Imran Khan, a former cricketer for Pakistan who later entered politics, is optimistic that Qatar will be able to effectively host the FIFA World Cup 2022, which begins today.
Taking to Twitter, the winning captain of the Cricket World Cup in 1992 expressed his satisfaction that the huge event will be held in Qatar, a Muslim nation.
“Wishing Qatar the best for successfully holding the football World Cup, which begins today. It is for the first time that a Muslim country is hosting this biggest sporting event in the world. Good luck to all the participating teams,” he wrote in the tweet.
Twelve years after the nation’s winning bid set in motion extensive preparations that cost billions of dollars, the World Cup will finally get underway in Qatar on Sunday, marking the nation’s first time hosting the tournament.
It is generally assumed that the Gulf state has spent a total of $200 billion on hosting the world’s largest footballing event. Qatar will get its first look at the finished product at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor when the home team takes against Ecuador.
According to the event’s organizers, 2.9 million of the 3.1 million available tickets have been purchased, and they anticipate selling all 60,000 available tickets on Sunday.
The encounter in Group A, which was originally scheduled to take place on Monday but was moved forward so that Qatar could participate in the first game, will serve as a litmus test for the hosts both on and off the field.
The International Football Federation (FIFA) and the people organizing the event will be hoping that the start of the competition will help put various problems in the background.
Criticism has been leveled against Qatar for its track record with regard to human rights as well as the environmental impact of hosting the tournament.
In a letter that was sent earlier this month, FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged World Cup teams to “concentrate on football.” On Saturday, Infantino accused opponents in Western nations of “hypocrisy” about their criticisms of FIFA.
