Whether or not you are a football fanatic, you have probably heard of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. For the uninitiated, the competition will likely be stiff, with the likes of Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt all vying for top billing. The 32-team tournament will span a month long run from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18. Some games will be broadcast across multiple platforms in the United States, while others will be played in Qatar itself. The country is home to over 1.7 million people, making it the smallest nation by population in the world.
The tournament isn’t without its fair share of controversy. As of late, the FIFA hierarchy has been riven by a series of political squabbles. One of the biggest hurdles was the decision to hold the trophy in the UAE, a long-standing opponent of Qatar. Despite the vexing challenges, the Gulf state managed to secure the rights to host the tournament in the end. The tournament is set to be the first quadrennial tournament to be held in the Middle East. The country’s burgeoning football culture will be put to the test, as will its infrastructure, many of which are bolstered by immigrant labor.
The world’s smallest nation has an unenviable task ahead of it: hosting the FIFA World Cup. It’s no small feat, especially when the country is a football fanatic’s dream, and a prime target for a plethora of terrorist attacks. However, Qatar has the wits and the brawn to make its hosting a memorable event a positive experience. A few keystrokes and the world’s most well-funded and well-trained footballing elite will be in place to make sure that the nation’s most famous team performs to its potential. Fortunately for the fans, Qatar is a place where the likes of Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can be counted on to put on a show.
