Qatar has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2011 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Sunday.

President of AFC confident of Qatar bid to host the 2011 Asian Cup

Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), showed confidence in Qatar's bid for the 2011 Asian Cup at a press conference on Friday.

India and Iran had expressed their will to host the 2011 edition of the biggest soccer tournament within the continent, but dropped before the deadline requested by the AFC and made Qatar the only candidate for the bid.

Hammam stressed that the selection process could be thrown open again if the Executive Committee is not satisfied with Qatar's bidding.

"If the Executive Committee is not happy with Qatar's bid on July 29 then we will throw it open again, but so far we are happy.

"If the Executive Committee is not happy with the presentation then Qatar should be hosts, or if the Executive Committee has doubts or are not happy with Qatar's bid, then we will have no alternative but to open up to other countries to bid.

"I do believe that Qatar will pass on July 29."