The Fifa World Cup 2022 in Qatar is still six years away, but the 2018 competition in Russia has started to make us think about the 2022 World Cup and what it will mean for football fans around the world. While Russia has generally been accepted as an exciting host nation with excellent facilities, Qatar has come under intense criticism since they were chosen as the next host country back in 2010. As opposition to the decision continues to grow, here’s an update on the latest news of Qatar 2022.
Host Country
It has been confirmed that Qatar will be the host country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The decision was made at a vote on December 2nd, 2010. The United States and Australia were also in contention to host this event, but Qatar won by a landslide, receiving 13 votes to 4. The main reason Qatar was chosen is because they have never hosted any major international tournament before, so it will be a first-time experience for them and the rest of the world.
Team Building
The successful 2022 FIFA Worlds Cup bid by Qatar has been a source of controversy due to the extreme summer heat. In response, Qatar is looking to build state-of-the-art air-conditioned stadiums, cooling stations and training grounds for players. The Qatari government has pledged $500 billion to improve infrastructure in preparation for the tournament.
Training Camps
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on the horizon, many players are getting ready for the event by training with their club teams before moving to Qatar in December to complete their preparations. These players will then train with their respective national teams until May, when they will return to Qatar and travel together to Russia.
Fan Zones
The Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy have announced the first of what will be many Fan Zones in the country. The Fan Zone is a central gathering place that will host large-scale cultural events, entertainment, food and beverage experiences, and interactive activities throughout the 2022 FIFA World CupTM. The first official Fan Zone has been established in Doha, at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), and will serve as home to the official opening ceremony of the tournament.
Stadiums
In the past decade, Qatar has invested heavily in its infrastructure to prepare for the World Cup. The country is now home to a new airport and metro system. There are also plans in place to build nine new stadiums in time for the tournament. Each stadium will have a capacity of 45,000 people and feature air-conditioning.
Transportation
Qatar has a number of airports that are used for domestic and international flights, including Hamad International Airport, Al-Shamal Airport, Al-Wakrah and Lusail. Qatar Airways is the only airline with regular flights to these airports. The most popular way to travel around Qatar is by taxi or by bus.
Conclusion
The decision to move the location of the 2022 FIFA World Cup from Qatar was not an easy one. In fact, it was a difficult one. The decision to move the event came with a lot of controversy, but in the end this is what had to be done. Qatar may have been able to host the event, but there would have been many major issues that would have come up.