DOHA (Qatar) - All eyes will be on hosts Qatar when Doha stages the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027.
It will be just the second time the “Al Annabi” take part in the event, and first since their debut 20 years ago in Japan.
Some of the players of the 2006 Qatar generation have remained in the sport since their retirement, working on various roles in Qatar Basketball.
One, however, Khalid Suliman Abdi, remains not only an active player, but a protagonist for the Al Arabi club at 39 years of age.
While he's no longer in the national team, he understands how significant an opportunity it is for Qatar to stage the World Cup.
"I am very proud and excited that Qatar will host the World Cup," he said. "It is a great achievement for our country and basketball in the Middle East.
"I strongly believe that with the experience we have now, we can compete against the greatest teams and show the world that we can play at a high level and win games. I am excited to watch our team."
Khalid Suliman Abdi was an 18-year-old member of the Qatar team that hosted the FIBA Asia Cup 2005 and finished third.
A 1.98m small forward, his best three games were in the knockout round. He scored 12 points against Jordan in the Quarter-Finals, and then had 16 in both a Semi-Final defeat to Lebanon and a Third-Place Game triumph over Korea.
"It was a proud and emotional moment for us," he said. "I remember we lost to Lebanon in the semifinal, and we were very disappointed.
"But we still had another chance to qualify for the 2006 World Cup by winning third place. We played against South Korea in a very tough and hard game, and we managed to win. The whole country was very happy and celebrated with us. It was a special moment for Qatar basketball."
That success punched the national team's ticket for the Japan World Cup and gave Khalid Suliman Abdi a chance to play on the big stage.
"My greatest memories were us playing in that difficult group against Greece, Brazil, Lithuania, Australia and Türkiye," he said.
It was an incredibly difficult schedule for Qatar. It was David v Goliath in every game.
"They were elite teams with a lot of experience," he said. "At some point we were leading in the score at the opening game against Greece, who went on to beat United States in the semifinal.
"Overall, as a young player I was very happy to have this opportunity in my career. Our horizons were broadened. Because of this experience now I can share what I learned with my teammates and especially the younger generation to help them in their careers.
"The 2006 World Cup helped me grow, learn and become a better player; competing against these top players gave me a lot of confidence."
Khalid Suliman Abdi has a message for the players that will be in next year's team.
PLAY WITH CONFIDENCE, WORK HARD AND REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY WITH PRIDE
"Believe in yourselves, play with confidence, work hard and represent your country with pride," he added. "Give your best effort, continue improving and enjoy the experience of competing on the biggest stage."
Khalid Suliman Abdi says 2027 is not just important for Qatar.
It's a huge chance for basketball in the Middle East.
"I believe that hosting the World Cup will help in the development of basketball in the region," he shared.
"It was one of the best decisions to let Qatar host this tournament. We thank FIBA and everyone who supported bringing the World Cup to the Middle East. It will inspire young players and help basketball grow in the Middle East."
Doha has a proven track record in hosting major sporting events and Khalid Suliman predicts that “fans from all over the world will enjoy the hospitality, safety and culture of Qatar."
"I believe it will be like what happened during the football World Cup, where people were very excited and happy," he said.
"Fans will enjoy the atmosphere, meet different cultures and create beautiful memories with their friends and families."
As for his longevity, and how long he wants to keep playing, he says retirement is out of the question for now.
Yet he can see a team when he gets involved in coaching.
"My passion for basketball keeps me motivated," he assured. "I enjoy competing and improving my game.
"My achievements push me to work harder and perform better every time. I also want to use my experience to support and inspire young players."
FIBA