Even in this era of round-the-clock sporting activity, the football World Cup holds special allure. Very few competitions kindle such worldwide interest and stir passion quite like the showpiece event of the most popular sport. For footballing nerds, it is the biggest stage to look out for the latest tactical trends while for the romantics, it is an opportunity to reconnect with their favourite yesteryear stars’ teams, such as Diego Maradona’s Argentina, Pele’s Brazil and Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands. It will be no different when host Qatar and Ecuador set the ball rolling in the opening match of the 2022 edition this Sunday. What has changed however is the timing, with the World Cup moving away from the traditional summer slot to escape the West Asian country’s searing heat. It will thus be held right in the middle of various club seasons, cutting short the time for practice and coaching lessons. But unlike at a tournament that comes at the fag end of the season, player fatigue is not expected to be a defining factor. Another point has been Qatar’s record in upholding universal human rights and its worthiness as a host. But the debate will linger until such time as sports organisations realign their moral compass and break the nexus with big capital and authoritarian governments.
But once the action begins, the World Cup is expected to be a joyous celebration of the sport. The triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar will attract most attention. For Messi, 35, and Ronaldo, 37, Qatar represents the last chance to secure the coveted title, and a golden swansong will be high in the minds of the Argentine and Portuguese fans. Neymar’s Brazil boasts of an incredibly talented team and seems best-placed to end a 20-year trophy drought while defending champion France will look to draw on its squad depth to overcome the loss of key personnel in Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. Former champion Spain, 2018 finalist Croatia and plucky Uruguay all have capable rosters. Historic underperformer England — the run to the Euro 2020 final notwithstanding — and the more recent underachiever Germany will look to turn over a new leaf. Senegal will anchor the African nations’ charge, but without talisman Sadio Mane it will be an uphill task. Asian countries South Korea and Japan will be out to prove, once again, that they are no pushovers. The return of the Netherlands to the World Cup fold is welcome news, while the absence of Italy, the reigning European champion, for a second successive edition is nothing short of an apocalypse.
With 32 countries participating, the football’s biggest tournament will be conducted between November 20 and December 18. The first game starts on November 20 between the host Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, while the final match take place on December 18 at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail.
Qatar’s Total Expenditure On FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preparations
Qatar has built six new stadiums and renovated two existing ones, along with training sites, at a total cost of $6.5 billion-$10 billion, a significant increase from the proposed $4 billion in the initial bid.
The rest about $210 billion is associated with the costs of developing airports, new roads, innovative hubs with hotels, and sophisticated underground transportation, among others, according to US sports finance consultancy Front Office Sports. In Doha alone, over $15 billion was spent on an accommodation complex known as ‘The Pearl’ and while $36 billion was shelled out on the Doha Metro.
According to Russia’s news agency Tass, Qatar’s finance ministers admitted to spending $500 million per week for years during the course of the infrastructure project.
Since the announcement of Qatar as the host in 2010, the Middle East country has spent hugely on developing football stadiums apart from developing its infrastructure for organising the tournament between November 20 and December 18.
The Qatar’s $220 billion cost is hugely higher as compared with the $11.6 billion spent by Russia to organise the FIFA World Cup in 2018, $15 billion by Brazil in 2014, $3.6 billion by South Africa in 2010. Before that, Germany spent $4.3 billion in 2006, Japan shelled out $7 billion in 2002, France $2.3 billion in 1998, and the US $500 million in 1994.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Ticket Prices, Revenues
FIFA has said nearly three million tickets have been sold across the eight stadiums in Qatar ahead of the November 20-December 18 World Cup. The tournament is expected to deliver record revenue for FIFA, crossing the roughly $5.4 billion Russia brought in at the 2018 World Cup.
According to a study by Germany-based sports outfitter Keller Sports, match tickets in Qatar are 40 per cent costlier as compared with the previous FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. Tickets for the final match cost an a hefty 684 pounds (nearly Rs 66,200) on average.
Tickets to the football matches in Qatar this time cost an average 286 pounds (about Rs 27,700) per seat, compared with 214 pounds in the 2018 edition in Russia. “The ticket prices in Qatar are the most expensive ever for World Cup games in the last 20 years, with those for the final 59 per cent higher than four years ago,” according to Keller Sports.
As about three million tickets have already sold, the total ticket revenue is estimated to be about $1 billion (on 286 pounds or $340 per seat).
Apart from tickets, FIFA has already sold around 240,000 hospitality packages, nearly three million tickets, and broadcasting rights — Fox and Telemundo purchased rights to the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in 2011 for a reported $1 billion combined, according to Front Office Sports.
Though the $220-billion cost is associated with the World Cup, it is part of the ambitious strategy for Qatar’s national development and modernisation. “The World Cup is a part of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” Qatar’s Ambassador to Russia Sheikh Ahmed bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani had told Russian news agency TASS last year.(Hindu & News18)
