The Middle East’s football legacy was touched by Qatar’s incredible World Cup 2022, which helped to bridge the long-standing sports divide between Europe and Asia.
Qatar 2022’s FIFA World Cup was an incredible competition that cemented a lasting legacy for the nation. 32 nations competed for honours in what many have called the greatest World Cup ever, an athletic extravaganza held in the centre of the Middle East.
The Al Bayt Stadium hosted a magnificent opening ceremony to kick off the competition, laying the groundwork for a match that will live long in the memory of football fans everywhere. But in the first game, Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scored twice, spoiling the fun for the hosts, Qatar.
Football drama of epic proportions unfolded over the remaining group stages. The most notable unexpected outcome was Saudi Arabia’s triumph over eventual champions Argentina. As they won Group F and became the first African team to reach the semifinals, Morocco celebrated their victory.
However, Lionel Messi’s brilliance was on full display during the World Cup’s final. Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986 was made possible by his goals against France in the final, which also solidified his status as the greatest player of all time.
The extraordinary influence of the event went beyond the ground. Another first was that Qatar organised a realistic one-city World Cup. Football Now spoke with Middle East Football Expert Ben Jacobs, who said that the venues’ accessibility and compact size fostered a lively atmosphere that highlighted the region’s passion for the game.
“In actuality, it was the World Cup in Doha. Regarding the tournament’s logistics, Jacobs remarked, “You could get to pretty much every stadium from the centre of Doha within 30 or 35 minutes.” Additionally, it was possible to watch multiple games in a single day. Strong stadiums, full attendance, and a lively atmosphere were all present.”
The infrastructure for football in the area was greatly impacted by Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, which also left a long-lasting sporting legacy.
The CEO of the AFC Asian Cup, Jassim Abdulaziz al Jassim, claims that confronting early worries about the Middle East head-on was crucial to the World Cup’s success. According to Jassim, the community’s will to highlight Qatar’s potential was only strengthened by the mistrust and misgivings.
“We wanted to establish a point regarding the nation. We performed incredibly well.” Jassim spoke with pride.
Looking back, Qatar’s preparation for hosting the 2022 World Cup began as soon as it was confirmed. The nation was able to hold additional events thanks to a significant investment in infrastructure. It cleared the path for a greater participation in international sports in the Middle East.
Al Jassim stated that Qatar had a capable team of organisers who executed to the greatest standards in the nation. Due to the World Cup’s success, the area gained recognition on a global scale.
The AFC Asian Cup will take place in the seven globe Cup stadiums that were formerly home to the top teams in the globe.
“It’s the best thing that can come only a year after the World Cup, where we can show the legacy of the World Cup and then build on that for the future.”
Relying firmly on the success of the FIFA World Cup, Qatar welcomes back an international football competition. The nation is anticipating an inflow of international football fans from January 12 to February 10 of 2024, who will be there to support their beloved teams as the AFC Asian Cup gets underway.
Jassim Al Jassim claims that, particularly now that another World Cup will be hosted in the area in 2034, the long-standing sporting divide between Europe and Asia is finally narrowing.
“I don’t think that ten or fifteen years ago, if you had asked someone if they thought Qatar, Morocco, or Saudi Arabia would host the World Cup, anyone [would] have said that this would happen. We made it possible for individuals to dream and to come up with strategies for ensuring that occasionally the unexpected can turn out to be incredibly great and wonderful,” Al Jassim said.
In 2022, all eyes were on Qatar for the thrilling on-field matches that culminated in the thrilling championship match between France and Argentina. 2024 will undoubtedly be a fantastic year for sports in the area.
