According to recent a poll carried out by BBC, Qatar was selected as the best host of the FIFA World Cup in the 21st century, beating Japan/South Korea, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, and Russia.
The results of a poll conducted by BBC revealed this Tuesday that with a staggering 78% of votes, the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar this November was selected as the ‘best World Cup of the century’.
In the BBC’s poll, other World Cup tournaments of this century that were held in 2002 (Japan/South Korea), in 2014 (Brazil), in 2006 (Germany), in 2018 (Russia), and in 2010 (South Africa), were ranked behind Qatar respectively.
Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup drew praise even from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Describing this year’s World Cup in Qatar as “the best ever” and “the transformative legacy of this World Cup”, Infantino said last week in a news conference that “many people from around the world have come to Qatar and have discovered the Arab world, which they didn’t know or they knew only for what was portrayed to them.”
In addition to the perfect hosting of the most important sport event in the eyes of the voters, Qatar could stand out for many of the world records that this round of tournament could leave behind. Commenters on the BBC website, for example, said the final match between Argentina and France was one of the main factors contributing to the greatness of the 2022 tournament, the first to be held in the Middle East.
Fans also said that the diversity of the participating teams, including the Asian and African squads that scored upsets against world champions, was a highlight of this World Cup in Qatar.
Qatar World Cup, a stage for best and worst football news
One of the marvels of this round of tournament, for example, was when Saudi Arabia could beat Argentina. Saudis became the first Asian team ever to defeat the South American giants at the tournament, and the first non-European team to beat the Albiceleste since Cameroon stunned Diego Maradona and co. at the 1990 World Cup.
Another jaw-dropping shock of the 2022 World Cup that was particularly of great joy for Muslims, was when Morocco become the first African nation to reach the Cup’s semi-finals, with historic victory over Portugal.
But maybe the most memorable event for football fans in Qatar was that Lionel Messi could finally bring home the golden cup and fulfill his dream of World Cup championship. Good to mention that the victory of Argentina by beating France at Lusail Stadium which went to penalties (4-2) on December 18, coincided with Qatar National Day.
The last magical moments for football legends
Lionel Messi also won the prize for becoming the best player of the whole tournament. Although France stood at second place, the young French striker Kylian Mbappe left a record behind by becoming the second player after Sir Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in the final match.
Cristiano Ronaldo, another football legend, also made a unique record in this tournament by scoring a penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 victory over Group H rival Ghana and became the first player to score at five different FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022).
Last but not least, Lionel Messi took his chance to claim the only major trophy missing from his cabinet by winning the World Cup – something Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t do at Qatar 2022. But good news aside, the common thing for both football idols is that this was most probably the last World Cup for both players, which is surely the worst news for football fans around the world.
