DOHA (Qatar): Iraq’s legendary captain Younis Mahmoud understands football’s power to unite millions of people.
When he led the Lions of Mesopotamia to Asian Cup glory in 2007, the team’s victory played a crucial role in promoting peace throughout the war-torn country.
Mahmoud captained Iraq for ten years during a career that earned him 148 international caps and a reputation as one of the greatest strikers in Asian football history.
His knowledge of Qatar’s football culture and his involvement with Qatar 2022 as an ambassador for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) gives the talismanic striker strong insight into what the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will mean to fans in the region and beyond.
With just under two years to go until the big kick-off, the SC recently got caught up with Mahmoud to talk about the tournament, its legacy and some of its unique characteristics.
How important is it for the Middle East and Arab world to host the FIFA World Cup for the first time?
It will provide a much-needed opportunity for the rest of the world to rid themselves of the many negative stereotypes they have about the region. By experiencing both Arab culture and the world-class infrastructure that will be in place for the tournament, fans from different countries will have the opportunity to reimagine the way they see this part of the world. As with all World Cups, Qatar 2022 will allow fans from all over the globe to meet, learn about different traditions and celebrate the beautiful sport at a time when so many people have suffered through this pandemic.
What impact will Qatar 2022 have on football in the region?
It will undoubtedly raise the level of ambition for all Arab countries, both on and off the pitch. National teams will be even more encouraged to compete at a higher level, particularly after the world’s most important football event takes place in their own region. Off the pitch, football authorities will compete to host more global sporting events, investing more in building the necessary infrastructure and local capacities to do so. Either way, Qatar 2022 will prove to be a watershed moment for millions of football fans across the Middle East.
With the furthest stadium being only 46km from Doha city centre and the closest a mere 7km away, Qatar 2022 is set to be the most compact version of the World Cup in modern history. What impact will that have on fans and players?
This unique feature was something that tournament organisers promised the world from the outset of the bidding process in 2010. It’s one of the many ways that Qatar 2022 will be a unique tournament that will set the benchmark for all World Cups moving forward. Giving fans the potential of attending more than one match a day in person will change the way fans interact with the World Cup.
From a player’s perspective, having spent years traversing the expansive Asian continent with the Iraq national team, I can tell you that being able to stay and train in one base camp throughout the tournament is something that all participating teams are looking forward to.
In 2022, the World Cup will take place between 21 November and 18 December. What will that mean for those both attending and participating in the tournament?
Having lived and played in Qatar for many years, the temperatures at that time of year are ideal for football. When combined with the availability of innovative cooling technology at stadiums, the weather will not play any adverse role whatsoever. More importantly, perhaps, will be that this World Cup will come in the middle of the European domestic season, where most of the world’s top footballers play. This means that they will be at the peak of their fitness as opposed to being fatigued from a lengthy season. This will surely mean that fans will be treated to some exceptional performances, making the tournament even more memorable.
