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Qatar looks to Iran for World Cup support

By Shane McGinley
"Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who is set to visit Iran on Thursday. Source: Creative Commons

Qatar’s emir is planning to use his visit to Tehran tomorrow to discuss ways Iran can help with the staging of the FIFA World Cup, including increasing flights between the two countries.

“Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will travel to Iran tomorrow to follow up on recent agreements and expand bilateral ties, notably cooperation on the holding of the 2022 Football World Cup,” Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Wednesday.

The FIFA World Cup will be staged in Qatar from November 21 to December 18 later this year.

In an interview with IRNA, Adnan Mousapour, chairman of the Iran – Qatar Chamber of Commerce, said he hoped the Qatari leader’s visit would help to iron out ways in which Iranian businesses can contribute to the staging of the World Cup in Qatar.

Mousapour told IRNA a large delegation of Iranian businesses from the private sector was also planning to travel to Qatar in June to meet Qatari businesses and trade officials to discuss further opportunities.

“Iran’s private sector is ready to offer hosting services and supply goods and meet demands for Qatar during the 2022 World Cup which is going to be held in Qatar this year,” Mousapour was quoted as saying.

The chairman also noted that Iran and Qatar were also aiming to increase direct flights between the two countries during the World Cup.

Last week, IRNA reported that Iran and Qatar had signed a number of agreements to cooperate on specific areas regarding the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The report said that leaders from both countries were also exploring ways to release Iranian funds in other countries.

Following his visit to Qatar, the emir will visit Germany, Britain and other European states to discuss efforts to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal as well as energy security in Europe, a source briefed on the visit told Reuters on Sunday.

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