DOHA: Asia’s top teams will compete over 39 matches from the group stage through until the semi-final when they meet in Qatar to play out the remaining part of the AFC Champions League in the West region. Teams from Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and hosts Qatar will compete for a spot to play against the champion of the East Zone in the final of Asia’s most prestigious club competition on December 19, 2020. The tournament, hosted in four stadiums across Qatar, will mark the return of continental football to Qatar after the halt of all sporting activities in March this year to limit the spread of COVID-19. To ensure the safety of all participants, the Qatar Football Association (QFA), the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and the Qatar Stars League (QSL) have worked with all local stakeholders to ensure that there are robust measures in place throughout the tournament. These include mandatory COVID-19 testing, quarantine measures for both organisers and competitors, safe transportation methods, limiting access to stadiums, regular disinfection of all tournament venues, including training and media facilities, as well as the provision of medical staff throughout the competition. Most notably, no fans will be allowed entry into stadiums out of a commitment made by all parties to ensure the safe, yet gradual, return of international football across Asia. Three of the four stadiums to be used in the tournament are FIFA World Cup 2022™ stadiums, which means that the tournament will provide Qatar with another opportunity to prepare to host the world’s largest football tournament when it comes to the Arab world and the Middle East for the first time in just over two years’ time. Al Janoub, Education City, and Khalifa International Stadiums will all host matches during the tournament. Along with the fourth venue, Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, all venues are fitted with the latest sustainable cooling technology among other cutting-edge innovations. Qatari initiative to host tournament marks the return of continental football Commenting on the tournament, QFA President H.E. Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani said, "We are honoured and excited to have been selected as a host federation for the remaining matches of the AFC Champions League 2020. The tournament will be the first official continental competition held on FIFA World Cup™ stadiums outfitted with the latest cooling technology. Qatar has always been a home to Asian football, and despite the events of this year we remain committed to ensuring that players and fans can continue to compete and support as normally as possible. ‘We have always believed in the power of football to bring people together, and although these matches will not be open to the public, they will serve to unite all those fans cheering for their teams – wherever they are in the world,” he added. The AFC President and FIFA Senior Vice-President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa also expressed the AFC’s appreciation to the Qatar Football Association, the government of the State of Qatar and the relevant local authorities for their willingness to host and for the level of professionalism in ensuring the safe return of Asia’s premier club competition. Shaikh Salman said: “A huge amount of work has been undertaken to ensure these matches can kick off on September 14 and the AFC, along with the Qatar Football Association and our participating Member Associations have been extremely professional in ensuring that the matches can go ahead safely. ‘On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to thank the Qatar Football Association, the Qatar Government as well as health officials for putting in place the highest standards and protocols and for their commitment to Asian football. ‘It gives some hope to see football back and there has been great work in putting in place the necessary protocols and procedures to keep everyone safe, so we are taking the first steps. We will also work closely with all the stakeholders in Asia, and with FIFA, to ensure that football continues.” The compact nature of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ will also be evident during the tournament: all participating clubs will be able to stay in one accommodation throughout their stay in Qatar.  This will reduce travel time, allowing teams to focus more on improving performance on the pitch. The competing clubs will use three FIFA World Cup™ training sites during the competition, at Qatar University, Al Egla and Al Ersal, which will offer teams the opportunity to train on facilities built according to FIFA standards. “Hosting the AFC Champions League marks a great milestone in the return of football at a continental level, following the unprecedented disruption of the last few months, and we are proud to be able to step up to host such a prestigious tournament. Our top priority is to ensure that everyone involved in the event remains healthy and safe,  and we are working hard to make this so,” commented Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the AFC Champions League 2020 Local Organising Committee. He added, “The coming weeks will also allow us to review and refine our operations ahead of the FIFA World Cup with three Qatar 2022 venues being used. Many of the players taking part may be coming back in just over two years’ time with their national teams, so we are excited to be able to give them, and their fans, a sense of what awaits them at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.” The winner of the semi-final match in the AFC Champions League (West) will meet their counterpart from the East Zone on December 19, 2020 to claim the 2020 title. For more information, visit https://www.the-afc.com/.