Qatar in talks to host Club World Cup

Doha : Qatar is in discussion with FIFA to host several major international tournaments ahead of 2022 including the Club World Cup currently held by Real Madrid, sources familiar with the matter have said. 

The Gulf state could also be the venue for the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups.

Sources say each of the three competitions are being considered by the Qatari authorities and football’s governing body.

Potentially, all three tournaments could be played in Qatar in 2021.

The Emirate is urgently looking for test events to try out the multi-billion dollar infrastructure it is putting in place -- and which is reshaping the country -- for the 2022 World Cup finals.

Concerns about Qatar’s fiercely hot summers -- which prompted FIFA to move the World Cup from June/July 2022, to November/December that year -- also meant football’s governing body ruled out playing the 2021 Confederations Cup in Doha.

On a trip to Qatar in February, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Qatar needed rehearsal tournaments but at the time said no specific discussions were taking place.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that talks were underway and that the three tournaments “are options which are all
open”.

The Club World Cup is held annually, and was most recently won by Real Madrid, who beat Japan’s Kashima Antlers in the final.

The tournament is traditionally played in December, the same time of the year the 2022 World Cup will be played.

The U-17 tournament is held every two years, the next event taking place in India in October this year.

The U-20 World Cup is also held biannually, and the next competition begins in South Korea in May.