Qatar players attend a training session as they prepare for remaining Group E matches of Joint Asian Qualifiers for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Doha: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has completed all arrangements to host the Group E matches in the Joint Asian qualifiers for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in China, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
All of the remaining games in the group will be played in Doha from June 3 to 15, 2021 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al Sadd Sports Club, with the participation of five teams: Qatar, Oman, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
The internal committees and departments under the umbrella of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) continue to hold meetings to prepare for the start of the matches, discussing all organisational and logistical matters related to the arrival and accommodation of the teams, their training grounds and other aspects related to the matches.
Despite the exceptional circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the QFA has been able to generate a great footballing atmosphere through its hosting of many events, the last of which was the Total CAF Super Cup 2020, which was played a few days ago.
Likewise, amidst similar precautionary measures, Qatar hosted the last edition of the FIFA Club World Cup and also the AFC Champions League games for the West and East regions, all the way to its title decider, in addition to the 48th Amir Cup final.
Strict health protocol and application of bio-bubble system
As for the precautionary and preventive measures, the health protocol prepared by the Ministry of Public Health will be implemented with the aim of preserving the health and safety of all participants in the qualifiers, including teams, organisers and media alike.
The preventive health measures approved by the LOC include the application of the medical isolation system known as the “bio-bubble”, in which the movement of all participants, including players, officials and organisers, is restricted to places of residence, training grounds, and the venue that will host the qualifiers, the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al-Sadd Sports Club.
As part of these strict measures, players and officials will undergo COVID-19 tests to check for infection.
This is in addition to using safe transportation, and the continuous sterilisation of accommodation facilities and training sites.
A quarantine will be applicable for all the participating teams.
Arrangements for preparing the stadium for the joint Asian qualifiers have also been completed. The venue will be subject to supervision by the LOC and the AFC.
India was the first to reach Doha on May 21, with the team intending to reach early in order to adapt to the precautionary atmosphere and to benefit from the readiness of the stadiums to train and prepare for their first game against Qatar.
The participating teams are scheduled to enter the bio-bubble system, according to their arrival dates, and in accordance with the established procedures that requires everyone to stay at their residence and not travel except to perform training and play matches while undergoing periodic coronavirus tests.
