Abu Dhabi: Swapping one sunny climate for another, the UAE Asian Cup squad should feel at home as they set up their pre-competition camp at the height of Queensland’s summer on the Gold Coast of Australia in December.
The national team will become the first to base itself in the Sunshine State and the fifth to secure a pre-competition training site, joining Qatar in Canberra, Bahrain in Ballarat, China in Campbelltown and Jordan in Melbourne.
The Emirates team will arrive on the Gold Coast on December 23, giving them more than two weeks to prepare for Asia’s premier tournament and the biggest football event ever held in Australia.
Michael Brown, CEO of the Asian Cup Local Organising Committee, said the UAE’s decision was a huge boost for the Gold Coast.
“I’m sure the Emirates players, management and team delegation will receive an enthusiastic reception, and that the people of the Gold Coast will reach out and adopt the UAE team,” Brown said.
“With less than four months to go until kick-off, this is a timely reminder of how close we are to the first Asian Cup on Australian soil.”
The UAE will play their first two matches in Canberra before completing the group matches in Brisbane against former champions Iran on January 19.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he was delighted at securing the UAE team for the training camp.
“As part of our inaugural Sports Plan, we’re striving to become a world leader in sports training destinations and this announcement is another step in the right direction,” Tate said.