AFP
Doha
Qatar will host every game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the country's senior tournament organiser insisted on Friday, amid speculation the ongoing Gulf crisis would force Doha to relocate some matches.
Hassan al Thawadi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said:"Qatar is the sole host country of the 2022 World Cup and will host the 64 matches of the tournament across eight planned venues."
He maintained that preparations for the tournament were on schedule, despite the ongoing eight-month GCC crisis.
Responding to a recent media claim that the 2022 matches could be played elsewhere in the region, Thawadi added that all stadiums would be completed by 2020, with FIFA to decide later this year on the final number of venues.
He also said there would be enough accommodation provided for visiting fans ” claiming that Qatar would exceed its bid promise of 100,000 rooms ” and none would be housed in migrant labour camps, as recently reported.
"The project is very much on schedule and FIFA is happy with our progress," added Thawadi.
Khalifa International Stadium became the first 2022 FIFA World Cup venue to open in May 2017.