The Peninsula
Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani was named as Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup yesterday.
According to the Executive Office of the Qatar Football Association issued Decision No. (13) of 2023, Jassim Rashid Al Buainain, who was recently named as QFA Vice-President, was appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the body.
The QFA said Qatar will host the tournament from January 12, 2024 to February 10, 2024.
Also, Mansour Mohammed Al Ansari, QFA Secretary-General, in addition to his membership in the Local Organising Committee, was appointed as the Managing Director of the tournament.
The members of the committee includes: Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Buainain, Ibrahim Khalil Al Muhannadi, Hani Talib Ballan, Mansour Muhammad Al Ansari, Ghanem Ali Al Kuwari, Muhammad Khalifa Al Suwaidi, and a representative from the Ministry of Interior.
This is the third time Qatar will be hosting the Asian Cup, having staged it in 1988 and 2011.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Qatar as host country last October after China withdrew because of its “zero-COVID” policy.
China was named host for the 2023 event in June 2019.
South Korea and Indonesia were the two other countries, who made bids to host the event after China’s withdrawal before Qatar got the nod.
Qatar has rich experience in hosting mega sports events particularly major football competitions with last year’s FIFA World Cup turning out to be a huge success and has been rated as the best edition of football showpiece.
The host nation will defend the title, having clinched the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE.