The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani has assured the global football community that Qatar is racing ahead with its preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In a candid chat with Editors-in-Chief of Qatari newspapers, the Prime Minister reiterated that Qatar is eyeing a spectacular World Cup next year even as the world starts to come to terms with the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, to ensure that the 32-team event runs smoothly, Qatar government will provide one million COVID-19 vaccine to visiting fans and officials arriving in the country for the November 21-December 18 event next year.
The Prime Minister has confirmed that Qatar government has engaged in negotiation with one company for vaccine doses. “We are currently negotiating with one company to provide one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to vaccinate non-vaccinated people coming to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in order to protect the public health in the country,” said the Prime Minister.
The PM said the pandemic had minor impact at the start but Qatar quickly overcame all hurdles to accelerate the pace of development. He said three of the eight stadiums are nearing completion whereas most of the infrastructure development has been completed. The Prime Minister said Qatar’s biggest sports venue - the Lusail Stadium - will be completed in a matter of months before being inaugurated with the opening match of the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup on November 30 this year. “Lusail Stadium, which will hold final match of FIFA World Cup on December 18, 2022, has been 95% completed,” said the Prime Minister. “The opening match will be with attendance of 50% initially, under strict precautionary and preventive measures in order to preserve the health of the players and fans,” the Prime Minister told the Editors-in-Chief.
The Prime Minister said Qatar is hosting the FIFA Arab Cup to test the World Cup facilities exactly one year before the event takes place for the first time in the region. The Prime Minister also highlighted other areas of linked with the World Cup - the transportation network, accommodation, housing, hotels and health care facilities, saying:“In general, things are going smoothly as planned. It is worth mentioning that Qatar is currently hosting the FIFA Arab Cup qualifiers. A total of 14 teams are in the country to play the play-offs (two matches already played). The coaches of the visiting teams have praised the arrangements made for the qualifiers including the bubble-to-bubble environment for teams and players.
