The local organizing committee is convinced that the first-ever FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be a great event with little over 150 days to go.
According to Communications executive director Fatma Al Nuaimi, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for the winter World Cup is trying to improve the fan experience now that the infrastructure for the global showpiece is in place.
Qatar has been scrutinized on a number of topics since it was given the hosting rights in 2010.
“It’s been a long and winding road. When we gained the rights, the media scrutinized us on a variety of concerns, ranging from corruption to human rights to worker welfare.
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It’s all about assuaging those fears and using the World Cup as a springboard for change for us. When it comes to the tournament’s social aspects, such as worker welfare and human rights, the progress and transformation that has occurred in the last ten years has been significant for us.
A great deal has been overstated. People can simply change occupations since we implemented a new minimum wage. Since then, 100,000 people have successfully moved occupations. “The rules for entering and exiting the nation have been modified in favor of the workers,” Fatma explained.
Fatma downplayed fears that the World Cup would be prohibitively expensive for spectators, citing the high demand for tickets from all around the world.
“There was a lot of debate about whether or not people would boycott or not attend the World Cup. The first and second phases of ticket sales drew a lot of attention. People want to attend the tournament and be a part of it. Argentina, Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany are among the top countries that have applied for the tickets. Football is extremely popular, and fans are eagerly anticipating the event because it will be the first major football gathering since Covid-19,” she explained.
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup schedule has been released.
Fatma is hoping that the World Cup would transform people’s perceptions of Qatar. “I’m hoping that the World Cup will help to improve the region’s image and comprehension.
In the media, we are portrayed in a terrible light. The biggest takeaway for us from the World Cup would be them [fans] leaving with good memories and a better understanding of the region. That will be the most significant advantage of holding such an event here “she stated
(The writer is in Qatar at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s request.)
