Qatar to play China under air con

Preparations for Qatar's crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier with China were bizarrely overshadowed by the issue of air-conditioning on Wednesday, just 24 hours before kick-off.

An artist's impression shows the inside of the proposed Al Bayt Stadium for the 2022 World Cup. Source: Qatars Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy

Host Qatar will cool pitch temperatures to around 24 degrees Celsius on Thursday for the crunch match in AFC's Group C.

Currently Qatar is top of the group with a 100 per cent record from its three games.

China sits second, also unbeaten, but has seven points from three games following a disappointing 0-0 draw with Hong Kong.

Temperatures in Doha are predicted to reach approximately 35 degrees Celsius for Thursday's early evening kick-off.

But bemused visitor China, who has spent time in Dubai to acclimatise for the game, was only informed of the use of air conditioning on Wednesday evening.

Asked in a press conference on Wednesday when they were told about the use of cooling technology, China's coach Alain Perrin looked at his watch and said: "About 20 minutes ago."

"If we knew about the air conditioning before the game, maybe we would have stayed in China rather than gone to Dubai," joked Frenchman Perrin.

His captain Zheng Zhi diplomatically said air-conditioning would be good for both sides but confirmed the Chinese had only just been informed.

"This is the first time I will play in a match with air-conditioning. The information is a little bit late but it's good news," he told reporters.

Qatar's coach Jose Daniel Carreno said the cooling technology was a "positive thing for both teams".

"The players will be much more energetic, I think it will be helpful to both teams, not one at the expense of the other," he added.

Heat, Qatar and World Cups are never far from controversy.

The tiny Gulf state is hosting the World Cup finals in 2022 and has had to switch the tournament from it's traditional June-July dates to November and December that year because of concerns over its fierce desert climate.