Arab countries continue congratulating Qatar after it was selected by the FIFA Executive Committee on Thursday to host the 2022 World Cup.
During the ceremony in Switzerland's Zurich on Thursday, FIFA chose Qatar to host the 2022 championships, selecting the oil-rich Arab country over bids from Australia, South Korea, the United States and Japan.
FIFA also named Russia as host for the 2018 Cup.
The news covered the front pages of Arab newspapers. A front page headline of the leading Arab newspaper Al Sharq Al Awsat reads in particular: "Qatar's Historical Achievement and Russia's Joy. The United States and Britain Shocked."
Britain, along with joint bids from Spain/Portugal and the Netherlands/Belgium were competing with Russia for the 2018 World Cup.
As soon as the result was announced, Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani invited all Arab people to his country for the World Cup.
Qatar will be the first Arab country to host the World Cup. With the population of 835,000 people it will also be the smallest country ever to host such a large-scale tournament.
"You will be proud of us, you will be proud of the Middle East," Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said.
Qatar, which is one of the world's leading exporters of oil and natural gas, promises to create outstanding conditions for football players and spectators. The country plans to build 12 new and reconstruct three existing stadiums. They will all be equipped with climate control systems that will maintain a constant temperature of 27 degrees Centigrade (80 degrees Fahrenheit).
The total amount of construction is estimated at $3 billion.
DAMASCUS, December 3 (RIA Novosti)
