We deserve the 2022 World Cup Thursday, 18 November 2010 03:22

Last night, we proved to FIFA — and the world at large — if any proof were needed that we are indeed a nation that almost viscerally loves the beautiful game and deserves to hold the World Cup in 2022. Anybody who was in Doha last night would vouch that much.

All roads, for the people of Doha and beyond, led to Khalifa Stadium, where Argentina played Brazil. The 50,000-seat stadium was packed to capacity. Tickets were sold out two weeks in advance. And that was just a friendly match. Those who thought getting a ticket won’t be a hassle and kept in till the last minute had to content themselves watching it on the telly or following the game on the Internet, including over 10,000 people on our website. Indeed all of Doha watched the two world champions playing and Messi showing his magic.

With everybody in Qatar, citizens and expatriates, and all people in the Middle East region looking to Qatar winning the World Cup 2022 bid, last night’s successful hosting of the match was yet another plus.

In Qatar, we believe that there is a solution to any difficulty because we are a nation of doers - of determined and persistent individuals. And there is nothing that needs done for the World Cup that cannot be done.

We have mentioned in several articles previously that having the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be a win-win for Qatar and the Middle East and for FIFA and the world that loves football.

Qatar is located in the best time zone for viewers on either side of the world to watch matches on television at a convenient time. Because of this, there will be more people who can watch the matches no matter what time zone they belong to. This will also make the advertising sectors happy since they can reach more people at any given time.

And Qatar’s investment in IT and technology for the 2022 World Cup bid will ensure that football technology will be revolutionized.

Qatar has found a solution to overcome the heat, one of the main worries for FIFA, through technological means.

Qatar holding the 2022 World Cup will also give a chance to build a culture bridge between the Middle East and the rest of the world.

The young population of the Middle East is also a new market for FIFA. H E Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the youngest Chairman of all the bidding teams and Qatar’s Bid Committee is the youngest among all bid committees. This goes to show the commitment that the youth in Qatar and the Middle East have in bringing the World Cup to this part of the world.

Another advantage in holding the World Cup 2022 in Qatar is the country’s compact size. Qatar is a small country so the distances between the venues are short and easily navigable.

Some people have been saying that due to Qatar’s small size, logistics will be a problem. However, there is a solution for that through time and motion engineering.

This year, around three million pilgrims went to Makkah to perform the Hajj.

Makkah is an area smaller than Qatar, yet the movement of that huge number has been so well managed. Managing a large number of people is not something new; it has been done for centuries. There is no reason why 500,000 people, expected to come for the 2022 World Cup, cannot be logistically managed if there is a proper system and procedure.

In the end, football is for all, for countries with cold climate and those in the hotter region, for big countries and for small ones.

THE PENINSULA