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DOHA: Qatar is finally gearing up to host the World Cup on its soil on Sunday, 12 years after the nation successfully put together large-scale, multibillion-dollar preparations.
It is widely acknowledged that the Gulf country has spent $200 billion hosting football’s biggest event, and Qatar will get its first glimpse of the final product at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor when they take on hosts Ecuador.
Organizers say 2.9 million of the 3.1 million tickets have been sold, and that they expect 60,000 tickets to be sold on Sunday.
The home side’s players also prepared tirelessly, spending months outside Qatar in isolated training camps, trying to reach the knockout stage in their first World Cup appearance.
“Our situation is different (compared to other teams) and we have to work with what we have,” coach Felix Sanchez said in a press conference on the eve of the tournament.
“That’s right, it’s a huge sacrifice, away from our families and beyond, it shows the players’ commitment to the competition and it all starts tomorrow.”
The Group A match, which was moved from Monday to allow Qatar to play in the opening game, will be a stern test for the hosts on and off the field.
FIFA and tournament organizers hope the opening match will help put many controversies into the shadows.
Qatar has faced criticism over its human rights record and the environmental implications of holding the event.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino called on World Cup teams to “focus on football” in a letter earlier this month and accused critics in Western countries of “hypocrisy” on Saturday.
Qatar will be wary of following decades of work and spending with the embarrassment of becoming only the second host country to collapse in the first round.
To avoid joining South Africans at this exclusive club, Sanchez’s men have been tasked with breaking out of a group that also includes European giants, the Netherlands and African champions Senegal.
A win over a less-than-fantastic Ecuador would make the next two matches look less daunting.
“On paper, (Qatar’s three opponents) should get the three points, but of course we are here to show our people that we can be a competitive team,” Sanchez said.
“We’ll give our A game and play football, try to bring joy…
“We know it will be a big challenge for us, but we are very keen to play this game and we are very happy to be here.”
Qatar has improved on the field since winning the bid to host the World Cup, beating Japan in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final and finishing third in last year’s Arab Cup.
But results have slipped in recent months, with a 1-1 draw with Jamaica and a 3-0 defeat by Croatia U-23s particularly disappointing.
Ecuador will not be on top after going through the tough South American qualifiers.
“We believe we have the same chance as Qatar in this opening match,” Moises Caicedo, Brighton’s Ecuadorian midfielder, said.
We know how Qatar plays, they are strong and strong. I know this is going to be a very tough game tomorrow.”
After a tumultuous buildup, which culminated in a sudden turn on Friday to sell beer in stadiums, Qatar players will seek some spotlight and less scrutiny on off-field issues.
Match of the day
Qatar vs Ecuador
9:00 PM Pacific Time
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