Qatar — a small Arab nation with a population of less than three million — is almost entirely sand, with a combination of arid desert and a stunning long coastline making up the bulk of its terrain. Its capital is the flamboyant city of Doha, boasting a magnificent skyline and man-made archipelagos. It boasts one of the most successful airlines in Qatar Airways, one of the most widely spread journalist networks in Al Jazeera, and the highest per capita GDP in the world. And, in less than a year, it will host one of the biggest sporting competitions in the world.
SPORTING ASCENT
In the world of sports, Qatar has never been among the biggest names. The men’s national football team won the Gulf Cup in 1992 and followed it up in 2004, and that is it.
Things began to change in 2006, when it successfully hosted the Asian Games. And then it struck gold. The national airline went on to sponsor European footballing powerhouses in FC Barcelona and AS Roma. A Qatari businessman’s venture by the name of Qatar Sports Investments bought the French club PSG and turned it into one of the best teams in Europe. Spanish legend Xavi followed in his manager Pep Guardiola’s footsteps to play in the Qatar Stars League with Al Sadd and then managed it upon his retirement from the game.
If we try and pinpoint one event which changed the course of Qatari sports and catapulted it into the front row globally, it would be the awarding of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to the country in 2010.
Qatar became the smallest nation ever to win the hosting rights of the tournament, the first Arab country to get selected to host a global sports-fest, and the host of only the second World Cup to be played on Asian soil. It also meant Qatar would qualify directly for the tournament, despite having never played at this stage before.
And then there were the investments in Barcelona and PSG. Foreign players coming into the Qatari league meant more exposure for their local players and, indeed,…