Alkass Digital
With only six months to go until the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world, excitement for the tournament is reaching fever-pitch levels in Qatar and throughout the region.
During the Eid holiday, fans in Qatar will be able to catch a glimpse of the famous FIFA World Cup Trophy from 5-10 May as it visits tourist hotspots including Aspire Park, Lusail Marina, Souq Waqif and Msheireb Downtown Doha.
The events will count as the send-off for the FIFA World Cup Trophy before it embarks on the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola which will return to Doha for the opening match of the tournament at Al Bayt Stadium on 21 November.
Khalid Al Mawlawi, Deputy Director-General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said: "Excitement is building ahead of the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup the first to be held in the Middle East and Arab world. We are only 200 days away from the opening match and we invite everyone in Qatar to seize the opportunity to appreciate the Original Trophy up close, before its amazing journey around the world begins." A host of special guests and football personalities will be present at all the public events meaning extra excitement for the many fans who are sure to turn out. Fans will also be treated to a host of activities and have the chance to win tickets to the opening match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador.
The general public will be able to see the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy every evening from 6-9 PM. During the daytime, the trophy will be taken to various businesses and organisations, including in the health and education sectors. A special send-off event will be held at Katara on 10 May.
HE Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) Hassan Al Thawadi said he is looking forward to welcoming FIFA World Cup fans to Qatar, with only 200 days left for the start of the tournament.
"Its going to be incredible and a landmark moment in the history of Qatar and our region," said Al Thawadi. "For decades, hosting the World Cup was a distant dream but now it is reality and only 200 days away. All our hard work is coming to fruition and we stand ready to host an outstanding edition of the FIFA World Cup one that will leave an important legacy for our country, the Middle East and globally," he said.
For his part, Director General of the SC Eng. Yasir Al Jamal said tournament organizers were busy fine-tuning their plans ahead of the big kick-off.
"We have learned so much from recent tournaments, including the FIFA Club World Cup and FIFA Arab Cup, which were successfully held in Qatar last year," Al Jamal said before adding that "we will continue to collaborate closely with our national stakeholders to ensure our country hosts an unforgettable FIFA World Cup for both residents and the many visitors we are expecting. We are excited to welcome the world in November and December, and introduce everyone to our culture and hospitality." CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC Nasser Al Khater said that "fans and players should expect a warm welcome when they arrive in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. The compact nature of our tournament means everything will be close by whether its a stadium, training site or tourist attraction. While fans immerse themselves in the action, players will be able to focus on football as there is no requirement for travel between matches. Its going to be a World Cup to remember for everyone who makes it to Qatar as well as the billions glued to their TVs and smartphones."