Al Khater: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC Will Help Organizing Ideal Tournament

Doha, February 10 (QNA) - CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC Nasser Al Khater revealed that the newly established joint venture will help in increasing efficiency in the operational aspects of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This partnership is the first of its kind held by FIFA with the hosting state of the World Cup, as previously three elements were responsible for the organization of the tournament; the hosting state, the local organizing committee, and FIFA. At a meeting with local media on Sunday, CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC said that the new partnership was reached after two years of discussions, specifically since 2016, as both parties discussed the best mechanism for adoption, for the work of both sides in order to organize an ideal tournament. Al Khater that the terms of reference of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and the new joint venture have been defined. SC is concerned with infrastructure, training camps, accompanying events, the public, security, and services, while FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC will be responsible for the teams, officials, housing, transportation, and organization, he pointed out. Al Khater added that since Gianni Infantino took over the presidency of FIFA, the need for greater harmony between FIFA and the organizing committee was stressed. In the new model, FIFA will be responsible for the organization of the upcoming tournaments, especially as it will make the management of the tournaments easier, and increases the expertise of each party, he explained. Al Khater revealed that SC has equipped 41 training grounds for the participating teams in the 2022 World Cup, 32 of which are basic grounds and nine additional grounds. With regard to the stadiums, Al Khater said that the Wakrah Stadium will be inaugurated in May on the sidelines of the final of the HH the Amir Cup scheduled for May 16 next. The third stadium to be inaugurated will be Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City, scheduled for completion by the end of 2019, Al Khater revealed. On the subject of increasing the number of World Cup teams to 48, instead of 32, CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC Nasser Al Khater said that it is still under study by the FIFA, which is supposed to report on the matter before next March, knowing that the number of teams will not be determined categorically until next June, but so far the plan is that the number of teams 32. Al Khater explained that there are proposals that have been identified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup fans zones, which are currently being studied with FIFA. Al Khater predicted that around one million fans will visit Qatar during the 2022 World Cup, which requires 175,000 rooms. He explained that the components of the housing are the temporary hotels being established in ships, hotel apartments and fans' villages, as well as hotels currently in existence. The specified number to be provided well in advance of the tournament, he stressed. He further added that Qatar will host another tournament before the World Cup, where the host countries of the World Cup hosts the Intercontinental Championship a year earlier, while FIFA is now considering canceling the tournament because it believes that it no longer achieves the same goals as it was before, so if FIFA decided to establish or hold another tournament, it will be an opportunity to test the national facilities and make sure they are ready to host the World Cup. Al Khater congratulated Qatar for the Asian Cup victory, adding that this victory is a significant victory for the State of Qatar and for all footballers, players, and fans. He said that Qatar will play in the next World Cup, as the Asian champions. He confirmed that SC has benefited greatly from the recent World Cup in Russia, where all the delegates to this tournament have prepared reports on their participation. He revealed that SC will also participate in the Copa America tournament in Brazil in June, where there will be a team to gain experience. Al Khater congratulated Gianni Infantino on the occasion of winning FIFA presidency for the next four years. He added that SC has a good relationship with Infantino, and he is the right person to lead the federation at the moment. (QNA)