QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Zverev sails QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune past Berankis to enter BMW Open quarter-finals in Munich page 15 THURSday, APRIL 29, 2021 FIFA Arab Cup 2021 may see full return of fans to stadiums in : Nasser Al Khater

Nasser Al Khater, CEO, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Vinay Nayudu Doha

With the State of Qatar overcoming challenges posed by the global pandemic and successfully hosting sporting events, the Chief Executive Officer of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser Al Khater hopes for the successful re- turn of fans to stadiums when the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 is staged from November 30 to December 18. Speaking soon after the draw ceremony for FIFA Arab Cup 2021 at Katara Op- era House on Wednesday, Nasser Al Khater said, “The important thing is for us to be a dynamic culture. We have luckily been able to host sev- eral tournaments with the safe return of football fans to teams from all over the Arab he said. during a similar timeslot to the the stadiums earlier. We hope We have luckily been able to host several tournaments with the safe return of world as part of the country’s Al Khater underlined that FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. that the situation will be dif- preparations to receive teams FIFA is satisfied with all the It is seen as a vital oppor- ferent now with the rollout football fans to the stadiums earlier. We hope that the situation will be different now and fans from around the preparations, and that every- tunity to test operations and of the vaccines and we would with the rollout of the vaccines and we would be able to host a tournament with the world in the largest sporting one praises the preparations facilities exactly a year before be able to host a tournament full return of fans to the stadiums. However, we’ll be ready for any eventuality. event in the region’s history for the World Cup. Qatar hosts the first World with the full return of fans to next year. The Arab Cup Qatar 2021 Cup in the and the stadiums. However, we’ll Nasser Al Khater on FIFA Arab Cup 2021 On the difficulty of some will take place later this year Arab world. be ready for any eventuality.” groups, Al Khater indicated Al Khater also said that the that there is no difficult or easy event will provide a footprint teams in the group stages. So balling perspective. However, The first-ever FIFA Arab group, and that all teams will of how things will be leading it is a big tournament and it for us as organizers, it’s very Cup will offer an opportunity surely face difficulties, as each FIFA announces to FIFA World Cup 2022. “It’s is a big opportunity for the important to test all the opera- for fans, players and officials team will strive to win and an important milestone for celebration of football in the tional plans that we’ve put in to use world-class facilities qualify for the second round. us. As you know, the Confed- Arab world. place over the over the years. dedicated to hosting the World “The technical level of Arab Cup Qatar 2021 erations Cup was always the “For us, what’s impor- The FIFA Arab Cup 2021 is Cup, including the stadiums, football in all the countries has main test event for previous tant, that this is a successful the main event for us prior to training venues and others. been improving over the years World Cups. For us, this will tournament from a technical hosting the FIFA World Cup in Al Khater said Qatar looks and as such the competition match schedule be a 23 team tournament, 16 perspective and from a foot- 2022,” Al Khater said. forward to hosting national will provide for top contests,” QNA As for Group C, Morocco Doha will meet the winner from Palestine and Comoros, and FIFA has revealed the fixtures with the winner and dates of the FIFA Arab from Jordan and South Sudan Manchester City rally after being a goal Cup Qatar 2021, to be held in the first round on Decem- between November 30 and ber 1, while Morocco will meet December 18. the winner from Jordan and The tournament draw re- South Sudan, and Saudi Ara- down to edge PSG 2-1 in Paris sulted in Qatar at the top of bia will meet the winner from Group A with Iraq, the winner Palestine and Comoros in the DPA from and Somalia and second round on December Berlin the winner from and 4. Morocco will play Saudi Kuwait matches. Arabia, and the winner from Manchester City came Hosts Qatar will open the Jordan and South Sudan will from behind to win 2-1 at 10- tournament on November meet the winner from Pales- man Paris Saint-Germain on 30, facing the winner of the tine and Comoros in the third Wednesday and take a big step Bahrain-Kuwait match in the round on December 7. towards a first-ever place in qualifiers, at 1 pm Doha time, In Group D, Algeria will the Champions League final. and Iraq will play in the same meet the winner from Captain Kevin de Bruyne round with the winner from and Sudan, and Egypt will in the 64th and Riyah Mahrez’ Oman and Somalia. meet the winner from free-kick seven minutes later Then, in the second round, and Djibouti in the first round cancelled out an early lead for the Qatari team will face the on December 1, while Algeria last season’s finalists PSG from winner from Oman and So- will meet the winner from Leb- their skipper Marquinhos. malia on December 3 at 4 pm anon and Djibouti, and Egypt PSG’s misery was complete Doha time, while Iraq will play will meet the winner from when Idrissa Gueye was sent off with the winner from Bahrain Libya and Sudan in the second in the 77th for a tackle from be- and Kuwait. In the last round, round on December 4, while hind into the Achilles of Ilkay Qatar will meet Iraqi counter- Algeria will meet Egypt, and Guendogan. part at 10 pm on December 6. the winner from Libya and Su- Neymar, Kylian Mbappe While the winner from Kuwait dan will meet the winner from and company looked more and Bahrain will play in the Lebanon and Djibouti in the dangerous for long parts of same round with the winner third round on December 7. the game before the Premier from Oman and Somalia. From each group in the League leaders hit back some- In Group B, Tunisia will first and second teams, win- what out of the blue and with meet the winner from ners will qualify. The first of some luck - with De Bruyne’s and Mauritania match, and Group A will face the second ball seemingly an intended the UAE will meet in of the Group B, and the first cross and Mahrez’ free-kick the first round on November of Group B with the second going through the PSG wall. 30, while Tunisia will meet group of Group A, and the first The return leg is on Tues- with Syria, and the UAE will of group C will play with the day at the Etihad where City meet the winner from Yemen second of Group D; and the manager Pep Guardiola and Mauritania in the second first of Group D will play with hopes to make the final set Manchester City’s Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League first leg round on December 3. Tunisia the second of Group C. for May 29 in Istanbul for the semi-final match against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Wednesday. Monachester City won 2-1.( AFP) will face the UAE, and Syria The tournament will be first time in a decade since his meet with the winner from held at six of the FIFA World Barcelona days. drid and Chelsea drew 1-1 in their return leg at Stamford Scoreline: PSG 1 (Marquinhos De Bruyne 64’, Riyad Mehrez Yemen and Mauritania in the Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums Record winners Real Ma- the other tie on Tuesday, with Bridge on Wednesday. 15’) Manchester City 2 (Kevin 71’). third round on December 6. which will be revealed later.