Aspetar Magazine

61 ASPETAR MAGAZINE SPECIAL REPORT Interview with Dr. Khalid Alkhlaifi We sat down with Dr. Khalid Alkhelaifi to discuss the preparations and expectations for Qatar’s 2025 football quadruple header. What role is Aspetar expected to play in providing medical coverage during major upcoming sporting events such as the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™, FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the AGCFF U-17 Gulf Cup? Aspetar has been entrusted as the exclusive medical partner for these tournaments. Our role goes beyond providing on-site emergency coverage—we oversee the entire medical framework. This includes staffing medical teams at stadiums, training sites, and hotels, managing medical command centres, and coordinating specialised services like imaging, surgery, and rehabilitation at our hospital. How is Aspetar preparing for these high-profile tournaments from a medical and organisational standpoint? Preparation starts years in advance. We have a dedicated Event Medical Planning Unit that works together with the Local Organising Committees and FIFA’s Medical Department. Our preparations include risk assessments, staff training, simulation drills, and coordination with emergency services. By the time the first ball is kicked, every possible medical scenario will have been anticipated and rehearsed. What type of medical services is Aspetar planning to provide during the sporting events? Are there any anticipated challenges based on previous experiences? Services range from pitch-side emergency care, advanced imaging, and sports cardiology, to specialised rehabilitation and recovery. One of the biggest challenges in major tournaments is ensuring uniform medical standards across multiple venues. From our experience at the FIFA World Cup 2022™ and FIFA Arab Cup 2021, we know that logistics and coordination are key—and we’ve built systems to manage those efficiently. The upcoming year presents a unique challenge: four major tournaments back-to-back. Together, these events will bring thousands of players, staff, and spectators from across the world to Qatar. For Aspetar, it is both a responsibility and an opportunity to showcase its medical leadership. We adopt a proactive approach to risk management.