The Peninsula
The AFC delegation concluded its five-day inspection visit to the Qatari capital, Doha, to check on the latest preparations of the country regarding its bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, with the official declaration of the winning bid approaching.
During this visit, the AFC delegation was briefed on Qatar’s full readiness from today, following their on-ground inspection of many facilities and a review of all plans to host the 2027 tournament should hosting rights be accorded to Qatar.
On their tour, the delegation was guided by representatives of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the local AFC Asian Cup 2027 bidding committee.
The QFA reaffirmed its commitment to meeting all hosting requirements in accordance with AFC timelines, and in line with the hosting terms and standards.
The delegation observed and were provided with an in-depth understanding of the proposed operations across various aspects of organization, these included stadiums, ticketing, information technology, advertising and marketing, radio and television broadcasting, hospitality, and safety & security measures.
The delegation inspected six of the eight fully equipped stadiums dedicated for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, namely: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Stadium 974, Lusail Stadium, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium. They also inspected some of the international training facilities at Al Ersal and Aspire.
The delegation also undertook visits to various departments of the Aspire Foundation – such as Aspetar Hospital – as well as the National and Tournament Command Centre, Metro facilities, Hamad Medical City, the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center and the Qatar National Convention Center. In addition, they visited some of the hotels and other vital facilities designated for the teams.
Several meetings were also held between the AFC delegation, officials from the QFA, and the local bidding committee of the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
It should be noted that Qatar’s 2027 bid is in competition with three other countries in the race to host the Asian mega-event: Saudi Arabia, Iran and India. The AFC is expected to announce the winning bid during the first quarter of 2022, following a vote by AFC Member Associations during the AFC Congress.