Qatar

AFTER the World Cup earned Qatar both plaudits and censure, the energy-rich Gulf state is now starting a marathon to secure the 2036 Olympics and a place as ...

Argentina's Lionel Messi holds the winners trophy as he celebrates with fans after Argentina won the World Cup final soccer match against France at the Lusail ...

But they ultimately backed down when FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards to the players involved, saying it was a contravention of its regulations. By Sunday's final, the narrative was fixed on Messi’s mission to emulate Argentina great Diego Maradona by leading his country to a World Cup title. The committee later said he was referring to work-related deaths from 2014-2020, not specifically for the World Cup. “Obviously, I wanted to complete my career with this, (I) can’t ask for more.” “Qatar wants to be a hub for global sporting and cultural events, and so should know that scrutiny will continue,” Cockburn said. Messi was beaming with pride as he tenderly kissed the cup of solid gold. “I think Qatar will benefit from this going forward. “The match was completely insane,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said afterwards. And it can bundle them all up into a perfect package and present it to a global audience of millions. And the world’s best players. “They’ve been very open-minded to it,” he added. “Hosting the World Cup has brought far more attention on the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar and the rest of the Gulf than would otherwise have been the case, as well as the responsibility of sporting bodies such as FIFA.”

The power of money was on full display in the Qatari city of Lusail on Sunday as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties to become world champion for the ...

But they ultimately backed down when FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards to the players involved, saying it was a contravention of its regulations. By Sunday’s final, the narrative was fixed on Messi’s mission to emulate Argentina great Diego Maradona by leading his country to a World Cup title. The committee later said he was referring to work-related deaths from 2014-2020, not specifically for the World Cup. “Obviously, I wanted to complete my career with this, (I) can’t ask for more.” “Qatar wants to be a hub for global sporting and cultural events, and so should know that scrutiny will continue,” Cockburn said. Messi was beaming with pride as he tenderly kissed the cup of solid gold. “I think Qatar will benefit from this going forward. “The match was completely insane,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said afterwards. And the world’s best players. And it can bundle them all up into a perfect package and present it to a global audience of millions. “They’ve been very open-minded to it,” he added. “Hosting the World Cup has brought far more attention on the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar and the rest of the Gulf than would otherwise have been the case, as well as the responsibility of sporting bodies such as FIFA.”

From the end of Messi's wait for glory to the first Arab tournament, and the mixing of politics and sports.

But worries that the country wouldn’t be able to host millions of extra guests all at once have by and large not been realised. Having the World Cup in the Middle East allowed people from the region to have a tournament which they could attend and not feel foreign. It says that changes have been made, and will continue to be, particularly when it comes to safety. [tens of thousands of Argentinians](/sports/2022/12/18/buenos-aires-to-barwargento-argentina-fans-put-hopes-on-final) halfway across the world to Doha, and the sense of the inevitable as the tournament progressed. The debate over these issues highlights the difficulties governing body FIFA has going forward if it wants to continue its policy of trying to globalise football. And that is the point: A truly global game must embrace differences. For one month, Doha turned into a meeting place for the world. The experience at this World Cup was, I’m sure, different for diverse sets of fans. They appeared poised to steal defeat from the jaws of victory, only to somehow [emerge victorious](/news/2022/12/18/tears-of-relief-and-joy-as-messi-lifts-world-cup-for-argentina). One of the sport’s greatest-ever players fulfilled his destiny in the [World Cup’s greatest-ever final](/sports/liveblog/2022/12/18/live-argentina-vs-france-world-cup-2022-final). The sporting troubles the Argentinian genius has had to overcome, the loss in the 2014 World Cup final, the sense that Argentina had never fully taken to him as they had to Maradona. Regional differences, particularly the blockade of Qatar, dampened that narrative initially.

Even before an epic final won by Lionel Messi and Argentina, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was calling it “the best World Cup ever” in Qatar.

One base was the waterside Fairmont Hotel, nearly 40 stories high and shaped like a curved sword. It was a most political World Cup. Though Argentina and Morocco fans traveled in big numbers, fewer than expected Europeans came to Qatar. One day later, Germany lost to Japan and then Brazil delighted the world in its first game against Serbia. Empty seats at kickoff for most games would steadily fill by halftime. For veteran FIFA watchers, it was an apt final symbol for the World Cup in Qatar. Games were consistently compelling if not the best quality. Coupled with an unprecedented level of security at a World Cup, it added to the feel of FIFA isolating in an ivory tower. Before a game was played there was scrutiny of Qatar for its human rights record, employment practices and a years-long boycott by neighboring states in which FIFA pushed for the Gulf region to share the tournament. Qatar’s World Cup was a state-run project and it seemed clear who was in charge. Morocco picked up the baton and was the first African or Arab nation to still be playing on the last weekend of a World Cup. When the games begin focus shifts to the field, and FIFA got that early on day three when Messi and Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia 2-1 in an upset for the ages.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Qatar for its successful organization of the FIFA World Cup.

[Sports](/sports) Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to have hosted the World Cup, which concluded Sunday in a final match between Argentina and France. In a cable sent to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, King Salman said: “We are pleased…

This year I was pleased to celebrate five decades of U.S.-Qatar diplomatic ties, mark the designation of Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally, and launch the latest ...

This year I was pleased to celebrate five decades of U.S.-Qatar diplomatic ties, mark the designation of Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally, and launch the latest round of the U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue and cheer on the U.S. I am thankful for our enduring partnership as we address regional and global challenges together, and as we increase cooperation on security, trade, education, and humanitarian assistance. On behalf of the United States of America, I want to express our warm wishes to the State of Qatar as you celebrate your National Day.

The real estate and tourism industries face a hard landing now the football fans are headed home — and some projects are still to be finished.