New arena, thousands of fans, unforgettable atmosphere: key highlights of the football festival in Kyzylorda

New Matchday — New Concept

As with previous major events, the celebration had its own concept built around a concise slogan.

If the launch of the League’s first-ever girls’ tournament was held under the banner “Girl’s football — brighter than summer,” and the QJL All Star event with Atlético was defined by the phrase “Where football meets the night,” then the 1000th match took place under the theme “South vs North,” as Kyzylorda hosted guests from Kostanay.

This idea shaped both the visual identity and pre-match activities — including a themed photo zone, a digital selfie mirror, and the traditional table football (kicker).



Together with Partners

The large-scale football celebration in Kyzylorda was made possible through joint efforts.

At the entrance to the arena, fans could visit the zone of the League’s premium partner — Changan Kazakhstan (part of Astana Motors). It featured a car exhibition, an information desk, a panna football field, and a photo booth.



Kaisar midfielder Yernar Parda, who scored the winning goal in the historic match, received a special award — an iPhone 17 Pro — presented by Changan Kazakhstan and Astana Motors. The prize was handed over by Nursultan Pirim, Director of the Changan Kyzylorda dealership.

UNICEF also played an important role, with volunteers supporting both spectators and staff throughout the event.



Pre-match Studio and a Special Moment

Before kickoff, the traditional pre-match studio took place, featuring Timur Turlov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and League President Rokhus Shokh. The show was hosted by Temirlan Orynbayev and Yernur Duisengazy.



The match coincided with Rokhus Shokh’s birthday — on April 18, he turned 64 — and he was presented with a symbolic birthday cake.



Show on the Pitch

The Matchday program included not only fan activities around the stadium but also a full-scale show on the field.

For the first time in Kyzylorda, the official Freedom QJ League anthem was performed live by an orchestra. A promo video dedicated to the start of the fourth season was also shown on the screens.

The stadium atmosphere was enhanced by lighting effects, pyrotechnics in the colors of Kaisar and Tobyl, banners, and flags.



DARICORN performed during halftime, accompanied by dancers, while ARO, a native of the Kyzylorda region, headlined after the final whistle.



One of the standout fan activities was the Dance Cam, allowing spectators to see themselves on the big screen and share their energy with the entire stadium.

Fan Lottery

After ARO’s performance, fans had another highlight — a prize draw. Every ticket holder had a chance to win, and three lucky winners took home a PlayStation 5, an iPad, and AirPods Pro.

Conclusion

The event drew 7,725 spectators. Many fans arrived early in the morning to support the U-17 team playing before the main match.

Support was far from passive — fans across all stands actively cheered, reacted to key moments, and created a powerful atmosphere that likely contributed to the home team’s success.

A large number of children were among the crowd. After the match, they took photos with the players — an experience that will surely remain memorable and motivating for young footballers.

Anton Lyssyak, Head of Media and Marketing of the League, summed it up: “It feels like just yesterday we were preparing for the opening match of the first season — and now we already have a thousand games behind us. The atmosphere was incredible. But the most important thing is the emotions of the fans and the players. That’s exactly why we do all this.”

The 2026 season has officially kicked off — with many more events ahead, including a cyber tournament for players and the QJL All Star match.