QATAR has been confirmed as the host nation for the 2011 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced yesterday.
The Gulf state was the only country to submit a formal bid to host the event but had to satisfy the AFC of its ability to stage the tournament before being confirmed as the host.
India and Iran had initially indicated they would bid but pulled out before the final deadline in May.
Under the AFC’s rotation policy, only countries from West Asia were allowed to bid but the AFC said it would have opened the bidding process had Qatar’s proposal failed to meet the required standards.
“I think it will be a great tournament,” AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, who is from Qatar, told a news conference.
“The Asian Cup from now on will be different from what we’ve seen in the past, in terms of organization, in terms of popularity and in terms of standard. This is my promise to you,” he said.
Qatar hosted the Asian Cup in 1988 and joins Iran (1968 and 1976) as the only countries to stage the event on more than one occasion.
Bin Hammam said it was likely the tournament would be staged in January. (SD-Agencies)