Iran prepared to help Qatar host glorious 2022 World Cup, President Raeisi says

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has voiced the country’s preparedness to provide Qatar with whatever assistance it needs to better and more magnificently host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 18 this year in the Persian Gulf kingdom.

During a telephone conversation with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday evening, Raeisi expressed Tehran’s satisfaction with the holding of the tournament in Qatar and wished the Arab country success in hosting the high-status event.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide Qatar with whatever assistance and help it needs to better and more magnificently host World Cup fixtures through Kish Island and other islands nearby. We are confident that the world will see unforgettable matches, given the planning done,” the Iranian president pointed out.

In a draw ceremony held in the Qatari capital city of Doha on Friday night, Iran’s national football team was drawn in Group B of the 2022 FIFA World Cup along with England, the United States, and the winner of Europe’s Path A playoff that contains Wales vs. Ukraine or Scotland.

2022 World Cup: Iran drawn with England, US in Group B

The draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been made in Doha, and Iran have joined England and the US in an interesting group, not just for footballing reasons.

Team Melli, as the Iranian national football team is famously called, will play its first match against England on November 21, its second match against Europe’s Path A winner on November 25, and its third one against the US on November 29.

The Iranian national team topped their group in both the second and the third rounds of the AFC qualification contests with 18 and 25 points respectively.

Due to a higher FIFA ranking, Iran did not need to take part in the first round of the contests.

Iran played with Iraq, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Cambodia in the second round; and with South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon in the third round.

Sheikh Tamim, for his part, voiced his satisfaction with Team Melli’s participation in the World Cup.

“In this tournament, we will welcome our brothers well,” he said, noting that Iran’s group is a sensitive one that will surely produce entertaining games.

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The Qatari emir went on to highlight that Qatar’s Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Qasemi will soon meet in Kish Island to discuss cooperation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup matches.

Also on Sunday evening, Raeisi pointed to the enormous potential for upgrading the level of Tehran-Doha relations, calling for the activation of all capacities for cooperation and closer coordination to serve the interests of both nations and establish stability and security in the region.

The Iranian president said great decisions will be made during the forthcoming visit of the Qatari emir to Tehran in the near future, emphasizing that the decisions will help further develop bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in various areas.

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