With the Russia 2018 World Cup ending and focus rapidly switching to Qatar 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa has promised “the football world a truly memorable Arabic welcome.”
One of the biggest successes of Russia 2018 was the warm welcome the Russians gave to travelling fans – a welcome far from the expectations of many Europeans in particular – and an outstanding logistical organisation. Shaikh Salman acknowledged the significance of the event: “The FIFA World Cup in Russia has been a magnificent celebration of football and they have set the benchmark for the organisation of future FIFA World Cups. On behalf of the Asian football family, I send our sincerest thanks to Alexey Sorokin the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
2022 will be the first time the World Cup has been held in the AFC region since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, and it will be the first time it has been hosted in the Arab world.
“I know Asia will be ready, I know the Gulf will be ready and I know that Qatar will be ready to put on an unforgettable show for the world,” said Shaikh Salman.
“So much planning, so much hard work has already gone into the organisation in Qatar and the AFC has already pledged to support the tournament which graces our Continent for a second time.”
The AFC intends to play its part in helping the local organisers and will open an office in Doha in the coming months to support the Qatar FA and the LOC. Qatar is building or refurbing eight stadia for the tournament that will be the first World Cup to be played in the Winter months of November and December.
“Matching the high standards set by Russia in terms of organisation and hospitality will not be easy but Qatar will do everything in its power to put on a show which will make the whole of Asia extremely proud,”said Shaikh Salman
“Arabic hospitality is famed around the world and Qatar promises the fans, who will travel in the tens of thousands from all corners of the globe, a most spectacular tournament in which they can watch more than one match a day.
“Every World Cup, as we have seen this century – from Japan/Korea Republic to Germany to South Africa to Brazil and now to Russia – has a character and magic of its own. Qatar will be no different as they will deliver a magical tournament for all to behold.”
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