QATAR will move a step closer towards hosting the first FIFA Arab Cup 2021 when it conducts the draw ceremony for the highly-anticipated tournament, today.
The draw, which will take place at Katara Opera House, will start at 9pm. Similar to the top-notch sports events held earlier this season in Qatar, strict COVID-19 protocols will be followed for the ceremony to ensure safety and health of all participants. The draw will be attended by a limited number of specially invited officials, in line with Ministry of Public Health’s measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The FIFA Arab Cup – taking place exactly a year before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – is seen as a test event for football’s showpiece event. The finals of both events (Arab Cup and World Cup) are set to take place on December 18 – the Qatar’s National Day.
The tournament to be contested by 23 Arab nations will help the Qatari organisers in testing operations and facilities. Six out of eight Qatar 2022 tournament venues will play host to the FIFA Arab Cup matches. The participating countries include Qatar (host nation), Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The tournaments involving Arab nations are a source of great joy for the fans in the region and it is hoped that the ongoing coronavirus would have disappeared by then. In any case though, Qatar will take adequate measures to hold the tournament safely in around sevenmonths’ time, like the country did while organising over two dozens of major international competitions in the 2020-21 sports season.The Arab Cup will also give a glimpse to people all around the globe of how the World Cup will be like. Football is the most beloved sport in the Arab world and the event will surely involve thrilling matches among the participating teams.
Qatar has recently announced plans to provide vaccination to all the attendees of the World Cup to host a COVID-free event, in case the pandemic persists. The country is being applauded for its commitment towards staging a blockbuster World Cup despite facing unprecedented challenges.
While FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a frequent visitor to Qatar, often expressed his content over the World Cup preparations, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin on Friday also praised Qatar’s efforts in challenging times. He said he was highly impressed with the World Cup preparations being made by Qatar when he visited the country last January. With their tireless efforts, Qatari organisers will hopefully deliver the major football tournaments in a way that they will be remembered for long
