AFA president lauds Qatar University for hosting team

Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia has praised Qatar University (QU) for hosting the Lionel Messi-led Argentinian national football team during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. La Albiceleste -- as the Argentinian team is known -- had selected the QU campus to be their choice of residence during the World Cup, which was held from November 20 to December 18 last year.
At a press conference in San Juan, Argentina, Tapia was asked at what point did he become sure that the team would be the world champions. He said in response, “Since the first day, since the first day. Since we went to Qatar, to Qatar University who treated us very well, extremely well. We felt we were going to be world champions.”
On what inspired the team to stay at QU, he said the university has three outdoor sports complexes, in addition to an indoor facility for women. These facilities host various sporting activities, including football, volleyball, handball, basketball, tennis, swimming, diving, water polo, squash and others.
Among the most prominent of these facilities is Qatar University Stadium, which is one of the university’s main facilities, and was built in accordance with international and Olympic specifications. It includes a football field, running track and athletics tracks. It can accommodate up to 10,000 spectators and includes rooms and facilities necessary to host big matches.
To view the relevant clip from the press conference, go to https://twitter.com/QatarUniversity/status/1610264898180718592
QU had recently announced that it would convert the room where Messi stayed during the World Cup into a mini museum. The QU campus was the base camp for the La Albiceleste for both accommodation and practice during the World Cup along with the Spanish team. QU had opened three sports complexes for the teams to practise outdoor, in addition to the indoor gym facilities. QU had decorated the accommodation complex in the blue and white theme replicating the colour of the team's jersey. The university also adorned the rooms with photographs of the jerseys and the names of several players written over them.