The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is undoubtedly the pinnacle of Qatar’s achievements but it’s far from the only one. Since the 2006 Asian Games, the country has hosted over 500 international sports events and is eagerly anticipating the return of the Asian Games in 2030.
In preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the nation constructed seven new state-of-the-art stadia while also redeveloping the Khalifa International Stadium. An innovative metro system was also introduced, along with upgraded road networks.
In the lead-up to the World Cup, Qatar collaborated closely with FIFA, hosting three major events under football’s world governing body umbrella: the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019 and 2020, and the FIFA Arab Cup in 2021. These events contributed to the resounding success of the World Cup.
Football holds a special place in the hearts of Qataris and the country's national league, the Qatar Stars League, has attracted numerous renowned players over the years. Standouts include Raul, who made a record 741 appearances for Champions League title-holders Real Madrid and played for Al Sadd between 2012 and 2014; and Xavi, who won eight La Liga titles and four Champions League titles with Barcelona before joining Al Sadd in 2015, initially as a player and later as a manager.
Tennis is another sport in which Qatar has excelled at attracting top talent. Its women's international tournament consistently draws most of the world's top 10 players, while Roger Federer has achieved unmatched success in the men's tournament with three wins.
Doha has been the proud host of three world championships in athletics. The World Indoor Championships took place at the Aspire Dome in 2010, while the more prestigious outdoor equivalent was held at the Khalifa International Stadium in 2019, where Qatari star Mutaz Barshim triumphed in the high jump. The 2015 IPC World Para Athletics Championships were hosted at Qatar Sports Club, which also serves as the annual venue for the Diamond League, a series featuring the world's top track and field stars.
The Aspire Zone is a sports lover's dream, encompassing the Khalifa International Stadium, Hamad Aquatic Center (which hosted the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships in 2014 and will hold the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024) and the Aspire Dome, the world's largest indoor multi-purpose sports hall. The Aspire Dome hosted the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in 2018 and the Beach Pro Tour, featuring 20 of the world's best beach volleyball teams, earlier this year.
German football giants Bayern Munich and French champions Paris Saint Germain make annual trips to train at Aspire during the winter break. The latter's Brazilian star Neymar also returned to Aspire recently for surgery at the highly regarded Aspetar, which became the first-ever sports medicine hospital in the Middle East when it opened in 2007.
Horses are an integral part of Qatar’s culture and tradition and the country hosts international horse racing at its Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and top-class show jumping in the Longines Global Campions Tour at Al Shaqab.
While Doha, home to 92% of Qatar’s residents, is the primary hub for sports in the country, the nation’s second-largest city, Lusail, is quickly gaining prominence. In addition to hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ final, Lusail also boasts an international motor racing circuit, well-known for hosting MotoGP races and, more recently, Formula 1 events.
The Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, which will host the World Judo Championships – Doha 2023 starting on 7th May, is in the Al Sadd area of Doha and is no stranger to hosting major events. It was built for the 2015 World Men’s Handball Championships and has hosted the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships, the 2016 Futsal Intercontinental Cup and the 2016 ITTF World Tour Table Tennis Grand Finals. It hosted judo at the 2020 World Judo Masters and was used for the Senior Arab Judo Championships this year.
World Judo Championships – Doha 2023 starting on 7th May, is in the Al Sadd area of Doha and is no stranger to hosting major events. It was built for the 2015 World Men’s Handball Championships and has hosted the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships, the 2016 Futsal Intercontinental Cup and the 2016 ITTF World Tour Table Tennis Grand Finals. It hosted judo at the 2020 World Judo Masters and was used for the Senior Arab Judo Championships this year.
Spearheading Qatar's efforts to enhance its global sports profile is the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), which collaborates closely with its national sports federations. Together they provide support to athletes, coaches and officials at every level of the sporting pathway and contribute to the bidding for and organisation of world-class sports events.