The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has signed co-operation agreements with the Japan Football Association (JFA) and the Korea Football Association at the QFA’s headquarters in Al Bidda Tower, Doha, yesterday. 
QFA president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani signed the agreements with JFA president Kohzo Tashima and KFA president Chung Monggyu respectively.
The signing ceremonies were also attended by QFA vice president Saoud al-Mohannadi.
The agreement with Japan focuses on co-operation in several key areas, mainly technical and professional exchanges, national teams, exchange of expertise (including coach education and youth development), game development, player development and referee development. The two organisations will also focus on joint efforts to explore the possibility of organising friendly matches between the two associations.
The agreement with Korea is set to establish a framework to strengthen co-operation between the two associations, to encourage knowledge exchange and to enhance football growth in the respective countries.
Both the presidents appreciated the warm welcome by Qatar, and were delighted with the agreements.
 “I am delighted to come to my second home Qatar and thank Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani for the warm welcome and hospitality,” Tashima said.
“This agreement will benefit both countries, especially as Qatar has become a great football power in Asia, and is preparing to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar in five years’ time. By following the size of the great achievement reached by Qatar I am certain that Qatar has sufficient time to host and stage a unique tournament. I had pleasure of visiting the Qatar national teams centre at Aspire, which is a world-class centre with great facilities and is set to open its doors soon for the teams which will definitely help the teams achieve great results.”
For his part, Monggyu said, “We have a long history of joint work and this agreement will undoubtedly have a great positive influence on strengthening the relations between us and the QFA.
“This is my second time visiting Qatar and I have already noticed the tremendous stadium and infrastructure progress being achieved to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. I am confident that Qatar will stage a unique and successful tournament. Qatar does not only represent the Middle East, it represents the whole of Asia too. Therefore, staging the World Cup in Qatar means that this is the second time Asia gets the opportunity to stage such a prominent and important tournament, which is truly a great honour for all of us in the region.”
QFA’s al-Ansari said, “The co-operation agreement comes in light of the common interests between both parties in order to achieve the desired results and objectives, which ensure the overall long term development of football for both countries. This is a great opportunity for QFA to adopt some of the development strategies that the KFA has put in place recently as it focuses heavily on the development of football.”
QFA has now signed agreements with Oman Football Association (OFA), Uzbekistan Football Federation (UFF), and the Korea Football Association (KFA) as part of its strategy to develop football in Qatar and enhance its relationship with its various Asian counterparts.