Qatar, which has built up its confidence through the World Cup in the Middle East for the first time in winter, is poised to further expand its influence in the international sports world.

The FIFA 2022 World Cup was a tournament that brought the highest sense of achievement to the Qatari government, which aims to promote its country and Islamic culture to the world through sports. Although numerous criticisms and controversies arose towards the host country, the World Cup was successfully completed as they wished, and tourism and publicity effects were enjoyed beyond expectations.

Criticism regarding the human rights issues of migrant workers in Qatar and the oppression of LGBTI people was a hot issue. Attempts by some European national teams to protest Qatar’s human rights issues by wearing rainbow armbands in the group stage were thwarted by FIFA’s strict ban.

Funds for workers sacrificed during the construction of the World Cup Stadium and the establishment of a migrant worker center, which were requested by international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, were rejected by the Qatari government and FIFA. In some less popular matches and stadiums, there were also bizarre scenes where mobilized spectators filled the seats.

After the opening, various issues were naturally buried in the heat of the great game. Qatar’s state-run news agency QNA announced on the 19th that 1.4 million tourists entered the country during the World Cup, exceeding initial expectations.

The final match between Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Kylian Mbappe (France), two stars from Paris Saint-Germain owned by Qatar, became the best stage to publicize their influence in the world of international soccer.

Qatar, a small country with a population of only 2.6 million in an area the size of Gyeonggi-do, is expected to be more active in the international sports world based on the confidence it has built through the World Cup. Qatar, which hosted the 2023 Asian Cup soccer tournament and the 2030 Asian Games, is actively contacting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the first Olympics in the Middle East in 2036 in Doha, the capital city. Although they suffered defeat in the competition to bid for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, the hosting ability shown at this World Cup is expected to be a great asset.토토

In addition to Seoul, Montreal-Toronto (Canada), Istanbul (Turkey), London (United Kingdom), Berlin (Germany)-Tel Aviv (Israel), and Guadalajara-Mexico City (Mexico) have expressed their intention to host the 2036 Olympics directly or indirectly. . Qatar, an Asian country like Seoul, where Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon recently met with IOC President Thomas Bach several times to express his intention, will have no choice but to engage in fierce competition in the future.