USA TODAY International Edition
World Cup 2022: Qatar invests big, seeks unity
In 38 months, 7,600 miles from the USA – in Qatar, Neymar, Ronaldo, Messi, Hazard or some other internationally worshiped star will tap a soccer ball to a teammate, marking the official start of the largest global soccer event on Earth – the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
There will be roughly 3.5 billion fans captivated by the monthlong tournament – glued to their seats at the stadiums and watching the action on televisions, computers, hand- held gadgets of all kinds and whatever other type of viewing device might have been created during the lead- up to the 22nd World Cup.
Hassan Al Thawadi has been entrusted to ensure the eight soccer stadiums ( seven new and one refurbished), 45 training facilities and multiple cruise ships to be used as
“( The World Cup) is a unifier. It breaks down barriers, it breaks down stereotypes.”
floating hotels for fans are completed and in peak working condition when the games kick off Nov. 21, 2022.
He’s tasked with leading all tournament operations.
The massive undertaking comes with a $ 6.5 billion price tag; the amount directly associated with infrastructure related to the World Cup.
Add about $ 195 billion to that figure – the amount earmarked for projects that will benefit the country longterm, including a new metro and port and upgrades to the highway system.
Al Thawadi spoke with USA TODAY and was eager to point out that this investment isn’t solely for the soccer spectacle but was “in the pipeline as part of the country’s urban development and economic development plans.”
According to Al Thawadi’s team, the infrastructure for the games is about 75% complete.
The economic impact is important to the country of about 2.7 million people and plays a key role in the overarching Qatar National Vision 2030 initiative. Launched in 2008, that plan seeks sustained advancement in eco
Hassan Al Thawadi
nomic, social, environmental and human development.
According to Al Thawadi, dispelling negative myths about Muslims also is vital at the first World Cup to be played in a Muslim- majority nation.
“We’ve got a great sense of humor, we are hospitable, we’ve got a very rich, diverse culture as well,” Al Thawadi said. “We want the world to experience that.”
The secretary general said he believes in the transformative power of sport, in this case, soccer, which he feels can be a great contributor to a positive breakthrough in relations for his nation and religion.
“It is a unifier,” Al Thawadi said. “It breaks down barriers, it breaks down stereotypes.”
The progress Al Thawadi aims for has come at a cost.
There have been conflicting reports on the number of deaths associated with the construction of World Cup sites in Qatar. Al Thawadi told USA TODAY organizers are committed to the “highest health and safety standards.”
According to Al Thawadi, they initiated investigations and teamed with trade unions to improve safety. The goal is to avoid tragedies for the workers, which represent 53 nations.
“It’s unfortunate that these incidents have happened, and we want to make sure that their deaths do not go in vain,” Al Thawadi said.
The stakes are incalculable – for the Arab world, his nation and personal and professional legacy.
Fair or not, what transpires during the 28 days from Nov. 21 through Dec. 18, 2022, will be Al Thawadi’s legacy. It may end up as just another installment of a wildly popular soccer series or perhaps a stimulus for a global shift in acceptance.
Al Thawadi gets the magnitude of the stakes.
He acknowledged often feeling anxiety. “I’m nervous every day,” he said. “Every day we sit down and talk to the team, everybody’s nervous.”
With the nerves comes excitement that this World Cup may be a strong catalyst toward galvanizing the world.
“From day one, the vision of Qatar hosting the tournament was never that it’s a tournament for Qatar,” Al Thawadi said. “It’s a tournament for the region, for the Middle East, for the Arab world, and ultimately it’s a global legacy.”