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Qatar ready to host top Asian clubs at 2022 World Cup venues

14 Sep 2020, 09:18

Doha: Qatar is pleased to have played a key role in assisting the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to resume its top club event - the AFC Champions League - following a long period of inactivity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe.

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) President yesterday said that Qatar - hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup - is ready to host ACL matches in the West Zone beginning today.

Teams from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Iran and hosts Qatar will feature in a series of matches from September 14 to October 3 at two 2022 FIFA World Cup venues - Al Janoub Stadium and the iconic Khalifa International Stadium. Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium will also host a few matches.

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“We are proud and pleased to have been chosen as the host association for the remaining matches of the AFC Champions League 2020. Because of the latest technology to cool the stadiums, this will be the first continental championship to be held at these venues. Qatar has been and will remain the home of Asian football,” QFA President, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, said yesterday.

“Despite the exceptional circumstances this year, we remain committed to ensuring that players continue to participate in competitions, and that football fans continue to support their teams as naturally as possible,” he said in a story posted on Al Kass website. “We have always believed in football’s ability to bring people together and although fans will not be able to attend the AFC Champions League matches, this tournament will represent an opportunity to unite the fans in encouraging their teams from anywhere in the world,” the QFA President added.

Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of AFC, expressed appreciation to the Qatari government, the QFA and all concerned authorities in the country for hosting ACL matches ‘with highest level of professionalism, which guarantees a safe return to the active football’.

“Tremendous effort have been made to resume the tournament matches on September 14, in cooperation with the Qatar Football Association and its member football associations. Everyone has shown their professionalism to ensure the return of the matches in an atmosphere that guarantees the safety of everyone,” the AFC President said in a statement. “I am pleased to extend, on behalf of Asian football, my sincere thanks to the Qatar Football Association, the Qatari government and health sector officials for taking the highest level of necessary precautionary measures, and for their commitment to support Asian football,” the AFC President said.

Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the Local Organising Committee of the AFC Champions League 2020, said: “The AFC Champions League is a prestigious tournament that we are honoured to host. We are particularly thrilled to have been able to step in and help the AFC at this late stage of the tournament and play a role in facilitating the gradual, safe return of Asian football to stadiums – on behalf of football lovers around the world.”

Al Khater added: “From the very beginning, we have worked with the Qatar Football Association, the Qatar Stars League and the AFC to ensure that all possible safety precautions are taken so that the tournament is delivered safely for everyone involved. This includes putting in place a series of measures at every step - from arrival at Hamad International Airport to hotels, training sites and stadiums. While it is unfortunate that matches will not be open to fans, we believe in the power of football to bring people together – even if this means coming together digitally or through television screens.”

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