Something truly special (and spectacular!) is going to happen in November: The Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022. The event has put Qatar firmly in the limelight, with several firsts associated with it. It will be the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East and the first to be hosted by an Arab nation. It will also be the first World Cup in the northern hemisphere that will not be held during the summer. The tournament is instead scheduled for late November to mid-December. It will be played in a reduced timeframe of around 28 days, with the final being held on December 18 2022, coinciding with the Qatar National Day.
What does this mean for Qatar?
The FIFA World Cup has enabled Qatar to move from the periphery of global sports and politics to the centre. The country was chosen to host the 2022 World Cup by FIFA way back in 2010. The decision came as a big surprise to many nations, but Qatar seized the moment and made the most of it. The country was quick to realize that it was competing with the big-wigs of the global sport and needed to make the event memorable. Accordingly, it started the preparations in right earnest and, at the same time, took the opportunity to pursue broader aims, such as modernizing its laws and its infrastructure and enhancing its socio-political reputation.
Some of the steps the country took include launching beIN Sports, a global network of sports channels, sponsoring soccer clubs all over the world (such as Bayern Munich via Qatar Airways) and owning the French soccer club, Paris Saint-Germain via Qatar Sports Investment (QSI). In the process, Qatar has positioned itself strongly among international sports networks.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be hosted across eight stadiums. In the build-up to the prestigious event, Qatar has spent billions of dollars constructing eco-friendly and architecturally advanced sporting facilities, undertaking other infrastructure developments, and expanding its transportation capabilities.
The nation started preparations methodically, setting up the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) in 2011 to oversee the delivery and staging of the mega event. SC has made rapid progress in building stadiums and other infrastructure. In the process, it has ensured that the tournament, and the steps taken in the run-up to it, contribute to Qatar’s sustainable development. The General Secretary of SC, H.E. Hassan Al-Thawadi, has estimated that the total value of the various infrastructural and construction projects is around $6 billion.
Tangible benefits
Hosting FIFA World Cup 2022 is already creating a lasting legacy for Qatar. SC is forging a sustainable future for the country through infrastructure, education, football for development, support for regional innovation, and the improvement of the welfare of workers. Sustainability has been at the heart of the event right from the beginning.
FIFA and Qatar jointly presented the FIFA World Cup Sustainability Strategy, which sets new benchmarks for social, human, economic, and environmental development. The document outlines five commitments, including human rights, diversity, and environmental protection, as well as 22 sustainability-related objectives. SC plans to set a precedent for future FIFA World Cup competitions and other mega sporting events and is leaving no stone unturned to make it a huge success.
The football World Cup is also going to give a fillip to Qatar’s tourism landscape, which has witnessed a downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation witnessed a 73% drop in total visitor arrivals between 2019 and 2020. The 2022 World Cup is expected to boost tourism, increase international visibility, and give a shot in the arm to Qatar’s soft power. It will also enable Qatar to showcase its culture, history, identity, and hospitality. From the look of it, the event will be an unforgettable experience for fans, spectators, players, and other stakeholders.
