By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – Qatar may not be everyone’s cup of tea as far as hosting the World Cup in 2022 but they have shown once again that if prizes were awarded for stylish presentations as distinct from footballing pedigree, they would be handed the tournament on a plate.
The Qataris know there is more, far more, to winning World Cup bids than simple rhetoric. Yet there is a refreshing collective will among the bid team that will stop at nothing to prove they have the kudos and the passion to bring the tournament to the Middle East for the first time.
Unveiling Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola as their latest ambassador not in Qatar where he played for two years at Al Ahli towards the end of his career but in his own backyard was a canny move. It may have been an open secret but it gave Qatar a strong platform, hitherto negligible, in the heart of one of Europe’s major footballing powers.
Guardiola, whose Barcelona team won the 2009 UEFA Champions League, is the latest in an impressive list of Qatar ambassadors. “When they get something in their heads, they do it properly,” said Guardiola.
“I believe this is a truly unique bid, and a wonderful opportunity to spread the magic and the benefits of the world’s favourite game across the globe.”
“Having played in Qatar myself between 2003 and 2005, and having grown to love the country and greatly appreciate Qatar’s football development and infrastructure investment, I believe the time is ripe for the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East. My experience in Qatar, as well as the outstanding organisation and football passion we witnessed in the UAE during the Clubs World Cup, makes me confident that Qatar and the Middle East can host a spectacular, passionate and unforgettable World Cup that embraces all the FIFA ideals.”
With Australia and the USA widely expected to be Qatar’s main rival, should the 2018 tournament go to Europe, Guardiola will play a key role in lending voice his support for Qatar’s World Cup ambitions. He joins a high profile list of bid ambassadors including Gabriel Batistuta, Ronald De Boer, Roger Milla, Sami Al Jaber and Bora Milutinovic.
He recognises Qatar is by no means the finished article and that they have a challenge convincing FIFA the necessary technical developments can be implemented to cool the stadiums down. But, he says, it has plenty of notable plusses – not least a crime-free environment in contrast to South Africa and small distances between stadiums.
“They need time to consolidate but they are making progress. It’s completely different to when I played there. It has regenerated, it has created a new infrastructure. Short distances between locations will be a great advantage.”
Qatar’s Bid Committee CEO, Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi, welcomed Guardiola onto the Qatar 2022 team.
“More than any of his astonishing successes, we are delighted to have him on our team because of his continued commitment to youth development in football.” Al Thawadi said.
”As the coach of FC Barcelona, he has won every title with a team based on Barcelona youth academy players, a philosophy we are most familiar with from his time helping youth development here in Qatar.
”Everywhere he goes, Josep will bring across our message that a World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will give sporting hope to millions of children across the Middle East.”