Qatar Football Association’s President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani (left) and President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa pose for a picture during the draw for the AFC Asian Cup in Doha yesterday. (AFP)
Reposing confidence in Qatar to stage the best-ever Asian Cup in history, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa yesterday said Qatar has earned its place among the best host nations in global football history.
Speaking at the Official Draw ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 held at Katara Opera House, the AFC President said Qatar has become one of the top football hosting nations in the world in just a few years.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Chairman of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Local Organising Committee (LOC), and President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, and team coaches besides representatives of competing teams also attended the impressive ceremony.
Qatar, which hosted the FIFA World Cup 2022 – declared the best-ever edition in tournament history – will stage the Asian Cup from January 12 to February 10, 2024, with the continent’s best 24 teams set to compete for top honours.
The continental showpiece was initially scheduled to be held this summer in China but was moved because of the country’s strict COVID-19 rules before Qatar stepped in as host.
Qatar will become the first country to host the Asian Cup three times having hosted the tournament in 1988 and 2011.
“The last time Qatar hosted the Asian Cup was in 2011 and in just 12 years we have all witnessed an era of great progress. Qatar has earned its place as among the best host nations in global football history,” Shaikh Salman said at the Draw ceremony.
He added despite the short preparation time, AFC was confident Qatar will stage a memorable event.
“We will stage the greatest-ever edition in January 2024 together with our friends from the QFA and the LOC. On behalf of the Asian football family, I want to express our gratitude to QFA and the LOC. The stage is now set for a truly memorable chapter in the history of Asia’s most prestigious tournament,” he added.
Also present at the ceremony, South Korea head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, said: “I am sure it will be a fantastic tournament as the World Cup was an outstanding and beautiful tournament.”
