years to learn how to host the world in
2022,” he said.
In fact, Qatar doesn’t have to go far
to learn how to deal with COVID. The
Gulf nation stepped in to save the
2020 AFC Champions League. The
tournament was suspended last March
with just one or two group games
played. There were few willing hosts
ready later in the year but Qatar
provided a “bio-secure bubble” and it
allowed the group and knockout stages
to be finished without too much trouble.
Asian club events are one thing, the
World Cup is quite another. Without
COVID-19, organisers of the 2022
World Cup would be delighted with
where they are at the start of 2021. But
with the global pandemic still raging,
nobody knows what is going to happen.
QATARAhmed Bin Ali
Stadium...The
latest completed
stadium was
inaugurated in
DecemberWinners...Ulsan Hyundai lifted the 2020 AFC Champions League in the AlJanoub Stadium