Arab Cup (Qatar 2021): Iraq National Team Assistant Coach Says Holding the Tournament Under FIFA is a Tribute to Qatar

Doha, November 10 (QNA) - The Assistant coach of the Iraqi national team Rahim Humaid and one of the Iraqi football stars in the Arab Cup Football Championship during the 1985 and 1988 editions, confirmed that the State of Qatar has become one of the most advanced countries in hosting tournaments, whether at the level of Asia or the world level. In exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Humaid said that "Doha will be on a date with the first and most important event in the history of the region to host the finals of the 2022 World Cup, and the State of Qatar today has all the capabilities and facilities to host the largest sporting events in the world, in light of the presence of infrastructure, road networks, stadiums, and high-class sports facilities, and all logistical matters that help host major tournaments and sporting events". Humaid added: "Without a doubt, holding the Arab Cup under the umbrella of FIFA in Doha is a tribute to the State of Qatar for its great efforts in the field of organization, and certainly the tournament will be a great Arab demonstration in light of the presence of most of the teams with their first teams, especially the Arab African teams, unlike some previous versions, which makes the tournament of great importance." It is noteworthy that the Iraqi national team is competing in the first group alongside the Qatari team (the organizer), and the teams of the Sultanate of Oman and Bahrain, in the tournament recognized by the International Football Association (FIFA) for the first time and officially included in its agenda. The Iraqi team will start its matches on Nov. 30 against the Omani team at Al Janoub Stadium before facing the Bahraini team on Dec. 3 at Al Thumama Stadium, and concludes its matches against the host Qatar team on Nov. 6 at Al Bayt World Cup Stadium. FIFA, together with host country Qatar, would like to seize this opportunity to showcase the best in Arab football, while ensuring high quality standards of event organization and hospitality as the region prepares to host the world's largest event in 2022. FIFA, in partnership with the Qatar Football Association, had announced the organization of a tournament for Arab teams in Doha on the stadiums designated for the World Cup competitions. And about the Iraqi team winning the Arab Cup title on 4 consecutive occasions as the most winning team, the assistant coach of the Iraqi team, Rahim Humaid, said in a statement to QNA: "certainly, it is a great responsibility that falls on the shoulders of the Iraqi team, which hopes, during this participation, to compete for the title and achieve a remarkable presence similar to what it achieved during the history of its participation in the tournament". Rahim Humaid represented the Iraqi national team in the 1985 editions in Saudi Arabia and the 1988 edition hosted by the Jordanian capital, Amman, and won the title in these two editions. As for the memories that link him with the Arab Cup, the former Iraqi national team star and current assistant to the Dutchman, Dick Advocaat, confirmed: "the Arab Cup holds painful and sad memories for us, in light of the death of the role model Ammo Baba, who had tremendous achievements in the seventies and eighties of the last century, as well as the death of the former star Ahmed Radi, the top scorer of the Arab Cup in the 1988 edition, along with the two stars Ali Hussein and Natik Hashem due to the repercussions of the Corona pandemic (COVID-19)." Regarding the beautiful memories, Hamid continued his talk: "the achievement of the title in the 1985 edition was a milestone, despite the participation of strong teams at the time, and we were greatly honored by Iraq Football Association, and the same is related to the 1988 edition that was held in Jordan after we managed to win the title at the expense of the Syrian team". Six of the 2022 World Cup stadiums will be decorated to host the Arab Cup 2021, foremost among them is Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, which will witness the opening of the tournament between Qatar and Bahrain on November 30 and the final match on December 18, while Al Janoub Stadiums in Al Wakrah, Ras Abu Aboud, Al Thumama, Education City and Ahmad bin Ali, will host the rest of the championship matches. The expected tournament for the Arabs and the world will witness the announcement of the readiness of two stadiums for the 2022 World Cup which are Al Bayt Stadium and Ras Abu Aboud Stadium the first stadium that can be completely dismantled in the history of the World Cup. (QNA)