We have pulled down the curtains on the World Cup in Qatar, which took place from 20 November to 18 December 2022. It was a fantastic celebration of football, people and cultures!
The World Cup in Qatar has left us with many beautiful memories, happy moments, history of firsts, and so much more. The ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) has put together some must-know highlights of the World Cup that made the experience amazing! Let's check them out.
Qatar hosted 64 matches, 32 teams, and 1.4 million visitors in 29 days. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 recorded a high fan attendance of 3,404,252 fans over the tournament period. The FIFA Fan Festival™ at Al Bidda Park in Doha has seen more than 1.8 million fans enjoy the live broadcast of games and the vibrant entertainment at the venue.
The final match at Lusail Stadium recorded a groundbreaking attendance of 88,966 spectators. The World Cup saw 5+ billion TV viewers across the globe.
Argentina defeated France with a win of 4-3 on penalties and gave Argentina glory after 36 years.
ARGENTINA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!! 🇦🇷#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
After winning the World Cup, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani gifted the 'bisht' to Messi, which is a great honour, and Messi graciously wore it while accepting the trophy. This garment is considered a symbol of nobility and royalty. It is worn during special occasions like weddings, ceremonies, official meetings and other special occasions.
Ever since the World Cup final, bisht sales have skyrocketed in Qatar! Read more about the bisht here.
😍How cute is this moment of H.H. The Amir honouring @imessi with the traditional Qatari 'Bisht' before handing him the champion's trophy! 📹: AlKass pic.twitter.com/lzLM3G8GlX
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 18, 2022
Fans at the Al Bayt Stadium were hyped for the World Cup opening ceremony on 20 November 2022, and the performances were spectacular! BTS sensation Jungkook and Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi took the stage at the World Cup opening, and legendary actor Morgan Freeman also participated in the ceremony.
Check out snippets from the grand opening ceremony that included a film, a song performance, a tribute to the participating nations, previous World Cup songs' medley and La'eeb! #ILoveQatar #Qatar #Doha #ILQQatar2022 #Qatar2022 #WorldCup #fifaworldcup #qatarworldcup pic.twitter.com/yMExho4rZh
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) November 20, 2022
The World Cup ended with a band with a spectacular closing ceremony. Lusail Stadium witnessed an aerial aquatic show, fireworks, a celebration of the participating countries & performances from the World Cup soundtrack stars singing their tournament hits!
⚽🤩Here's a glimpse of the World Cup closing ceremony - the grand finale of the tournament!
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 18, 2022
Lusail Stadium witnessed an aerial aquatic show, a celebration of the participating countries & performances from the World Cup soundtrack stars singing their tournament hits! pic.twitter.com/KIbllRacuU
One of the main highlights of the World Cup was the accessibility features it offered. From the transport facilities around the country and at the airports to accessible stadiums and sensory rooms for those in need to the visually impaired people enjoying the World Cup, it was indeed a tournament for all.
Even the visually-impaired people are enjoying the World Cup! 🇶🇦
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) November 28, 2022
Source: f.q.alhajri (TikTok)#ILoveQatar #Qatar #Qatar2022 #WorldCupQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/kO9ZIuzMXs
Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world, and fans experienced and felt it first-hand during the World Cup. Many women came forward to tell how safe they felt here, and there were instances people could find their lost items with the help of others.
💕 Women of different nationalities talk about how safe they feel during their visit to Qatar.
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 10, 2022
What do you think, ILQ fam? 😍
Source: hayyatogether (TikTok)#ILoveQatar #Qatar #Qatar2022 #WorldCupQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/fyPE5xO61f
Many fans who have attended previous World Cups have said that the Qatar World Cup experience is the best to date.
This fan has been to 7 World Cups since 1998 and says Qatar 2022 is the best he's experienced! 🤩
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 19, 2022
Do you agree, ILQ fam? #ILoveQatar #Qatar #Qatar2022 #WorldCupQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/xxLHgXjiTA
Fans could free access urgent and emergency medical care at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) during World Cup. A World Cup fan who suffered an illness during his stay in Doha shared his experience with Qatar's healthcare services and facilities.
A World Cup fan who suffered an illness during his stay in Qatar shares his experience with Qatar's healthcare services and facilities.
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 2, 2022
🎥 @HMC_Qatar #ILoveQatar #Qatar #Qatar2022 #WorldCupQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/9AC4I564te
Many players were seen celebrating each of the matches' wins with their family and dear ones. It was amazing to see these scenes unfold on the pitch.
🇲🇦 Sofiane Boufal celebrates a historic win with his mother! ❤️Photo credit 📷: 433#ILoveQatar #Qatar #Qatar2022 #WorldcupQatar2022 #MAR #Morocco #quarterfinals #atlaslions #dimamaghrib #SofianeBoufal pic.twitter.com/gaigl7jWeM
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 10, 2022
It was amazing to see fans in Qatar embrace the local culture while in the country. Fans could be seen rocking the thobe and ghitra in their country flag colours. Women fans were seen trying out the hijab and abaya for the first time. Local kids and adults were seen helping people tie the ghitra, which brought a smile to everyone's faces.
🤩Look at these fans rocking the thobe!
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) November 22, 2022
📹TikTok: hmeqtr#ILoveQatar #Qatar #Doha #ILQLive #ILQ #ILQQatar2022 #Qatar2022 #WorldCup #fifaworldcup #qatarworldcup #NowIsAll #fifaworldcup2022 #fifaworldcupqatar2022 #worldcup2022 #worldcupqatar2022 #thobe pic.twitter.com/feprlrHoXi
Fans and match attendees were treated by locals and kids in Qatar by offering them sweets, flowers in malls, Karak and even homemade food in neighbourhoods outside the stadiums. Did you come across any gestures like this?
🇶🇦 Residents near Al Thumama Stadium distribute food to match attendees! ❤️
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) November 25, 2022
📸rassdqatar on IG#Qatar2022 #ILoveQatar #Qatar #ILQLive #QatarNews #WorldCup #fifaworldcup #qatarworldcup #WorldCupQatar #FIFA #FIFAWorldCup2022 #AlThumamaStadium #AlThumama #QatarvsSenegal #Senegal pic.twitter.com/gx6KiwQ3bU
Team England befriended a stray cat and adopted him. Dave the cat will soon be travelling to the UK. Read the story of lucky Dave here.
The Japanese fans cleaned the stadiums after the matches ended, and this trend soon caught on, and many fans also joined in cleaning the stadiums after each match. How amazing is this?
Respect to Japan fans 👊🇯🇵 #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/gjrPhv5Dis
— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022en) November 27, 2022
Qatar's fans thanked team Qatar and cheered for them during the final group stage match on 29 November 2022.
Shukran Team Qatar! Let's come back stronger! 🇶🇦💪
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) November 29, 2022
📸Source: @emanalkabee#ILoveQatar #Qatar #ILQQatar2022 #Qatar2022 #QatarWorldCup2022 #NowIsAll #WorldCup2022 #WorldcupQatar2022 #AlAnnabi #CheerForAlAnnabi #QatarFootballAssociation #TeamQatar @qfa pic.twitter.com/tYkPlb040V
More than 20,000 volunteers were involved in this year’s World Cup. The volunteers were the heart of tournament operations, supporting 45 functional areas across more than 30 different roles.
To attend the World Cup, fans took the less travelled path and drove, cycled and even walked to Qatar to witness one of the greatest tournaments! Check out their stories below:
Abu Bakr Abbas a.k.a "The Metro Man", became an instant celebrity amongst fans and even globally for adding a fun flair to his job! He sure knows how to make fans laugh while pointing them in the right direction. "Metroooo... this way!"
This guy sure knows how to add a fun flair to his job! What a way to make fans laugh as he points them in the right direction - the metro! 🤩👉
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) November 22, 2022
🎥: hichambouaziz saidchii1988 metro_man001 on TikTok#Qatar #Doha #ILoveQatar #Qatar2022 #ILQCommunity #ILQLive #DohaMetro pic.twitter.com/EJxSV6W7zX
A fan pays a beautiful tribute to how the World Cup brought people worldwide together in one place. Watch the video here!
👏The World Cup is truly bringing people together from all around the globe. Check out this beautiful tribute by a fan!
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 4, 2022
Source: pali_boy73family (TikTok)#ILoveQatar #Qatar #Qatar2022 #WorldCupQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/2No2EaQVDg
Fans had the time of their lives in Qatar, from dancing and celebrating their team's wins at prominent places in Souq Waqif to strangers coming together to congratulate each other, help each other and more. The tournament was just a grand celebration of different cultures coming together for the love of football!
🇦🇷Argentinian fans are going all out at Souq Waqif to cheer for their team ahead of the Quarter-final match against Netherlands on Friday, 9 Dec 2022!
— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) December 8, 2022
📹:Souq Waqif (IG), barbyyyyyyp & Alfonso Laso (TikTok) #ILoveQatar #Qatar #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/Z1DvBmPRN1
A total of 19,246,096 passengers were transported by both the Metro and Lusail Tram from 18 November - 18 December in Qatar. Mowasalat (Karwa)’s Bus Services transported 7,550,760 passengers throughout the tournament.
🚇🚊🍃 19,246,096 Total number of passengers transported by both the Metro and Lusail Tram
— وزارة المواصلات 🇶🇦 Ministry of Transport (@MOTQatar) December 19, 2022
(🗓️ Nov. 18 - Dec. 18, 2022)#NowisAll#Qatar#FIFAWorldCupQatar2022#FIFAWorldCup#Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/Okbj5fjvE6
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What other events made your World Cup experience unforgettable? Did you see or face anything that put a smile on your face? Do let us know in the comments below. Do share this article - it keeps us going!
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