Discussions about the scheduling of football tournaments in the Middle East during the next three years are currently being held in Doha, Qatar. The meeting between the general secretaries of the seven competing nations in the latter-mentioned tournament has centred on where and when the next three runnings are to take place.
The Emirates are certain to host the 25th running, but questions have centred on whether this can be done in the same year as January 2019’s, 24-team Asian Cup. Al Dhaheri was convinced the tight calendar would not be a barrier.
He said: “The UAE will be more than ready to embrace the Gulf Cup in the same year as the 2019 Asian Cup, which will see 24 teams participating for the first time. The UAE Football Association is always ready to support the Gulf Cup.”
The 25th Gulf Cup would probably be held in December 2019.
A decision is set to be made about the matter Tuesday or Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Kuwait have been given a fresh chance to prove they can host this year’s much-debated Gulf Cup.
Political ructions in Kuwait during last summer about infrastructure saw the tournament cancelled from its original December 2015 running date, with FIFA’s later suspension of the country’s FA in October 2015 meaning the event was given to Qatar in the interim.
The general secretaries have now all agreed to give Kuwait a fresh opportunity, pending next month’s meeting of the FIFA Congress about the ban and a subsequent inspection of facilities.
