Before the 2022 world cup, Qatar will host two editions of the Fifa World Cup in 2019 and 2020. The two events will serve as a test before the world tournament in 2022.
A press release from FIFA said, “The upcoming editions of the seven team competition will serve as valuable test events in the build-up to the Fifa World Cup 2022, even more so since their timing-usually around early December-corresponds with that of the next Fifa World Cup, allowing for testing under similar climatic conditions.”
The two events are an attempt to prepare the country with an influx of foreign fans who will want to drink alcohol which is only available for foreigners in some handful of bars in the country.
Hassan al-Thawadi, the chief of the local Qatari organizing committee for 2022 World Cup said, “It is an amazing test competition for us. We will try to use the Club World Cup as a test in as many ways as possible.”
After Qatar hosts the final two editions of the tournament in its present form, FIFA will revamp it to include 24 teams, a move that has been opposed by the European Club Association which has issued a boycott threat.
The decision to give Qatar Club World Cup comes two weeks after FIFA settled on 32 countries for the 2022 world cup rather than expanding to 48 teams.
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