Qatar To Host Asian Cup 2011

Qatar will be the host nation for the 2011 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced today.

Qatar was the only country from West Asia to submit a bid to host the competition and was duly awarded the event by the AFC ahead of today's Asian Cup final between Iraq and Saudi Arabia in Jakarta.

AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, himself a Qatari, said of the decision:

"I think it will be a great tournament. The Asian Cup from now on will be different from what we've seen in the past, in terms of organisation, in terms of popularity and in terms of standard. This is my promise to you."

Qatar previously hosted the Asian Cup in 1988 and along with Iran (1968 and 1976) is now the only country to host the event more than once.

The tournament will most likely be staged in January, as the weather in a July tournament would be too hot for the players in the Gulf state.

Qatar successfully hosted the Asian Games in 2006.

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