Iran offers help to Qatar for World Cup

Managing Director of Iran’s Physical Education Organization Ali Saeedlou has expressed Iran’s readiness to help Qatar in hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at al-Wajba Palace on Sunday, Saeedlou said that Iran is ready to assist Qatar in hosting the event in the best way, IRNA reported.

The Iranian official also congratulated Qatar for hosting the 2022 World Cup.

Sheikh Hamad also appreciated Iran’s support, saying that if Qatar hosts the prestigious tournament, it will be a progress for the Asian football as a whole.

The Qatari emir also voiced support for Saeedlou’s campaign to become the Asian Football Confederation’s vice president in the south central zone.

The elections will be held on January 6, 2011, in Doha, Qatar. Other candidates for the position are Nepal’s Ganesh Thapa, India’s Praful Patel, Sri Lanka’s Vernon Manilal Fernando, Pakistan’s Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and Kyrgyzstan’s Aibek Alybaev.

Earlier in December, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated the Qatari emir on the monarchy’s success in bids to host the World Cup.

Qatar is planning to build nine stadiums at a cost of $3 billion and is to provide them with air conditioning that ensures players and fans a temperature in the stadium of 27 degrees, while outside it can reach over 40.

The Islamic Republic has also offered to assist Qatar with the planning.

Saeedlou is in Qatar to watch Iran’s preparatory matches in the host country of the 2011 Asian Cup.

Team Melli is currently in Qatar for a 10-day training camp and will take on the host in a preparatory match on December 28. It will also play another game with Qatar’s second team a day later.

Head coach Afshin Qotbi’s men are scheduled to face Angola in another match on January 2 as well.

The White Jerseys are in Group D of the 2011 Asian Cup along with the UAE, North Korea and the defending champion, Iraq.

The AFC Asian Cup in Qatar runs from January 7 to 29.