2022 FIFA World Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the 22nd FIFA World Cup
, an international association football tournament that is scheduled to take place in 2022 in Qatar
. The competition is scheduled to take place in June and July, although proposals have been made for a winter season. The tournament will involve 32 national teams, including that of the host nation. This is the first time a country in the Middle East
will host the World Cup.
In May 2011, allegations of corruption within the FIFA
senior officials has raised questions over the legitimacy of the World Cup 2022 being held in Qatar
. According to the Vice-President Jack Warner, an email has been publicised about the possibility that Qatar
'bought' the 2022 world cup through bribery via Mohamed Bin Hammam who was president of the Asian Football Confederation
at the time. Qatar's officials in the bid team for 2022 have denied any wrongdoing.
later withdrew from proceedings, and Indonesia
's bid was rejected by FIFA in February 2010 after the Indonesian government failed to submit a letter to support the bid. During the bidding process, all non-UEFA
nations gradually withdrew from the 2018 bids, thus making the UEFA
nations ineligible for the 2022 bid.
There were eventually five bids for the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Australia
, Japan
, Qatar
, South Korea
and the United States
.
The twenty-two member FIFA Executive Committee
convened in Zürich
on 2 December 2010 to vote to select the hosts of both tournaments.
The decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was graded as having "high operational risk", generated criticism from media commentators, gay rights groups and American, Australian and English officials. There have been allegations of bribery or corruption in the selection process involving four members of FIFA's executive committee, which FIFA is investigating.
Qatar is the smallest nation, both by relative population and by area, ever to have been awarded a FIFA World Cup. (The next smallest by population is Uruguay
, host of the 1930 World Cup, whose 2009 population is more than twice that of Qatar: the next smallest by area is Switzerland
, host of the 1954 FIFA World Cup
, which is more than three times as large as Qatar).
The voting patterns were as follows:
, as hosts, qualified automatically for the tournament.
The Al-Khor Stadium is planned for Al-Khor, located 50 kilometres north of Doha. The stadium will have a total capacity of 45,330, with 19,830 of the seats forming part of a temporary modular upper tier. The Al-Wakrah stadium, to be located in Al-Wakrah in southern Qatar, will have a total capacity of 45,120 seats. The stadium will also contain a temporary upper tier of 25,500 seats. The stadium will be surrounded by large solar panels and will be decorated with Islamic art. The Al-Wakrah and Al-Khor stadiums would have been built regardless of whether Qatar was awarded the World Cup, according to the bid committee. However, the temporary upper-tier sections will now also be added as Qatar has won the right to host the tournament.
A report released on 9 December 2010 quoted FIFA President Sepp Blatter as stating that Qatar's neighbours could host some matches during the World Cup. However, no specific countries were named in the report. Blatter added that any such decision must be taken by Qatar first and then endorsed by FIFA's executive committee.Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan
told the Australian Associated Press
that holding games in Bahrain
, United Arab Emirates
, and possibly Saudi Arabia
would help to incorporate the people of the region during the tournament.
groups and media outlets have expressed concern over the suitability of Qatar to host the event, with regard to interpretations of human rights
, press freedom, and climatic conditions.
law.
qualify, they will be able to compete in the World Cup despite the country not recognising Israel.
Events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup have suggested Qatar could be a possible alternative to Dubai
as a regional hub
for business and foreign investment.
Merrill Lynch
also estimated that preparation for the game could cost up to US$65 billion, or $41,000 per person in Qatar (including the population but limited to citizens). It also sought to become a global hub along the lines of Dubai
. The build up to the World Cup was expected to see growth rates at above 10 percent, though it was questioned if the World Cup infrastructure could be usable after 2022 or would be white elephant
s. There were also questions asked about Qatar's capacity to host visiting fans. The wife of the Emir, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, also said that: "This is not just for Qatar, but for the whole region. This is an opportunity to eradicate misconceptions, not just about Qatar, but about the wider Islamic and Arab world. We are a very welcoming country, a young nation. And we are not just dreamers, we are achievers."
This method of cooling techniques is theoretically able to reduce temperatures from 50 to 27 degrees Celsius. The bidding committee also proposes to use such cooling technologies in fan-zones, training pitches and walkways between metro stations and stadiums.
Two doctors from Qatar's Aspetar sports hospital in Doha who gave an interview in November 2010 to Qatar Today magazine said the climate would be an issue in saying that the region's climate would "affect performance levels from a health point of view" of professional athletes, specifically footballers, that "recovery times between games would be longer" than in a temperate climate and that, on the field of play, "more mistakes would be made". Additionally, one of the doctors said that "total acclimation [to the Qatari climate] is impossible."
Franz Beckenbauer
, a member of FIFA's executive committee, said Qatar could be allowed to host 2022 World Cup in winter. He justified his proposal on grounds that Qatar will be saving money, which otherwise they would have spent in cooling the stadiums. Beckenbauer said "One should think about another solution. In January and February you have comfortable 25 degrees there," he said. "Qatar won the vote and deserves a fair chance as the first host from the Middle East." At a ceremony in Qatar marking the occasion of having been awarded the World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blatter later agreed that this suggestion was plausible, but FIFA later clarified that any change from the bid position of a June/July games would be for the host association to propose.
is illegal in Qatar. FIFA President Sepp Blatter
stated that "we (FIFA) don't want any discrimination. What we want to do is open this game to everybody, and to open it to all cultures, and this is what we are doing in 2022.".
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, an international association football tournament that is scheduled to take place in 2022 in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. The competition is scheduled to take place in June and July, although proposals have been made for a winter season. The tournament will involve 32 national teams, including that of the host nation. This is the first time a country in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
will host the World Cup.
In May 2011, allegations of corruption within the FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
senior officials has raised questions over the legitimacy of the World Cup 2022 being held in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. According to the Vice-President Jack Warner, an email has been publicised about the possibility that Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
'bought' the 2022 world cup through bribery via Mohamed Bin Hammam who was president of the Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
at the time. Qatar's officials in the bid team for 2022 have denied any wrongdoing.
Host selection
The bidding procedure to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups began in January 2009, and national associations had until 2 February 2009 to register their interest. Initially, eleven bids were made for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
later withdrew from proceedings, and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
's bid was rejected by FIFA in February 2010 after the Indonesian government failed to submit a letter to support the bid. During the bidding process, all non-UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
nations gradually withdrew from the 2018 bids, thus making the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
nations ineligible for the 2022 bid.
There were eventually five bids for the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The twenty-two member FIFA Executive Committee
FIFA Executive Committee
FIFA Executive Committee is an institution of FIFA . It is the main decision-making body of the organization in the intervals of Congress...
convened in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
on 2 December 2010 to vote to select the hosts of both tournaments.
The decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was graded as having "high operational risk", generated criticism from media commentators, gay rights groups and American, Australian and English officials. There have been allegations of bribery or corruption in the selection process involving four members of FIFA's executive committee, which FIFA is investigating.
Qatar is the smallest nation, both by relative population and by area, ever to have been awarded a FIFA World Cup. (The next smallest by population is Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, host of the 1930 World Cup, whose 2009 population is more than twice that of Qatar: the next smallest by area is Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, host of the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
, which is more than three times as large as Qatar).
The voting patterns were as follows:
| Bidders | Votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | |
| 11 | 10 | 11 | ||
| 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | |
| 4 | 5 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 2 | |||
| 1 |
Qualification
The qualification process for the 2022 World Cup has not yet been announced. All FIFA member associations, of which there are currently 208, are eligible to enter qualification. QatarQatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...
, as hosts, qualified automatically for the tournament.
Qualified teams
| Team | Method of qualification |
Date of qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Host | 2 December 2010 |
Venues
The first five proposed stadiums for the World Cup were unveiled at the beginning of March 2010. The stadia will employ cooling technology capable of reducing temperatures within the stadium by up to 20 degrees Celsius, and the upper tiers of the stadia will be disassembled after the World Cup and donated to countries with less developed sports infrastructure. All of the five stadium projects launched have been designed by German architect Albert Speer & Partners.The Al-Khor Stadium is planned for Al-Khor, located 50 kilometres north of Doha. The stadium will have a total capacity of 45,330, with 19,830 of the seats forming part of a temporary modular upper tier. The Al-Wakrah stadium, to be located in Al-Wakrah in southern Qatar, will have a total capacity of 45,120 seats. The stadium will also contain a temporary upper tier of 25,500 seats. The stadium will be surrounded by large solar panels and will be decorated with Islamic art. The Al-Wakrah and Al-Khor stadiums would have been built regardless of whether Qatar was awarded the World Cup, according to the bid committee. However, the temporary upper-tier sections will now also be added as Qatar has won the right to host the tournament.
A report released on 9 December 2010 quoted FIFA President Sepp Blatter as stating that Qatar's neighbours could host some matches during the World Cup. However, no specific countries were named in the report. Blatter added that any such decision must be taken by Qatar first and then endorsed by FIFA's executive committee.Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
told the Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press is Australia's national news agency. The organisation was established in 1935 by Fairfax and The Herald and Weekly Times.AAP employs more than 175 journalists who work in bureaux in all Australian states and territories...
that holding games in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, and possibly Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
would help to incorporate the people of the region during the tournament.
| Lusail Lusail Lusail is the newest planned city in Qatar, located on the coast, in the northern part of the municipality ofAl Kheisa. Lusail is located about 15 km north of the city centre of Doha, just north of the West Bay Lagoon, on over 35 km² and eventually provide accommodation for up to 250,000... |
Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... |
Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... |
Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lusail Iconic Stadium Lusail Iconic Stadium Lusail Iconic Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Lusail, Qatar in time for the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.The stadium will be used for the opening and final games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.... |
Khalifa International Stadium Khalifa International Stadium Khalifa International Stadium or also known as National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Doha, Qatar as part of the Doha Sports City complex, which also includes Aspire Academy, Hamad Aquatic Centre, and the Aspire Tower. It is named after Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar's former Emir... |
Sports City Stadium Sports City Stadium Sports City Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Doha, Qatar in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar... |
Education City Stadium Education City Stadium Education City Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Doha, Qatar, in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.... |
| Capacity: 86,250 (planned) |
Capacity: 50,000 (plans to expand to 68,030) |
Capacity: 47,560 (planned) |
Capacity: 45,350 (planned) |
 |
|
||
| Al Khor Al Khor Al Khor is a coastal city in northern Qatar, located 50 kilometers north of the capital, Doha. The name of the city means creek in Arabic as the town is located on a creek... |
Ash-Shamal | ||
| Al-Khor Stadium Al-Khor Stadium Al-Khor Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Al Khor, Qatar in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.-Plans:The Al-Khor Stadium will take on an asymmetrical seashell motif, providing covered seating for all spectators... |
Al-Shamal Stadium Al-Shamal Stadium Al-Shamal Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Ash-Shamal, Qatar in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It will be one of the biggest stadium in Qatar, due be opened in Summer of 2017.-Plans:... |
||
| Capacity: 45,330 (planned) |
Capacity: 45,120 (planned) |
||
| |
|||
| Al Wakrah Al Wakrah Al Wakrah is a city and municipality of Qatar located halfway between Ad Dawhah and Mesaieed municipalities. Al Wakrah's eastern edge is the shores of the Persian Gulf. Originally al wakra was a tiny fishing and pearling village. Now it has evolved into a small town with a population of more than... |
Umm Salal Umm Salal Umm Salal is a municipality in the The State of Qatar.It contains several historic places, such as Barzan Tower. It also contains the new town of Lusail, which is located on the coast in the northern part of the municipality and a part of the district called New Doha... |
||
| Al-Wakrah Stadium Al-Wakrah Stadium Al-Wakrah Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The football team Al-Wakrah play there. The stadium holds a capacity of 20,000 people and has plans of expanding to 43,500.... |
Umm Salal Stadium Umm Salal Stadium Umm Salal Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Umm Salal, Qatar, in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.-Plans:Umm Salal Stadium will be able to support 45,120 fans. The conceptual design of the stadium is based on traditional Arabian forts. Post World Cup, the stadium will... |
||
| Capacity: 45,120 (planned) |
Capacity: 45,120 (planned) |
||
| |
|
||
| Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... |
Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... |
Al Rayyan Al Rayyan Al-Rayyan is a municipality in the state of Qatar. Al Rayyan means 'the source of irrigation' and as per Islam it also means 'a door in heaven' or 'one of the Gates of Paradise' . Al-Rayyan is the only landlocked municipality of Qatar... |
Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... |
| Doha Port Stadium Doha Port Stadium Doha Port Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Doha, Qatar in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.... |
Al-Gharafa Stadium | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium | Qatar University Stadium Qatar University Stadium Qatar University Stadium is a proposed football stadium which will be built in Doha, Qatar in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.-Plans:Qatar University Stadium is smaller than the majority of stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, holding only enough seating to accommodate 43,250 spectators... |
| Capacity: 44,950 (planned) |
Capacity: 21,282 (plans to expand to 44,740) |
Capacity: 21,282 (plans to expand to 44,740) |
Capacity: 43,520 (planned) |
| |
|
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|
Hosting issues
A number of WesternWestern world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
groups and media outlets have expressed concern over the suitability of Qatar to host the event, with regard to interpretations of human rights
Human rights in Qatar
Human rights in Qatar are the individual rights of the residents of Qatar.Qatar is a country located on a small peninsula branching off of the Arabian Peninsula, into the Persian Gulf. It was formerly a British protectorate, and formally announced independence on September 3, 1971...
, press freedom, and climatic conditions.
Asian Cup 2011 final match incident
At the final game between Australia and Japan of the 2011 Asian Cup at Khalifa Stadium, riot police locked the gates prohibiting up to 5000 ticket holders from entering the ground, other fans said their tickets were not properly checked, and the crowd were not allowed to leave the stadium promptly after the match.Alcohol
Hassan Abdulla al Thawadi, chief executive of the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid, said the Muslim state would also permit alcohol consumption during the event. Specific fan-zones will be established where alcohol can be bought. Though legal with a permit, drinking in public is not permitted as Qatar's legal system is based on ShariaSharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
law.
Israel
The head of the Qatar bid delegation has stated that should IsraelIsrael national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
qualify, they will be able to compete in the World Cup despite the country not recognising Israel.
Economy
Following the announcement Qatar would host the World Cup, the Qatar stock exchange index climbed on speculation that infrastructure preparations for the event would boost the economy. Qatar pledged investments of up to $75 billion for infrastructure, public facilities, sports facilities, tourism, communications and transportation to cope with the event.Events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup have suggested Qatar could be a possible alternative to Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
as a regional hub
Hub
Originally, the term hub referred to the central part of a wheel.Hub, HUB, Hubs, or HUBS has many uses, as listed below.-Wheels:* Bicycle hub, the central part of a bicycle wheel*Hub gear, bicycle gear...
for business and foreign investment.
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
also estimated that preparation for the game could cost up to US$65 billion, or $41,000 per person in Qatar (including the population but limited to citizens). It also sought to become a global hub along the lines of Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. The build up to the World Cup was expected to see growth rates at above 10 percent, though it was questioned if the World Cup infrastructure could be usable after 2022 or would be white elephant
White elephant
A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth...
s. There were also questions asked about Qatar's capacity to host visiting fans. The wife of the Emir, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, also said that: "This is not just for Qatar, but for the whole region. This is an opportunity to eradicate misconceptions, not just about Qatar, but about the wider Islamic and Arab world. We are a very welcoming country, a young nation. And we are not just dreamers, we are achievers."
Weather
As the World Cup usually occurs during the northern hemisphere's summer, the weather in Qatar was a concern with temperature reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 °F). However, the Qatar bid's chief executive, Hassan al-Thawadi said "Heat is not and will not be an issue." The Qatar 2022 Bid's official site also explains:"Each of the five stadiums will harness the power of the suns rays to provide a cool environment for players and fans by converting solar energy into electricity that will then be used to cool both fans and players at the stadiums. When games are not taking place, the solar installations at the stadia will export energy onto the power grid. During matches, the stadia will draw energy from the grid. This is the basis for the stadiums’ carbon-neutrality. Along with the stadiums, we plan to make the cooling technologies we’ve developed available to other countries in hot climates, so that they too can host major sporting events."
This method of cooling techniques is theoretically able to reduce temperatures from 50 to 27 degrees Celsius. The bidding committee also proposes to use such cooling technologies in fan-zones, training pitches and walkways between metro stations and stadiums.
Two doctors from Qatar's Aspetar sports hospital in Doha who gave an interview in November 2010 to Qatar Today magazine said the climate would be an issue in saying that the region's climate would "affect performance levels from a health point of view" of professional athletes, specifically footballers, that "recovery times between games would be longer" than in a temperate climate and that, on the field of play, "more mistakes would be made". Additionally, one of the doctors said that "total acclimation [to the Qatari climate] is impossible."
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
, a member of FIFA's executive committee, said Qatar could be allowed to host 2022 World Cup in winter. He justified his proposal on grounds that Qatar will be saving money, which otherwise they would have spent in cooling the stadiums. Beckenbauer said "One should think about another solution. In January and February you have comfortable 25 degrees there," he said. "Qatar won the vote and deserves a fair chance as the first host from the Middle East." At a ceremony in Qatar marking the occasion of having been awarded the World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blatter later agreed that this suggestion was plausible, but FIFA later clarified that any change from the bid position of a June/July games would be for the host association to propose.
Homosexual fans
The selection of Qatar as hosts attracted controversy, as homosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
is illegal in Qatar. FIFA President Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter , commonly known as Sepp Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA . He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007, and 2011...
stated that "we (FIFA) don't want any discrimination. What we want to do is open this game to everybody, and to open it to all cultures, and this is what we are doing in 2022.".
Broadcasting rights
- Australia – SBSSpecial Broadcasting ServiceThe Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
- Canada – CTVCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
, TSNThe Sports NetworkThe Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
, RDSRéseau des sportsRéseau des sports , is a Canadian French language Category C specialty channel showing sports and sport-related shows. It is available in 2.5 million homes, and is owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc.... - CaribbeanCaribbeanThe Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
– International Media Content, SportsMax - Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
– Al Jazeera SportsAl Jazeera SportsAl Jazeera Sports is a popular Arabic-language sports channel launched in November 2003 by the well-known Al Jazeera network.Al Jazeera Sports also owns the exclusive broadcasting rights in the Middle East for major football leagues, such as the Spanish La Liga, the French Ligue 1 and the Italian... - United States – FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, TelemundoTelemundoTelemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
External links
- FIFA.com 2022 website
- Official website of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid