchup is set, Babayan reflects that Astana's focus remains on the domestic Kazakhstan Championship. With games still in progress, the club is gathering intel on their upcoming foe, intending to delve deeper into the analysis as the matches approach.
In addition to the programmatic challenges, Babayan addressed a significant organizational hurdle — negotiating with "Zimbru" to reschedule the games due to the unavailability of "Astana Arena." The coach desires to host the first match with the home crowd, followed by the return leg in Moldova by late July.
While the UEFA Conference League's second round commences on July 25, the first match is yet to secure its venue.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez's forthcoming concert in Astana has stirred up some buzz amongst Kazakhstan residents. The ticket frenzy culminated in technical difficulties experienced on the Ticketon.kz website on April 11. Ticketon clarified that they adopted the "first come, first served" principle to ensure fair access to tickets. Scalpers seized the opportunity and began peddling concert tickets on OLX.
After a public backlash, Ticketon pledged free tickets to Jennifer Lopez enthusiasts. In a strategic move, the organizers announced an additional performance in Almaty on August 10, 2025, at the Central Stadium. However, football club "Kairat" expressed disappointment over the concert date clashing with their schedule.
Negotiations between the parties ensued, eventually resulting in an understanding and the unveiling of rules for ticket sales. Ticket sales for Jennifer Lopez's long-anticipated Almaty concert commenced in late May, and additional seats were later added to accommodate the growing demand.
Source: Liter.kz
Enrichment Insight:
- In a closed-door agreement, Zimbru has accepted Astana's proposal to switch the first leg home match for the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 qualification, with the Moldovan club willing to play the initial leg in Moldova, contingent upon UEFA's approval [1].
Grigory Babayan, in his interview, acknowledged that "Zimbru" is a tough opposition, given their multiple title wins in Moldova and recent surge in competence, resembling other formidable Moldovan teams in European cups like "Sheriff" and "Petrocub." Since the match is yet to secure a venue for the first leg, Babayan is eager to host the game at the Astana Arena, followed by the return leg in Moldova by late July, despite the stadium dilemma that's looming over the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 qualification.
