With still more than five months to go for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, excitement is already in the air in the host country, which is getting ready to host the first ever football showpiece in the Middle East and the Arab world. A drive through the vantage points in Doha where World Cup logo and flags of the qualified teams are on display gives a sense of excitement to the passersby.
The FIFA World Cup collection is available in all the shopping malls and is getting an overwhelming response particularly from young football fans. While it will be all about the action and the related activities when the World Cup kicks off on November 21, plenty of events and programmes have been planned by the host country in the build up for planet’s most prestigious tournament.
Recently, Chairperson of Qatar Museums H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani announced that the country will host an all-year round arts and cultural offerings starting this autumn, a new initiative of the government. She highlighted that Qatar Creates – an initiative of the Qatar Museums – will be the “animating force for spectacular cultural events and extraordinary special art experiences, confirming Qatar’s reputation as an outstanding cultural destination both regionally and internationally.”
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) is also continuing its Fan Leader Activity programme. Last week the SC invited a group of Tunisian fans and community leaders for a visit to the 40,000-capacity venue Education City Stadium. The SC will also host Saudi Arabia’s Fan Activity at the same venue on June 15. Through the programme, the fan leaders will be able to connect with fan base in Qatar and around the world, to provide them with all the necessary information ahead of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the two inter-continental play-offs at Al Rayyan’s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium this week will complete the 32-team line-up for the World Cup, bringing the highly-anticipated tournament even closer. With Wales being the latest team to qualify following their win over Ukraine last Sunday, Peru will face Australia on June 13, with Costa Rica taking on New Zealand the following day. Qatar 2022 will be the last World Cup to feature 32 teams as the tournament will be expanded to 48 nations for the 2026 edition to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
