Some 4,500 people packed out the stadium's fan zone as it showed France beating Belgium 1-0 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Russia, knowing that the clock is ticking for Qatar's World Cup in 2022.

The AFC Executive Committee, meeting in Moscow, decided in line with the AFC’s Vision and Mission, which sets out the objective of supporting the delivery of top level competitions in Asia.

The AFC will now provide administrative, organisational and technical support to the FIFA World Cup hosts and the Executive Committee has requested to receive an update at its next meeting to be held in September.

Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President, said: "Hosting the FIFA World Cup is a prestigious occasion for any country and for any Confederation and Asia has been honoured with the awarding of the tournament in 2022.

"It will be the second time that the Continent has staged the biggest football tournament in the world and we are determined to ensure that Qatar enjoy the same success and same plaudits as Korea Republic and Japan when they were joint hosts in 2002.

"The focus of global sport has turned to Asia recently and that spotlight will continue to shine brightly in the coming years. Not only is there a FIFA World Cup in 2022 but also later this year the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and that is quickly followed by our AFC Asian Cup in the same country.

"Add to that an Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 and a Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022 and it is clear that Asia is at the epicentre of the sports world and the duty of the AFC is to support the hosts as well as the competing teams."

Talking exclusively to www.sc.qa ahead of facing Asia’s top-ranked team Iran in Thursday’s FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Asian Qualifiers, the 24-year-old Al Sadd player called the game at the home of his club “one of the most important in my career” and added that he is prepared for even bigger occasions that will beckon in the future.

“The 2018 FIFA World Cup could be the last for some of my teammates if we qualify, but I have age on my side and can play in front of my countrymen in the dream-come-true tournament in 2022,” said Asad, who has scored 10 international goals in 40 appearances.

“Everyone in the Qatar Football Association and Aspire Academy are doing their best to prepare a good team for 2022 – which should contain a mixture of youth and experience. I will be 28 then, which is when midfielders peak. As one of the experienced players in the squad, I will take on more responsibility and guide the youngsters.” 

Asad sees the fixtures against Iran and then Uzbekistan (on March 28) as stepping stones towards showcasing Qatar as a fast-improving Asian side. He said: “We will compete hard against Iran. We played well in Tehran in September and lost only because of a goalkeeping error at the death.

Hong is fully aware of the benefits of hosting a FIFA World Cup on home soil after leading his nation to the semi-finals in 2002, and winning the Bronze Ball in the process as the tournament’s third best player.

Now the CEO of the Korean Football Association, Hong is proud that Qatar will host the continent’s second FIFA World Cup in five years’ time.

When speaking to www.sc.qa during the recent AFC Annual Awards in Bangkok, Hong said the 22nd edition of the tournament could boost both economic and football development in Qatar and the region.

“The KFA are proud of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” said Hong, who coached his national team to a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics. “The whole of Asia must get behind Qatar. Hosting the World Cup is likely to do wonders to Qatar’s economy, as well as fast-track its development as a football nation.”