Al Bayt Stadium is prepared and decorated to welcome the Al Annabi supporters as the Qatar and Ecuador teams arrive at the stadium for the FIFA World Cup opening match. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is an association football tournament, contested by the men’s national teams of FIFA’s member associations. The 22nd FIFA World Cup is taking place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022. There will be 32 teams from 5 confederations spread over 5 host cities. Qatar is the first Muslim majority country to host the FIFA World Cup. It is being reported that today’s opening ceremony may include Quran recitation.
Let’s take a second look at this competition. Qatar calls on the World’s Best Islamic Preacher, Dr. Zakir Naik to give Religious Lectures during the period of the World Cup 2022. The world-renowned Indian Muslim preacher, arrived in Qatar yesterday. Waiting for the hundreds of Shahada everyday by the power of Allah. Preacher Faisal Al-Hashemi indicated that 558 new people convert to Islam in Qatar during the week before the start of the World Cup. We can now call this tournament “Da’wah World Cup.”
Earlier, the Arab nation refuses to receive the German football team in a plane with the LG BTQ logo painted on it, and forced the plane to return to Muscat airport to be replaced by another plane which does not have a logo. Before the World Cup kickoff, the first to be held in a Muslim country with strict controls on alcohol, the consumption of which is banned in public.
“If you want to express your views on the LGBT cause, do so in a society where it will be accepted. Do not come and insult an entire society. We will not change the religion for the 28 days, 2022 Qatar World Cup head of security Abdullah Al Nasari indicated.
He added that, “If a fan raises a flag in a stadium and it is taken away, it will not be because we want to offend him, but to protect him. If we don’t, another spectator could attack him. If you buy a ticket, it is to attend a football match and not to demonstrate.”
In a speech ahead of tomorrow’s opening game, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel (like) a migrant worker.” He blasted the “hypocrisy” of Western critics of Qatar’s human rights record, making a passionate defence of the World Cup in the Gulf state on the eve of the kick-off.
“If you can’t drink beer for three hours, I think you can survive.” There are many countries that ban alcohol in stadiums, like France, but since it’s a Muslim country, it’s a problem.”
He accused the West of ‘racism’ and ‘hypocrisy‘ in its criticism of Qatar in the lead up to the 2022 World Cup, Infantino said: “The West is in no position ‘to give moral lessons’ to Qatar, adding that European nations should instead apologise for their own histories.”
Qatar has spent billions of dollars in preparation for the mundial. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects, eight football stadiums in Qatar can accommodate 380,000 football fans combined for the FIFA World Cup 2022; Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium.
In addition to the stadiums, Qatar have also built new hotels and fan areas to accommodate the fans trooping into the country. Qatar has built a new airport, metro system, series of roads and about 100 new hotels. An entire city has been constructed around the stadium which will host the final match. The 8 stadiums at the Qatar World Cup will have gigantic air conditioners that will blast cold air across the stadium and onto the pitch to cool the hot temperatures.
A Brazilian journalist in Qatar said on social media, “Today I was standing in front of a mosque and I heard the call to prayer. This is an old tradition among Muslims that calls them to perform prayer and it is said several times during the day. This is one of the most beautiful things that I have seen and affected me in Qatar.”
“What a beautiful sound.”
“It was an amazing experience on first hearing it when visiting Dubai,” a reactions of non muslims who witnessed the call of Azan amid Qatar World cup 2022.
Similarly, Qatar created a new example of promoting Islam in the upcoming Qatar Football World Cup. They are promoting the important sayings and hadiths of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with English translation in the form of banners in all stadiums, galleries and airports around the World Cup. which will promote Islam and inform neo-Muslims about Islam.
A barcode located in each hotel room provides a brief explanation of Islam, Hadeeths, and the Muslim faith. They replaced the masaajid muadhins and brought in those with lovely voices. For the Adhaan, microphones are installed in stadiums. The Qatar Guest Center is getting ready to call 2,000 people to Islam and will do so by allocating 10 mobile cars and 10 customized tents. Visitor-friendly Islamic displays presented by the Ministry of Awqaf in many languages. Ablution stations and prayer spaces are now available in stadiums for the first time in World Cup history.
The tournaments official mascot was unveiled on 1 April 2022, during the group stage draw. Its name is La’eeb, which is an Arabic word meaning “super-skilled player.” FIFA says “La’eeb will be known for his youthful spirit, spreading joy and confidence everywhere he goes.” The official match ball for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is the “Al Rihla“. The ball name means ‘the journey’ in Arabic and is expected to be the fastest in flight in World Cup history. It is mainly inspired by the culture, architecture, iconic boats and flag of Qatar.
With an estimated cost of $200 Billion dollars, this will be the most costly World Cup so far. it’s estimated to cost more than all the other World Cups combined from its inception in 1930. It’s also an increase to 15 Billion dollar spent by Brazil in 2014 and 11.6 Billion dollars Russia spent in 2014.
As you can see, there is an unbreakable bond between brothers (below picture), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan meets key Arab leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, at reception before World Cup opening.
In terms of Return on Investment, Qatar won’t gain much in term of economic gain but will do well in public relations. According to Bleacher Report, “The tournament’s public relations value is a no-brainer. Hundreds of thousands of visiting fans and millions of television viewers will put Qatar in the global spotlight for a whole month. The energy-rich Gulf state will be able to showcase its shiny, state-of-the art infrastructure and facilities. In doing so, Qatar will become the face of an Arab world that projects itself as rich, bold and futuristic – a dramatic contrast with current perceptions of a world wracked by conflict, repression, violence and conservatism.”
Palestinian unity on all fronts, from teams to supporters, is also on display. The Qatari national team Captain Hassan Al-Haidous wears Palestinian flag armband hours before the start of the World Cup 2022. Thousands of fans from multiple nationalities wave Palestinian flags in Doha, Qatar, in support of the people of Palestine as World Cup begins. A pundit said, “Every nation has unique laws that reflect this diversity and so has Qatar. These laws occasionally highlight significant cultural values that may not reflect your own, however, must be respected. Qatar 2022 is inevitable.” Finally, there is so much self-determination pride to learn from Qatar. You can always stand out of the crowd without breaking the crowd. Qatar makes history. We are really proud of Qatar!
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