Sunday 08 / September / 2024
As the curtains came down on the National Day of Qatar, the hosts, definitely emerged as the winners for ensuring the grand success of the World Cup 2022
Qatar 2022 will be remembered for decades ahead as one of the greatest hosts of the FIFA World Cup, which was held from November 20 to December 18. It had all the key ingredients needed to make a tournament an outright success as it met the expectation of millions of fans who visited the State of Qatar from across the globe.
The World Cup began with a victory of seismic impact as Gulf nation Saudi Arabia shocked Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The upsets continued as four-time champions Germany exited in the group stage itself.
As if the departure of Germany wasn’t enough, five-time champions Brazil bowed out in the round of 16 stage even as the fans enjoyed some sensational goals and saves.
On the pitch, the story of the tournament had to be the sterling performance of Morocco. The Atlas Lions created history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals and finished fourth behind Croatia, another first for an African nation. And then the crowning moment on 18 December when Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi.
Messi won the Golden Ball for the best player at this year's World Cup. He scored twice, taking his tally of goals at the tournament to seven, and also scored in the shoot-out following the 3-3 draw after extra time.
The Journey to Doha
Travelling to Doha to enjoy the World Cup ambience and watch a match onboard Qatar Airways turned out to be an icing on the cake. Celebrated for its onboard amenities and lavish lounges, Qatar Airways business class is designed to impress everyone and lot of fans enjoyed the travel onboard the Qatar Airways.
Home to one of the most innovative and modern fleets in the world, Qatar Airways spacious and comfortable seating, delectable cuisine and extensive entertainment options, made flying a truly remarkable experience.
With Qsuite available in a few flights on Muscat-Doha sector, flying experience has been totally different from Muscat to Doha. The Qsuite offers ambient mood lighting, fully lie-flat beds and generous storage space, creating a new standard in comfort.
Warm welcome in Doha
On arrival, all Hayya card holders were provided by Qatar’s telecom operators free SIM loaded with talktime and data for three days - a very thoughtful gesture that brought a smile on everyone's faces.
A traditional welcome beckoned all the travelers flying in as they were greeted and treated with Kahwa (Arabic coffee) and dates at the airport.
To welcome travelers to Qatar, the award-winning airline introduced Qatar Sky House, a pavilion at Al Bidda Park, which included interactive activities such as face painting, Qverse experience, swing the world, foosball, and the “Neymar Challenge”.
For those looking for a moment to sit back and relax, the pavilion included two lounge areas, a Qatar Airways Privilege Club lounge and a space dedicated to relaxation. The Qatar Airways House, located in the Hyatt Regency Oryx Hotel, was screening live matches, conferences, events, as well as an introduction to the country’s culture.
Souq Wakif visit a must
A trip to Doha is incomplete without a visit to Souq Wakif, a destination where tradition and modernity is blended to perfection. It was the epicenter of fans converging from across the globe and the nearby metro station provided easy access from Souq Wakif to the stadiums.
The decked-up Corniche was another place to chill for the fans with its beautiful view across the bay of downtown buildings lit up to celebrate the matches of the day. It was a perfect place to hang out early in the evening and between matches.
Dreamland Doha
Doha became a dreamland for the football fans as they sang, danced and enjoyed all the games. “This is the one of the best World Cups I have seen in the last 40 years. Thank you Qatar,” Yogesh, a fan from India, who flew from the western city of Mumbai, said.
Qatar has done it! They have hosted the first- ever World Cup in the Middle East successfully. The World Cup will be remembered not just for the high standard of football but also for excellent hospitality.
“Thank you Qatar for a wonderful experience at the FIFA World Cup.
The government’s amazing execution of detailed planning and the excellent crowd management of the congregation of humans is a lesson for the rest of the world. Providing free bus services to and from the stadium/airport to metro station and free metro rides are all that will remain in the hearts of fans like me. Even visiting a fan festival was an enjoyable experience,” Nasser, a fan from Saudi Arabia, said.
The ubiquitous marshals played a key role in managing the crowds at all the places. They stood outside the stations, continually chanting: “Metrooo... this way.”
Undoubtedly, Qatar established its credentials as a worthy host. The success of the FIFA World Cup is sure to leave a lasting legacy for Qatar. The tournament greatly benefited the Gulf nations with fans spread across the UAE and Oman during the course of the World Cup.
The World Cup also brought a lot of focus on the Arab culture and tradition and despite critics doubting the success, Qatar has proved in clear terms that it has done it. Qatar is a winner all the way.
The memories of Qatar 2022 will be engraved in history forever. [email protected]
