Spaniard Sanchez has called the players for the June 12 to July 3 training camp, after coordinating with QFA, the Qatar Stars League and respective clubs.

QFA said the players and the coaching staff will strictly adhere to medical protocols outlined by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

The decision, following consultation with the 15 clubs, is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MAs representing Australia, China PR, Japan, Korea Republic, Malaysia and Thailand in the East Zone and Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan in the West Zone also committed to agreeing a format and timetable for the 99 remaining games as soon as possible.

Recognising the travel and medical restrictions, which differ across the Continent, the AFC proposed a series of options for concluding the AFC Champions League before the start of the scheduled FIFA Club World Cup to be held in Qatar in December.

Following comments by the representatives in the meetings, the AFC will present the format and the dates of the club competitions for the final review, after which the proposal will be submitted to the AFC Competitions Committee for their approval.

Having undergone surgery to repair a fractured right arm in the wake of the 3-2 win at Aston Villa on February 16, where he sensationally scored a last-gasp winner despite carrying the injury, the flying forward returned to his home country during lockdown and completed his mandatory three-week military service in April.

The Japan Football Assocation (JFA) hopes the WE League – pronounced ‘we’, based on the acronym for ‘women’s empowerment’ – will feature between six and 10 teams in its inaugural season, running from the Japanese autumn to the following May.

New Zealand, triumphant in the OFC Qualifiers, awaited the winners between 2007 AFC Asian Cup runners-up Saudi Arabia and their neighbours Bahrain who had come within a whisker of reaching the FIFA World Cup in their previous attempt four years earlier.

When the action eventually resumes, several fiercely contested groups will ensure the race for the 12 available final round qualifying places for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is sure to be exciting.