Updated on 12/17/2022 at 9:57 p.m
- The World Cup final between Argentina and France has a winner even before kick-off: Qatar.
- There are various reasons for this, which elegantly play into the hands of the host.
- We also asked an expert: Is the entire World Cup a political success for the emirate?
It is a sentence that gives a deep insight. “This is the best World Cup ever, the media is in love with it Train“. Nasser Al-Khelaifi told the news channel CNN. He is not only president of Paris St. Germain, but also head of the European club association ECA and a close friend of the Qatari emir. With the sentence that many people will certainly not subscribe to, he gets to the heart of the mood among the hosts: For Qatar, the final is between Argentina and France on a bill for which the Gulf State has put down more than 200 billion dollars. For a World Cup as a political mission. With an endgame as a stroke of luck.
There are several reasons for this. “In terms of sport, both teams are worthy representatives in the final and politically both countries did not stand out in the protests against Qatar,” says sports policy expert Jürgen Mittag to our editors. The Copa America winner against the reigning world champion, plus superstars like
Crowns Messi his great career and climbs the Argentine football throne to next legend Diego Maradona to take a seat? Or will the brute French offensive make a lasting mark on football history by defending the title? It would also be Mbappe’s second title and the forward is just 23 years old. Which story is told in the end shouldn’t even matter to the hosts.
No criticism of the finalists
What is very important, however, is that with both teams, Qatar need not be afraid that they will suddenly start putting on “One Love” bandages or making other statements on the biggest possible football stage. Football will be the focus. of France president
You shouldn’t face it every time the event is there, but at the moment you forgive it,” he explained and, as announced, traveled to the semi-finals of his “Equipe Tricolore” against Morocco. He will also be at the final sit in the stands.
Of course, there is not only pure football enthusiasm behind it, but also political calculation. This year, the French energy group “TotalEnergies” was the first foreign company in Qatar to be awarded the contract for the joint development of the world’s largest natural gas field. “The fact that Macron is also traveling to Doha and that there are strong economic ties between France and Qatar also suits the organizer,” says Mittag.
Messi and Mbappe as PSG faces
But that’s not all, because “Qatar’s special role for Paris St. Germain marks the culmination of this constellation,” said Mittag. The background: A subsidiary of the Qatar state fund bought the club after the World Cup was awarded in 2010 and has since invested more than 1.5 billion euros in the team. Two of the current defining faces of the squad: Messi and Mbappe. Now the two superstars of the industry face each other in the final. In Qatar. More win-win is hardly possible for the host. Or?
In the run-up to the World Cup, there was a lot of talk about sports washing. Of the fact that criticism and protests will eventually disappear and that sport will take center stage and that Qatar can then use the tournament for its own political purposes. Whether the World Cup can basically be seen as a success for Qatar is “less clear” for the sports policy expert Mittag.
What is Qatar’s balance sheet?
In terms of sport, their own appearance was a disappointment, the World Cup ended for Qatar after three defeats with 1:7 goals after the group phase. “Politically, it depends on the perspective,” says Mittag. “While some boycotted the World Cup or spoke of a shameful World Cup or referred to the lower ratings and the empty seats, others emphasize that there was no rioting next to the stadiums, peaceful fans celebrated on site, exciting football games took place and enthusiastic emotions were shown.”
Overall, Qatar certainly expected less protest and criticism, said Mittag, “but in the end the emirate managed to make itself known as a country and to present itself as capable.” With the final as the climax. And lucky break.
Sources used:
- t-online.de: Macron defends World Cup visit to Qatar
- edition.cnn: Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi says Qatar 2022 is ‘best World Cup ever’
About the expert:
Jurgen Mittag is a professor for sports policy at the German Sport University in Cologne. The title of the professorship “Sports Politics” fits his career perfectly. “For me, a pretty perfect quintessence of my previous studies and positions,” says Mittag. The 52-year-old’s institute bears the title of Jean Monnet Chair and thus aims to achieve a better understanding of the European Union by increasingly implementing European topics in teaching.
The World Cup final on Sunday between Argentina and defending champions France promises to be exciting. Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappé – who will be crowned king of the desert in Qatar and give their team the title? There have been some legendary finals in the past. The SID provides an overview.