Turkish President Erdogan to visit Qatar on day World Cup kicks off

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that he is planning to visit Qatar on 20 November, the same day the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Doha.

He will visit neighbouring Bahrain before heading to Qatar in time for the hugely-anticipated football tournament, Anadolu Agency reported, where he is likely to meet with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The two leaders last met at a conference in Turkey last month.

Erodgan was a former semi-professional footballer in Turkey before he entered politics.

Turkey failed to qualify for this year's World Cup but is helping Qatar host the global football tournament.

Last month, it sent a warship to Qatar as part of an international security initiative for the event. It will also provide police to help with security with Qatar at World Cup stadiums and hotels during the tournament.

Qatar is expecting to receive over one million visitors for the World Cup, which will go on until 18 December.