Qatar to host World Cup 2022

By Jeaneane Payne

FIFA has announced that Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after the FIFA Executive Committee voted in a secret ballot today in Zurich.

Five candidates presented their bids to stage the 2022 edition of the world's greatest sporting event.

Australia, Korea Republic, Japan, and USA also submitted bids for the highly-prized hosting rights. USA, Japan and Korea had all previously staged the FIFA World Cup finals, with Japan and Korea becoming the tournament's first joint hosts back in 2002. The 1994 finals took place in the USA.

"I would like to congratulate Qatar and to also thank the other candidates for their efforts," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. "The World Cup is going to new lands and I am a happy President as we speak of the development of football."

FIFA reports that Chairman of the Qatar bid, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, was near tears after the announcement. "Thank you for believing in change and believing in expanding the game and thank you for giving Qatar a chance," he said. "We will not let you down. We will make you proud."

Following the next FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014, and the 2018 edition in Russia, who were also awarded the hosting rights on Thursday, the finals will for the first time be staged by Qatar in 2022.

Qatar soccer stadium (photo courtesy of Qatar Embassy

Qatar is located in the United Arab Emirates which has the world's seventh largest oil reserves and possesses one of the most developed economies in West Asia.

Published December 2, 2010