The Council stressed that this international event is the result of Qatar's wise policies.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Friday announced the dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the tournament to be held outside of the summer for the first time considering the climate of the host nation, the official Qatar News Agency reported.

Qatar is reconsidering its 2022 World Cup fan concept after witnessing how Moscow has experienced the influx of tens of thousands of foreign supporters.

The invitation was accepted by Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, who is in Argentina attending the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) congress.

Felix Sanchez said the possibility of playing against some of the world's best teams was "very exciting".

Football legend Xavi Hernandez has been named as the first global ambassador for the Supreme Committee for Delivery& Legacy (SC) – the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure required for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar’s economy may gain traction this year on the back of stronger fixed investment—aided by ongoing preparations for the 2022 World Cup—and healthy global growth, FocusEconomics has said in a recent report.

The SC and the Building and Wood Workers' International have published the findings of a series of inspections carried out at four FIFA World Cup stadium sites during 2017.

Qatar will host every game of the 2022 World Cup, the country's senior tournament organiser insisted on Friday, amid speculation the Gulf political crisis would force the country to relocate matches.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino sees no need for a re-vote for the 2022 World Cup and had a dig at those who can’t seem to stop criticising Qatar and Russia.

Major Ali Mohammed al-Ali, deputy executive director for security with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the body overseeing the tournament, also predicted that Qatar would deliver "the safest World Cup in the world".

The Barcelona great, 37, who currently plays in Qatar for Al Sadd, told AFP he is "90 per cent" certain to retire at the end of this season and then launch his coaching career.