Reminders of Lionel Messi and the 2022 World Cup aren’t onerous to search out in Qatar.
“Last chance” match souvenirs greet guests on arrival at Doha’s Hamad International Airport. In Souq Waqif — a vibrant consuming and purchasing space — duplicate World Cup trophies and shirts are on sale. Decorative soccer balls stay contained in the metro carriages.
Elsewhere, a poster of Messi stands tall in a shopping center, asserting the approaching arrival of a espresso home model that sponsors Argentina’s nationwide workforce.
But simply over a 12 months on, what’s the actual sporting legacy for Qatar after soccer’s showpiece was staged within the Middle East for the primary time?
The nation is at the moment taking part in host to a different main soccer match, the Asian Cup, which organizers say “reaffirms Qatar’s place as a global sporting capital.”
The pure fuel-wealthy nation definitely is aware of the way to placed on a present. State-of-the-artwork stadiums and public transport catered to tens of millions of followers throughout the World Cup. The match was topped by presumably the best last in its historical past when Messi impressed Argentina to victory over France on penalties after a 3-3 draw by further time.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated afterward it was “simply, the best World Cup ever.”
That is up for debate, notably as FIFA confronted intense criticism for giving the match to Qatar plus considerations about its therapy of migrant employees.
Yes, the World Cup produced thrilling narratives, because it invariably does; Messi lastly gained the one main trophy lacking from his CV; and Morocco turned the primary African nation to succeed in the semifinals. But intrinsic to the supply of any main sporting occasion is the query of legacy and whether or not the fervor generated over a couple of weeks of competitors left an enduring impression.
FANS
In isolation, Qatar’s video games on the Asian Cup counsel ardour for the game nonetheless runs excessive within the nation. More than 82,000 watched the opening recreation towards Lebanon at Lusail Stadium. More than 57,000 attended the host nation’s second match towards Tajikistan at Al Bayt Stadium.
“The World Cup made more fans of football,” Hamad Sultan, who attended the Lebanon recreation, advised The Associated Press.
Soccer fan Mohammed bin Qhata stated, “(The) 2022 World Cup enhanced how important football (is). As you can see, all Qataris are attending this opening ceremony. Football is (the) number one sport in Qatar.”
Organizers stated 900,000 tickets have been bought earlier than the match. But the massive crowds for Qatar’s video games haven’t been the norm.
Just 4,001 attended China’s 0-0 draw with Tajikistan, although there have additionally been video games in extra of 20,000, 30,000 and 40,000.
The pageant environment generated by the World Cup has been much less evident on the smaller Asian Cup. While hundreds of followers made their technique to Lusail Stadium for the opening ceremony, its close by metropolis streets have been eerily quiet at different occasions.
What just isn’t clear is what number of followers usually attend Qatari league matches, with figures not overtly revealed.
FIFA and the Qatari league cited a current recreation between Al Rayyan and Al Arabi that was watched by a crowd of greater than 27,000, however it’s not clear how consultant that’s.
“Our league matches, especially the signature games, draw sizable crowd(s),” stated Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of the Qatari league.
STADIUMS
With an estimated inhabitants of lower than 3 million folks and solely round 300,000 residents, Qatar would seem to have a disproportionate variety of prime-class sporting venues after eight stadiums have been constructed or redeveloped for the World Cup.
Seven of these stadiums are being deployed once more for the Asian Cup and 5 have been used within the Qatari league. But it needs to be famous the delayed 2023 Asian Cup is being staged in Qatar solely as a result of unique host China canceled its internet hosting plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The state-of-the-art World Cup stadiums remain as one of the best memories of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and fans are just excited to attend matches at the venues,” Ballan stated. “We didn’t leave our amazing venues idle and our Expo Stars League matches in this 2023-24 season are being played in five of them — Al Bayt, Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Janoub, Al Thumama and Khalifa International Stadiums. That was a part of our plans towards further increasing popularity of the game and we’re glad that it’s serving its purpose.”
Qatar stated as a part of its post-World Cup technique that capability could be diminished in among the stadiums.
Stadium 974 — probably the most distinctive venues created for the World Cup — was alleged to be diminished to nothing. Described as “eco-friendly,” it was constructed from repurposed transport containers and was set to be dismantled after internet hosting seven video games on the match.
Yet, Stadium 974 nonetheless stands greater than a 12 months on, full with World Cup signage round its grounds.
As for Lusail Stadium, its place in historical past is safe after staging Messi’s crowning glory towards France.
“It is like a museum of football,” Mohammed bin Qhatan stated. “It is enough (that) I can say that this is a stadium that (hosted the) 2022 final.”
DOMESTIC SOCCER
Focus has shifted from Qatar to Saudi Arabia for the reason that World Cup.
A spectacular recruitment drive has seen among the world’s prime gamers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema transfer to the Saudi League. More are anticipated to observe because the nation appears intent on turning itself into a significant energy within the sport.
It additionally seems set to host the 2034 World Cup as the one candidate left within the bidding course of and is staging the following version of the Asian Cup in 2027.
While the Qatari league has attracted former Liverpool and Barcelona ahead Philippe Coutinho and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, it pales compared to the signings being made by Saudi groups.
“It’s not our intention to attract more star players from overseas. However, we’re open when it comes to our clubs’ recruitment policy,” stated Ballan, including the league “always attracted star players from across the globe.”
The league’s ambitions look like primarily based on greater than star enchantment. Ballan stated he desires it to be “recognized as a leading, progressive Qatari institution” and spoke of elevating its professionalism.
“We aim to keep delivering high-quality competitive football entertainment by raising the playing standards of all teams through higher performance,” he stated.
Qatar’s star participant on the Asian Cup, Akram Afif, has made it clear the place he hopes his future lies.
“Every player has a wish to play in Europe,” he stated. “I want to play in Europe tomorrow if possible.”
While Qatar was humbled on the World Cup by being eradicated within the group stage, it’s the defending Asian Cup champion and has superior to the spherical of 16 with a 100% successful document.
“The 2019 (Asian Cup) generation raised our levels and ambitions. We are always required to win in any game and championship we partake in,” Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos stated. “We are playing the Asian Cup as titleholders and in our own home, so we have to perform and show to the fans that we mean business.”
THE FUTURE
Qatar describes itself as a world sporting capital and is making an attempt to construct on that popularity. The world aquatics championships come to Doha subsequent month and the Asian Games can be right here in 2030.
There can also be speak of a bid for the 2036 Olympics.
Qatar Sports Investments has a powerful foothold in European soccer because the proprietor of Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani final 12 months tried to purchase Manchester United. It stays to be seen if there can be additional curiosity from Qatar in another prime European groups.
SPORTING LEGACY
It is very unlikely Qatar will ever turn out to be a world soccer energy on the sector. That just isn’t a requirement of a World Cup host.
Nor is the Qatari league prone to problem the recognition of the English Premier League, Champions League and even the Saudi league.
But the importance of the 2022 World Cup can’t be understated.
As the primary within the Middle East, it has paved the best way for attracting extra main sporting occasions. Saudi Arabia is shortly turning into the second nation from the area to host soccer’s largest match.
Barriers have been damaged. It is feasible to host a World Cup at a time of the 12 months that’s halfway by the season for most of the world’s prime leagues.
Temperatures that have been among the many considerations main as much as the match proved to not be a problem in air-conditioned stadiums, whereas state-of-the-artwork public transport operated easily.
FIFA stated the Asian Cup was a “direct sporting legacy of the FIFA World Cup infrastructure and best practices.”
“The tournament has helped instill more passion for sports, especially football, in Qatar’s future generation. I’m sure it has left a lasting legacy besides motivating youngsters to chase their passion,” Ballan stated.
The profile of membership soccer within the area can also be rising.
Less than two weeks after the World Cup last, Ronaldo agreed on a transfer to Saudi workforce Al-Nassr.
Qatar, in the meantime, will at all times have the picture of Messi, sporting one of many nation’s ceremonial robes, holding the World Cup trophy aloft.
It is among the enduring sights within the historical past of the match and Qatar will perpetually be linked to soccer’s best occasion due to it.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
