WHAT began last year in September – in extremely tough situations as the world battled the COVID-19 pandemic – is about to end later this week when the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup qualifiers conclude in the Qatari capital on Friday.
A total of seven play-offs have been scheduled (two are already over) to finalize seven teams for the inaugural FIFA Arab Cup to be held later this year. The FIFA Arab Cup qualifiers will be the final football event in the 2020-21 season.
Around 10 months ago, top-flight football resumed in Qatar for the West Zone matches of the 2020 AFC Champions League which had been disrupted five months earlier when the spread of COVID-19 forced international sports calendar to put halt to proceedings around the world.
Qatar hosted 16 teams for the West Zone matches of the AFC Champions League, putting together a bubble-to-bubble environment for players, backroom staff with the teams and LOC officials for the SeptOct event.
After successfully conducting the three-week event, Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided to host the East Zone matches from November 13 to December 19 when the 2020 AFC Champions League final which was held between Iran’s Persepolis and eventual winners Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai at Al Janoub Stadium.
A day before the 2020 AFC Champions League final, Qatar unveiled their fourth 2022 FIFA World Cup venue – Ahmed Abin Ali Stadium – by hosting the 2020 Amir Cup final with limited entry of fans. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani was joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and scores of AFC, QFA and international dignitaries as Al Sadd beat Al Arabi in the Amir Cup final on December 18.
Fast forward to May 28, 2021, Doha once again opened its doors to African football giants Al Ahly of Egypt and RBS Berkane of Morocco for the CAF Super Cup, a one-off match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Al Ahly won 2-0 as Doha’s iconic football venue delivered a memorable show under lights in the presence of fans.
Barely three weeks later, Arab football teams - Libya, Sudan, Oman, Somalia, Jordan, South Sudan, Mauritania, Yemen, Lebanon, Djibouti, Palestine, Comoros, Bahrain and Kuwait landed in Doha for the qualifying matches.
In between these international events, Qatar also conducted its regular football season (from Sept-to-May) in a flawless fashion. For a football fan, this has been a memorable season which is all set to end. Well played, Qatar!
