Draw Stage Set For FIFA Arab Cup

  Draw Stage Set For FIFA Arab Cup By Oluwayemi Omolagba The draw for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 has been conducted at Katara Opera House in Doha. The nine highest-ranked teams, including host country Qatar, will join the seven winners from the qualifying stage in the final tournament. The 16 teams have been drawn into four groups of four. The four group winners and four group runners-up will proceed to the knockout stage: quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and final. The matches will take place at six Qatar 2022 stadiums, with the venues set to be confirmed in due course. The tournament will take place later this year during a similar time slot to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It is seen as a vital opportunity to test operations and facilities exactly a year before Qatar hosts the first World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world. Nasser Al Khater, CEO, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, said: “Following the successful hosting of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019 and 2021, the FIFA Arab Cup provides Qatar with yet another opportunity to test our plans and preparations ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Fans, players and officials will have the opportunity to use World Cup infrastructure, including stadiums, training sites and other facilities. We greatly look forward to hosting national teams from across the Arab world as we build up to the biggest sporting event in our region’s history in 2022.” FULL DRAW Group A: Qatar, Iraq, Oman or Somalia & Bahrain or Kuwait Group B: Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Syria & Mauritania or Yemen Group C: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or South Sudan & Palestine or Comoros Group D: Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon or Djibouti & Libya or Sudan