DOHA, Dec 9, (KUNA): President of Qatar Football Association Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said Tuesday the Union of European Football Associations invited the Qatari national team to the UEFA qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Expressing delight at the invitation, Sheikh Hamad said in a press release, “The participation in the UEFA qualifyers alongside the Euro champions provides an ideal chance for our national team to enhance their preparedness for the World Cup.” “The Qatari team made outstanding achievements in the recent years, which culminated in winning the AFC Asian Cup last year,” he said, voicing pride for Qatar’s being the first Middle East country to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

The UEFA fixtures pitted the Qatari team in Group A alongside Azerbaijan, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Serbia. The results of the Qatari squad in the matches will not count regarding the final UEFA standings; they have already qualified for the World Cup 2022 after winning the AFC Asian Cup 2019. As part of preparation for the World Cup, the Qatari squad participated in the Copa America in Brazil last year and will participated this summer in the same tournament as well as the CONCACAF Gold Cup.