December 9 – World Cup hosts Qatar are to be included as a guest team in the European section of qualifying for the 2022 tournament in order to gain more match experience.
The move will see the Qataris placed in Group A with all their fixtures against Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan treated as vital friendlies for their preparation and not counting for points.
“As the next FIFA World Cup host nation, Qatar has already qualified for the tournament – meaning any results involving Qatar will not count towards qualification,” the Qatari FA confirmed. “Qatar will play its ‘home’ matches in Europe in order to allow short travel times for their opponents.”
Qatar, ranked 59 in the world, are the first host nation since the 1930s never to have played in any previous World Cup. They will play each European Group A opponent twice but the venues are yet to be decided. Their first fixture will be on March 24 against Luxembourg
France underwent a similar process before hosting Euro 2016 in matches that were known as ‘centralised friendlies’.
“As Qatar has already qualified for the 2022 Fifa World Cup as hosts, Uefa has invited them to join with the teams of Group A to help their squad prepare for the tournament,” a Uefa statement added.
To further their preparations, Qatar are already set to take part in the Copa América next June, then the Concacaf Gold Cup the following month. And in December 2021 they will host the Arab Cup, a new test event for the finals.
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