The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) invited 32 football enthusiasts from 28 countries to attend the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw ceremony on 1 April. The delegation enjoyed a four-day trip which included visiting the remarkable Al Bayt Stadium, exploring Qatar’s many cultural and entertainment offerings and meeting some legendary football stars.
The trip introduced fans from across the globe to Qatar’s rich culture and offered a glimpse of what they can expect during the FIFA World Cup, which is set to take place for the first time in the Arab world and Middle East between 21 November and 18 December.
Samantha Sifah, SC Fan Engagement Manager, believes that the super fans can provide insight on how Qatar can deliver an exceptional experience for visitors during the tournament.
“These are the fans that travel all over the world following their teams so actually having them here to talk about the fan experience enables us to learn from the people we’re seeking to serve,” said Sifah.
South Africa’s Mama Joy, a long-time supporter of the Bafana Bafana said that she is thrilled to return home to Johannesburg and tell her friends and family about Qatar.
“My main aim coming here is to interact with supporters from various countries and really delve into everything this country has to offer. To be honest, I didn’t know anything about Qatar, and now that I am here, I am amazed at what this country has achieved. I am certain that after the World Cup, Qatar will be known to the whole world,” she said.
Fans were also given a behind-the-scenes look at tournament preparations during a visit to the SC Legacy Pavilion.
Javier 'El púlpito' Labrador from Colombia said: “Qatar is going to allow us to move around nice and quick. Previously, I have watched a maximum of 12 games at a World Cup and this time I can see 15 or 20 games. Therefore, Qatar is going to make history. I think this could be one of the best World Cups of all time.”
In addition to visiting popular tourist spots such as Souq Waqif and the National Museum of Qatar, the delegation was given the opportunity to play with legends of the game, including Luis Hernandez, Lothar Matthaus, Yaya Touré and Marcel Desailly at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue, Stadium 974. Fans were able to go on an extensive tour of the stadium and were then surprised with personal invitations to attend matches at Qatar 2022.
Luiz Cavahlo from Brazil said: "I would definitely tell Brazilian fans that Qatar is a remarkable country. It will be the first FIFA World Cup that will bring together all of the participating athletes and fans in the same city. Qatar is a safe country with a brilliant infrastructure, and I can’t wait to see it all come to life later this year."
The group was selected through a competition that invited passionate football fans who are prominent in their fan community to submit content that displays their fandom and prolific support of their national teams.
