2022 FIFA World Cup Bid Final Presentation

President Blatter, Members of the Executive Committee, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to ask you a question.

When?

When is the right time for the World Cup to come to the Middle East?

And do you recognise how important this is to our region and our world?

FIFA has answered similar questions many times before.

In 1930, FIFA entrusted the people of Latin America, and as a result, football was richer and stronger thanks to your leadership.

In 1994, you did the same with North America.

In 2002, with Asia.

And in 2010, with Africa.

Each time, FIFA made history, helping football fulfill its global destiny through your courage, your vision, and your good judgment.

As Mohammed’s story showed us, the impact of the game goes far beyond what happens on the field. Your decisions have always illustrated that your mandate is not only to improve the game we all love, but to pull the entire world closer together through football.

Bringing the World Cup to the Middle East is the latest – and perhaps the most significant step – in broadening the impact of this great sport.

The impact of awarding a World Cup to our region will be felt at many levels, increasing excitement and hope and generating participation in a young, growing and vibrant population. And it will drive economic development and opportunities.

From my experience based on my feeling that I am not only a mother to my own children but am a mother to an entire generation of youth across the Middle East, I have seen the impact of football on our lives.

It is more than a mere game for us or just one sport among many. It is the sport. We play it all the time, any time.

In 2022, when more than half of the Middle East’s inhabitants will be under 25, a World Cup here will have a deeper impact on more young people in our region than any other. It will also have the greatest future benefits for the game.

From Doha to Damascus, the hope of a generation of youth will be shown to be more than an elusive dream. You will show it can happen here.

I have seen how football keeps young kids motivated and hopeful about what they can accomplish in the rest of their lives. Football shows that persistence leads to success, that problems can be solved through teamwork. It also teaches them values and rules. And if not, a yellow card will result. 

A World Cup in Qatar is an affirmation of a new set of ideas. It will show the Middle East and the entire world that it is possible to bring East and West together. That we can achieve daring goals and overcome difficult challenges. And it’s not only possible, but it is succeeding because of Qatar’s vision and leadership. 

A World Cup in Qatar will mean millions of people traveling to the Middle East for the first time. And billions watching on television will have their most sustained exposure to this part of the world in a way that highlights the beauty and accomplishments of our region – and reduces the distance between us.

A World Cup in Qatar will allow us to work closely with FIFA in the lead up to 2022, providing additional opportunities to our entire region and beyond. Just think of what we can achieve together on behalf of our shared values - working to promote education, development and a culture of peace across our region – through football. 

And a World Cup in Qatar will send an important message to this football obsessed region.

A message that after 92 years of waiting, we are finally a recognized part of the global football family.

So let me go back to my original question.

When?

When is the right time for the World Cup to come to the Middle East?

Ladies and Gentleman.

The time has come.

The time is now.