Qatar Football AssociationInside QFA
18.08.2019 12:51 in :

DOHA: Qatar Football Association (QFA) has signed a cooperation agreement with ASEAN Football Federation member countries to develop the game across the region.

The agreement was signed by QFA Vice President Saud bin Al Mohannadi with Maj Gen Kheif Sameth, President of ASEAN, and the Vice-President of the Cambodian Football Federation.

QFA Secretary General Mansoor Al Ansari was also present at the signing ceremony.

The ASEAN Football Federation is a smaller organisation within the Asian Football Confederation, and centres on Southeast Asia. It was founded in 1984 by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

QFA’s Marketing and Communication chief, Khalid Al Kuwari, Head of International Relations Division, ASEAN Region, Mariano V. Araneta, President of the Philippine Football Association, Francois Calboday, President of the East Timor Federation, and Weston Lee, Secretary General of the ASEAN, attended the signing ceremony.

At the end of the signing ceremony, Maj Gen Kheif Semeth said the agreement is set to benefit both parties in various sectors in the coming years.

Matters relating to a possible joint ASEAN region bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup was also discussed. A study is currently underway among the member countries.

Numerous ASEAN member teams have already played in both men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups and achieved good results over the years.

ASEAN region has successfully completed programs related to marketing and social responsibility that QFA can benefit from, Semeth said.

The president of ASEAN also said that they are keen to see Qatar stage a successful 2022 FIFA World Cup when the event is staged for the second time in Asia since South Korea and Japan staged the tournament on 2002.

For his part, Al Ansari, Secretary General, QFA, underlined his country’s good football relations with all the ASEAN regional associations.

“QFA looks forward to enhancing cooperation with ASEAN bodies in the future also,” Al Ansari said.

Al Ansari said QFA continues to sign agreements to develop football across continents.

The QFA Secretary General also highlighted Qatar’s strong presence within Asian Football Confederation committees.

In recent years, QFA has signed numerous football development agreements with African, European, South American and North American football authorities.