Of the 32 teams who reached the finals, 31 of them will fail to lift the trophy.
But winning the cup is not the only purpose. As a Qatari national who has been fortunate enough to attend a couple of the matches, and sample the atmosphere in the fan zones and the souks, the overwhelming emotion around me has been joy.
People have come from all over the world to take part in a festival. Many have expressed admiration for the friendly welcome they have received, the high levels of personal security, which enables them to relax and enjoy themselves, as well as the excellent stadiums and other facilities.
There is a fusion of cultures. Wonderful to witness has been the sight of fans from other continents dress up in a ghutra decked out in the colors of their team. There is laughter, music and dancing in the fan zones.
There is exuberance in the stadiums in spite – or perhaps because of – the lack of alcoholic beverages inside the grounds.
Before the matches began, some of us in Qatar were apprehensive that things may not go smoothly. The event has exceeded our expectations.
Key to the success has been the contribution of the thousands of volunteers who have maintained a positive good cheer, including on the rare occasions that they have intervened to deal with incidents, which fortunately so far have been few and minor.
Peoples of the world have become just a little bit closer.
*Fahad Badar is a prominent Qatari banker with many years of experience in the banking industry in senior positions