FIFA President Gianni Infantino among speakers for virtual discussion one year away from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ kicking off

Doha, Qatar, November 22, 2021: As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ reaches the one-year mark, Qatar Foundation, FIFA, and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy are teaming up to look at what the final phase of preparations will involve, and what the tournament will mean for the nation and the region – both as the footballing action unfolds, and after the last ball is kicked.

A World Cup-focused edition of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Education City Speaker Series will next week welcome Gianni Infantino, FIFA President; His Excellency Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; and Machaille Hassan Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, Qatar Foundation, as anticipation builds ahead of the sporting showpiece coming to the Middle East and Arab world for the first time.
Taking place virtually on Monday, November 22 – 364 days before the tournament’s opening game – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: The Countdown to History will explore where Qatar’s preparations stand, how the nation will welcome fans from around the world next year, and why it will be a World Cup for the whole of the Arab world.

The discussion will also look at what next year’s World Cup will mean for Qatar as a sporting and cultural destination, how it can set a new benchmark for sporting sustainability, and its impact on FIFA’s effort to spread the game regionally and internationally, as well as Qatar Foundation’s role in the tournament’s preparations and legacy. Moderated by Michael Jabri-Pickett, Editor-in-Chief, QF, it will be held just days ahead of the opening match of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™, which will be staged across six of Qatar’s World Cup venues.

QF’s Education City Speaker Series has, since its establishment, brought together thought-leaders and experts from Qatar, the region, and around the world to tackle key global topics ranging from COVID-19 vaccines and the future of education to youth and identity, entrepreneurship, regenerative development, and the Palestinian struggle.

It reflects QF’s belief in providing platforms for dialogue where perspectives, knowledge, and ideas can be shared, to support a greater understanding of the world. Since transitioning to virtual form at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, its reach has expanded to attract tens of thousands of viewers from around the world. 

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: The Countdown to History, will take place from 3-4pm Doha time on November 22, with a 40-minute moderated discussion being followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer segment where the online audience can pose questions to the speakers. Viewers watching on Microsoft Teams will be able to access Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and Italian subtitles, and the event will also be streamed live on QF’s YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter channels.