Proving that football truly is the global game, fans from every part of the globe are making their way to Qatar, eager to witness first-hand the joys of being at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
According to Qatari daily news publication The Peninsula, with data provided by the official World Cup travel platform, bookings by fans from nearly 200 nations have been recorded ahead of the flagship tournament. In the diplomatic sense there are actually 195 countries in the world today, 193 of which are member states of the United States, while the Holy See (Vatican) and the State of Palestine are considered non-member observer states.
The report states that inevitably, fans from countries with teams participating in the World Cup account for the biggest numbers. Just a short hop across the border, Saudi Arabia accounts for the largest quantity of travelling supporters, keen to cheer on their national team. The United States, who will co-host the next tournament in 2026, account for second biggest number of visitors.
Speaking on Qatar TV recently, Omar Al Jaber, who is the Executive Director of Housing Department at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, indicated his country will have a genuinely global feeling during the World Cup. He states that around 1.2 million passionate football supporters will be attending the tournament, using the official accommodation platform to arrange their stay.
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Amongst the most numerous represented are Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, who always tend to be well-supported at major tournaments. Given that both England and Wales are participating at the World Cup, there will be a sizeable contingent of travellers from the United Kingdom. Interestingly, another big number is due to arrive from India, regardless of their national team not being one of the 32 participants at the World Cup this year.
But any talk of such numbers can hardly be surprising. The FIFA World Cup is held every 4 years and always attracts huge interest globally. For those fortunate enough to attend in person, there will be a wonderful experience for them to enjoy in Qatar, given the host country is keen to put on a spectacular tournament. Meanwhile, the rest of us will be watching the action from home, as the 2022 World Cup story unfolds.
Earlier this year in, whilst speaking at the 2022 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, there was a bold prediction by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. He recalled that during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the global TV audience was a record-breaking 3.5 billion people. That number could be smashed, Infantino claimed, projecting a Qatar World Cup audience of around 5 billion viewers, tuning in via traditional TV channels and online streaming services.
Part of the massive appeal surrounding any World Cup is the sense of involvement, whether attending in person, watching from afar, and even partaking of other activities. Once referred to as the ‘Beautiful Game’ by Brazilian legend Pele, football is by far the most popular sport on Earth, enjoyed and followed everywhere around the planet. Due to that popularity, there will undoubtedly be millions of people wagering on the outcome of games.
But while having a flutter on the football is quite straightforward in most places, due to the widespread acceptance of betting as a pastime in the majority of western countries, laws are somewhat more stringent in the Middle East. Thankfully, there are safe and secure options available, allowing fans in the host nation to discover the top Qatar World Cup 2022 betting sites, where free bets and expert tips can be found in complete privacy.
Indeed, the global sports betting industry is widely expected to generate record incomes, throughout the duration of the World Cup, given that football betting also provides an excellent way for fans to participate directly. Wagering options have become increasingly more interactive in recent years, with a huge range of markets available, ranging from outright winner odds to top scorer markets and much more.
Whichever national team ultimately lifts the iconic golden trophy, being crowned as the 2022 FIFA World Cup champions in Qatar, the true winner is undoubtedly football itself as a sport. No activity captures the imagination quite like football, bringing entertainment and fuelling the aspirations of billions around the globe. Even in times of economic or political unease, football has the unique power to unite, which is entirely the point of such a prestigious tournament.
