DOHA: Only months before the start of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia this January, the trophy has been on tour around Asia. At a recent stopover in Doha, the Australian ambassador to Qatar and the UAE met, as on a number of recent occasions, with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy to discuss trade opportunities and possibilities for cooperation as the two countries prepare to host respective major sporting events.

Also present was Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano, who plays his football in the Qatar Stars League and said: “I think it will be a successful (World) Cup. I have been here for two years, I have seen how much both the city and sports have improved and developed, so I think eight years from now it will be a very impressive World Cup. I have also seen the presentation for the World Cup, the designs of the stadium, infrastructure they are working on, and obviously nice hotels. So it will be beautiful spot for fans to come and watch the games,” said the 34-year-old to The Peninsula of Qatar.

Bresciano added that fans would benefit from not having to travel within Qatar: “I think one of the beneficial parts of playing in Qatar is no travelling. So a lot of people can watch a lot of football driving in a car and going to various stadiums. Football in the Middle East has developed over 7-8 years. I have been here for two years and I have seen how much both the city and the sports have improved and developed.”

Qatar, who will be stationed in Australia’s capital city Canberra for the Asian Cup, have also received praise from the host nation’s head coach, Ange Postecoglou.

After losing to Qatar by one goal to nil, Postecoglou told www.sc.qa that by “looking at Qatar’s recent performances they’ve done well, we knew coming here to Qatar that they would be fairly advanced in preparations with the Gulf Cup very close.”

Finally, Postecoglou’s veteran midfielder Bresciano admitted he “would love to play Qatar in the final.”