Football in the Middle East is on the rise, with a growing number of fans becoming interested in the sport that is followed across the globe. The sport reached a peak audience during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and there is set to be another captivating event in the Middle East in the 2030s should Saudi Arabia be successful in their bid to host the global event.
Football betting was hugely popular during the event across the region, with sports betting fans typically looking at joining some of the leading sportsbooks available on this website. But, what has been the lasting legacy of Qatar hosting the World Cup, and how is still a popular destination for the sport in the region?
Engrossing The Football Audience
There is no sporting event on the planet like the World Cup, as fans travel from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the event up close. Questions were raised when Qatar was awarded hosting responsibilities for the popular football betting event, as it was the smallest nation to be tasked with taking up the responsibility.
Casual and working class fans were also put off attending the event due to the inflated costs of travelling to the Middle East, which saw smaller numbers of European fans from nations such as England and Germany. However, it would be hard to argue that the sports betting competition was anything other than a success given the fresh eyes that were brought to the sport.
Qatar’s population of just under three million were engrossed by the tournament from start to finish, and the World Cup has always been about growing the sport. A huge number of infrastructure projects were taken up after being awarded the World Cup, with the economic figures in 2022 showing a massive increase on the GCC average.
What Has Happened To The Infrastructure?
A lot of money was spent by the Qatari government to build a host city that was capable of welcoming fans to the World Cup, with metro lines, hotels, and stadiums being among the biggest investments. Metro lines have remained in place since the conclusion of the World Cup, as they offer an economic value to those that live there, and travelling around Doha has never been easier than it is in this modern day.
The vast majority of hotels that were built to house travelling fans also remain in place, with the tourism board making no secret that they hope to welcome regularly six million visitors per year, which is an increase on the two million from 2019. However, the big sporting events that are continuing to take place in the area ensures that international tourism remains high.
Qatar needed to build new stadiums for the popular football betting event, and the plan was clear as to what would happen to these after the conclusion of the event. The Ahmad bin Ali Stadium remains open, with the nation keen to keep some of the biggest arenas in the hope of one day hosting the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Lusail Stadium, which hosted the iconic final between Argentina and France, is being downsized to accommodate other sporting events, while Stadium 974, which was made up using shipping containers, has been taken apart and re-used. Some of the remaining stadiums that were built with the intention of future plans remain in tact, but this is likely to change in the near future.
World Cup Transformed Grass Roots Game
One of the biggest aims for any global sporting event, whether it be the World Cup or Olympics, is to inspire the next generation of talent. It would certainly appear that the sports betting event in 2022 has managed to deliver on that promise, as the Qatar Community Football League has never been bigger in terms of numbers playing the game.
Latest figures from the organisation show that they now have over 2,000 players registered to play the sport, which is a huge increase on the scale of the operation before the start of the World Cup. Meanwhile, it is a hugely inclusive experience for players of all ages, with over 78 different nationalities playing regularly in the events organised by the QCFL.
A big concern ahead of the World Cup was the human rights record of Qatar, with many women opting to avoid travelling to the competition due to the equal rights record. However, the sport has given female players within the country a new lease of life, with girls welcome to join teams in various leagues around Qatar.
The organisation has also admitted that the standard of the game is improving on a regular basis due to the World Cup facilities that are still available, meaning that players are able to make a career out of the sport by moving abroad to follow their dreams.
Qatar Welcoming Huge Events Annually
The World Cup remains the biggest event that the nation has ever held, but the experience of welcoming superstars and fans from across the globe certainly ensures that organising events throughout the sporting calendar has now become second nature. Therefore, it is no surprise that the region is investing heavily in more sporting events, which will show off the country in its best possible light.
The Qatar Grand Prix on the Formula 1 schedule is one of the biggest annual events held within the nation, and it has been a storming success at the Lusail International Circuit since 2011. As well as motorsports, tennis has been a regular sport to be held within the nation, with the first ATP Tour event being staged in 1993, before the WTA event was added in 2001.
Conclusion
Qatar has rapidly become the home of football in the Middle East, and the legacy of the World Cup in 2022 has seen the popularity of the sport reach new heights. Sport on the whole has also gained greater interest within the region, and the long-time dream of those at government positions remains to be hosting the Olympic Games in the near future.
