Fans arrived in Qatar expecting to watch quality football. In return, they not only watched high octane football for a month at the best of stadiums, they also got to see the real side of Qatari hospitality and how rich the Middle Eastern culture really is. Qatar threw the best ever World Cup party, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino
QATAR’S Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani waving the Saudi Arabian flag when their team stunningly beat Argentina 2-1 in their opening clash on November 22, 2022 at a packed Lusail Stadium was a freeze frame that symbolized friendship, honour and common love of football between the two neighbouring countries.
When tens of thousands of non-Argentine Messi fans – sporting the popular number 10 jerseys – converged at the eight FIFA World Cup 2022 venues and Fan Zones set up across the country, it was another symbolic gesture that the game’s showpiece tournament in Qatar was bringing the world together. The same frenzy was witnessed on the streets, at the shopping malls and on buses and trains throughout the tournament.
For England players and fans, the trophy didn’t come home but a stray cat did. Defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones – both of them featured in the 2-1 loss to France in the quarter-finals – adopted a stray cat they found at their training base in Al Wakrah. Stones and Walker named the cat Dave who is going through veterinary clinic tests and vaccinations before it spends four months in quarantine.
It’s been phenomenal, it’s been historical. You are a part of it, you are a part of history like nothing else,
HE Hassan Al Thawadi,
Every single one of you has made history.
Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy
On the pitch, Lionel Messi, 35, doing his magic for Argentina and World Cup hero Kylian Mbappe managing another wonderful event for France exhibited football of the highest order. Messi – the football icon of our times – and 23-year-old Mbappe – with the world at his feet – made sure more than a million ticket holders were happy that the money spent to come to Qatar was worth the effort.
Frenchwoman Stephanie Frappart made history when she headed an all-woman referee team for the Germany vs Costa Rica clash during the group stage matches at Al Bayt Stadium. It was the first time that FIFA put together a women’s team to headline a FIFA World Cup match to rousing cheer from the fans during Germany’s 4-2 win on December 1.
Two days before the final between Argentina and France, FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanked the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 volunteers, describing them as the “heart and soul” of the tournament. The FIFA President was speaking at the Volunteer Celebration Event, held at the FIFA Fan Festival on Doha’s famous Corniche.
“You are the best volunteers ever for the best World Cup ever, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart, from all of those who love football, to all of you. You are fantastic,” said the FIFA President, speaking from the FIFA Fan Festival stage. Infantino said that 400,000 people had initially applied to be FIFA World Cup volunteers and that only 20,000 were selected.
“Congratulations. You are the heart and soul of the World Cup and, most importantly, you are the face and the smile of the World Cup. You are the first person that people see when they come to this fantastic World Cup, and the last person they see when they leave. Your smile is making this World Cup what it is, which is the best ever.”
“It’s been phenomenal, it’s been historical. You are a part of it, you are a part of history like nothing else,” HE Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said at the same event. “Each one of you has planted a seed in the hearts and minds of people. You dedicated time, you dedicated effort, you dedicated sweat and tears.” He added: “Every single one of you has made history.”
Volunteers at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 were heart of the tournament’s operations, providing support across a wide variety of areas in both official and non-official sites such as stadiums, training sites, airports, fan zones, hotels and the public transportation network.
Away from the field, there was plenty of talk that centred around how Qatar emerged as wonderful hosts to break barriers of negativity. Prior to the start of the tournament, there was an obvious agenda-driven media blitz from the west to portray a negative image of a Muslim country hosting the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the tournament’s 92-year history. Whether it was the ban on premium beverages sales at match venues or organisers urging fans to respect the laws of the country, the western media were rightfully given a reminder that Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup was indeed a sport event that brought cheer and broke down barriers of sorts.
In one instance, veteran British media personality Piers Morgan slammed those criticizing Qatar’s decision to ban premium beverages sales at World Cup venues. The 57-year-old in a candid video chat – recorded during the 32-team tournament – said the West was unequivocally wrong to portray a negative image of Qatar where family-oriented communities thrive with common denominator being mutual respect, honour and close social bonding.
“For the past two weeks, there’s been a negative narrative about this World Cup, and I have to say mostly from England. Here in Doha, reality feels very different. I have been a here for a few days now and found a thriving, cosmopolitan, sports-mad city and a stunning vantage point for the tournament (which was) played out in magnificent, purposeful stadiums that filled up with more every game,” Piers, a former journalist with the CNN and News of the World, said.
“From here in Qatar the tournament bears no resemblance to all the doom-mongering headlines back home (in England),” Morgan went on. “Fans across the world are mingling happily. There’s no sign of intoxicant-filled scenes of our own Euro finals at Wembley,” Morgan, who has more than 8 million followers on Twitter, explained in his video talk.
“Qatar is also a significant investor in many aspects of UK life. For example, it gives us 25 percent of our gas. Which is food for thought, is it not?,” Morgan said to his viewers.
“This tournament has brought together the Middle East as well. Two years ago, Qatar was under a blockade led by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE. Now fans are pouring in from these countries to enjoy the football. Saudi’s Crown Prince was at the opening ceremony. The Amir of Qatar even waved the Saudi flag during their stunning win over Argentina. There’s no denying that this region – the Middle East – has long deserved its World Cup. And there’s no denying and I can tell you what most people are thinking that Qatar are putting on a pretty good show,” concluded Morgan.
After the World Cup kicked off with a game involving hosts Qatar and Ecuador, retired England football star John Barnes put his weight behind Qatar for ‘inviting everybody’ to enjoy the game’s showpiece tournament being held in the Muslim world for the first time.
Answering a question during the popular ‘Good Morning Britain’ show, Barnes – 59 – urged the football fans to respect the laws in Qatar. Barnes was inducted into English Football of Fame in 2005.
“What the Qatari World Cup is doing is inviting everybody to come and be just respectful about the culture, our religion and our laws,” Barnes said in the programe that was broadcast during the World Cup which was held from Nov 20 to Dec 18, 2022.
Barnes also said overseas ticket holders in Qatar overdid it with their Crusaders outfits some fans were shown to be wearing but were asked to change before entering match venues in the first week of the FIFA World Cup.
“Look at the Crusader outfit debate – you know how Crusaders are viewed in that part of the world. It is very similar if somebody comes to our matches wearing a Nazi uniform,” Barne said with a smile. “Football can’t change people’s perspective. Life changes your perspective,” Barnes, the former Liverpool star, went on.
All in all, 64 matches played at some of the most beautiful stadiums in Qatar, with better attendances than Russia 2018, and greater revenue generation for FIFA, the World Cup in Qatar was clearly an event for the ages.
