UAE "qualified to host" World Cup and Olympics

Dr Joao Havelange, the former President of the world football body FIFA, believes the United Arab Emirates is qualified to host the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. "I have seen great improvement and progress in almost all fields of life including the field of sports and youth," he told Yasir Abbasher of Gulf News. " I do believe that FIFA is watching and appreciating this progress which will favour the country if they applied to host a major event and I really believe that the UAE is qualified to host the finals of the World Cup and the Olympic Games because of its infrastructure and organisational experiences."

Havelange was speaking at a press conference held at the headquarters of the UAE FA yesterday and attended by Abdul Mohsin Al Dossary, from the GAYSW, Younus Khory, the Financial Director of the FA and other sports personalities. "I visited Al Jazira Club and was amazed by the facilities at the club. Such establishments will make FIFA support the UAE's applications to host whatever football championship in the future," he said.