(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Doha: Former goalkeeper of the Oman national team and Qatar Legacy Ambassador Ali Al Habsi has said that hosting of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to be held from November 20 to December 18 highlights that dreams can turn into reality.
“When I started playing football, the idea of organising the World Cup here in the Middle East was a dream for us,” Al Habsi said in an interview to FIFA.
“Therefore, when we witness the tournament being held in Qatar, it shows that dreams can turn into reality.”
With preparations for the launch of the largest sporting event in the world almost complete and with less than 100 days to go, Al Habsi expressed that Qatar's organisation of the 2022 World Cup as the first version of the World Cup in the Middle East will have a clear impact on the game in the region and will inevitably leave a distinguished legacy in the region especially for the younger players.
He added that hosting the World Cup in the Middle East is a huge step, expressing his confidence that Qatar's hosting of the World Cup will have a significant impact on the development of football in the region.
He pointed out that Qatar's organization of the Arab FIFA Cup 2021 Qatar at the end of last year showed the world the extent of readiness.
“The country is ready to organise the biggest tournament and for the whole world to witness,” he stressed.
Al Habsi also said that Arab football is full of stars who play in the major leagues of the world and have succeeded in winning major championships such as Egyptian Mohamed Salah and Algerian player Riyad Mahrez.
“It is time that Arab teams would be in contention to go beyond the group stage of the tournament,” he opined.
Ali Al Habsi is considered a football legend in the Arab world, given that he was the first Omani player to play in Europe.
He starred on the charming football fields of Norway and England, was part of the Wigan Athletic team that won the FA Cup in 2013.
He was also the goalkeeper and captain of his country until he retired in 2020, having represented Oman in 136 matches.
MENAFN18082022000063011010ID1104716998
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.