Qatar World Cup chiefs insist they are on course to be ready for 2022 despite fresh doubts over whether they will be able to host tournament.
According to the BBC a new report suggests that the political tensions in the area have put the showpiece event in jeopardy.
The decision by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to cut ties with their Gulf neighbour has had an impact on preparations for the tournament.
There are now major doubts as to whether the bold STG153 billion ($257b) scheme to build eight stadiums, 64 training grounds and a travel infrastructure is viable.
But Ghanim Ali Al Kuwari, Qatar’s competition venues executive director, says they are still on track to be ready for the tournament in five years.
“One stadium is ready and the other seven are on schedule,” he said.
“The blockade has actually been a benefit, I would say. We have different resources now, different support from different countries.
“Now we are using different technology, different prices and different quality, from countries like Turkey, Europe, England, France, Germany, China and the USA.”
The build-up to World Cup 2022 has been dogged with problems since it was controversially awarded to Qatar in 2010.
The tournament has subsequently had to be moved to winter because of the temperatures in the summer.
There have also been reports of migrant workers on construction sites being subjected to appalling conditions.
But Al Kuwari, speaking at the Aspire Academy event at London’s Stamford Bridge, added: “Our response to that is we will let anyone visit our construction sites and our accommodation, and they will find it perfectly good.”
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