Announcement: Qatar to Host 2022 World Cup November 20-December 18
Arab Countries Proud to Have One of their Own Hosting World Cup
Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup during Northern Hemisphere winter months. The timing was due to soaring summer temperatures in the country. Part of Qatar’s bid included a “focused cooling” air-conditioning system.
Qatar does not have a long or rich soccer history, but it did put in the winning technical bid. Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani, noted, “From the day we launched our bid to the day our country’s name was pulled from the envelope in Zurich, we played strictly by the rules.”
That was over ten years ago, when the bidding began. Qatar promoted their hosting of the tournament as representing the Arab World and it drew support from among the Arab League’s member states. It also saw its bid as bridging the gap between the Arab World and the West.
The then-president of FIFA (The Fédération Internationale de Football Association) supported the idea of having a World Cup in the Arab World. He said, “The Arabic world deserves a World Cup. They have 22 countries and have not had any opportunity to organize the tournament”. Qatar has put billions into football, including its purchase of the team Paris Saint Germain and its sponsorships of teams Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Let the games begin!
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