QATAR’S HOSTING FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

Ever since the hosting privileges were given to Qatar, it has created
image source- in.pinterest.com

several controversial statements for the tournament as it is the first time that FIFA world cup is hosted by Middle-East country. Their seems to be one of the main issues that Qatar faced was the lack of real football history in the country. As a result of it, a lot of football experts and fans questioned the capability of Qatar to host such a huge and legendary sporting event as the world cup.

A Winning Bid for Qatar
image source- in.pinterest.com

Qatar won the bid in 2010, the rights to host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The other tough competitors were USA, japan, South Korea and Australia. Eleven years later, now Qatar is more than ready to host the quadrennial footballing event. The tickets of the tournament are already sold out, accommodations with in the country’s capital Doha were already booked with 100+ new hotel in and around the town. Flights in and out are also scheduled of the country. On the top of it, allegations were made of bribery on Qatar, immediately after the country was announced as the host of the world cup 22. As per the reports, the President of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohammed Bin Hammam paid SGD 286,913 to several football officials most of them from Africa to vote for Qatar to win the bidding right.

Qatar’s history of Football
image source- in.pinterest.com

In addition to human rights violations, Qatar's inadequacies in regards to its soccer history and sporting infrastructure also contribute to concerns surrounding the FIFA World Cup. Back then, no authority was in charge of the footballing events in Qatar, so football had already been played since 1948. It was oil plant workers who organized football matches for the first time. Even so, Al Ahli SC was initially known as Al Najah, but was then renamed Al Ahli SC in the 1960s. Football is being played in Qatar since 1948. The first match of the football in the country was organized by the oil plant workers and the first club was named Al-Najah which was later renamed as Al Ahli SC. The Association of the Football of Qatar was established in 1960. Initially, the league matches were played at Doha Sports Stadium. In 1984, Qatar qualified to play in Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Talking about present, the Qatar National Football Team only has a few achievements in the Asian Football Tournament but never make a buzz internationally. Having won the AFC Cup for the first time in 2019, they won a championship title. In spite of their automatic qualification due to hosting privileges, this further cemented their place in the 2022 World Cup.

Preparations for the Event
image source- in.pinterest.com

Since 2010, Qatar is preparing for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar has spent an amount of SGD 315 billion for the tournament which includes the expenditure for the new stadiums, infrastructures, advertising, new hotels, roads, etc. According to the experts, the mentioned amount was valued as the biggest expenditure a host country has spent to host a FIFA world cup event. Initially, a survey find that there are lack of football stadiums in the country which was considered as the main and primary problem in the upcoming world cup tournament. However, Qatar’s excitement to showcase their vastness, the country decided to build an eco-city from scratch called LUSAIL specifically of the world cup attendees. Adding to it, new stadiums were built due to lack of stadiums and sport structure in the country. A World Cup in 2022 would be a milestone in Qatar's development as a Middle East center of football, according to the government of Qatar and FIFA organizers. They have designed and rebuild the stadiums and the names of the stadiums are Lusail Iconic Stadium, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Al Bayt stadium, Khalifa international stadium, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium.

Saar
Many of the football experts, fans and enthusiasts have said that Qatar will be one of the smallest country that will host the FIFA world cup.
Qatar has no impactful football history like Brazil and England has, which they surely have the deed to host a grand level sporting event like the FIFA world cup. Although there are a number of issues associated with the tournament, the anticipation built around the event proves that it will be a success. The FIFA World Cup 2022 is exciting, with 32 teams playing for the title of world champion, offering fans a new and exciting experience. The spectacle will be the first-ever tournament to be held in the Middle East, and it is expected to be a success. Until then, there’s so much to unravel, learn, and discover along the way and we will provide you with stories, news, and everything else in between leading up to the main event.