Former footballers working as television pundits for beIN Sports have predicted that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be something “out of this world”.
For the past one month they have been part of beIN Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, bringing each and every match of the tournament live to football fans in Qatar and the rest of the Middle East and north Africa.
The Qatar-based sport network – one of the fastest growing in the world – allowed the Supreme Committee for Legacy and Delivery (SC) behind-the-scenes access to find out just what it takes to put together a World Cup broadcast.
Richard Keys, the main presenter for beIN’s English content, admits the last month has been exhausting, but exhilarating. Yet, he can’t help but look ahead eight years when the action won’t be restricted to the studios.
“This has been a really enjoyable World Cup to cover. We’ve seen some great goals by some of the world’s top players. I have to say I have loved it.
“It gets you thinking about what it will be like to cover a World Cup not just from Qatar, but in Qatar. The appetite for football in the Middle East is something a lot of people don’t understand, but it’s there alright.
“We hear so much negativity, especially from the Western media, but I’ve been here for a year now and you just know everything about 2022 will be spectacular, from the broadcasting to the air-cooling.”
With some of the football’s greatest names on board as expert analysts, the beIN Sports green room is more like a changing room for the world’s most glamorous five-a-side team.
Hours before Germany’s sensational 7-1 semi-final win over Brazil, the team was gathering before they went on air.
Former Liverpool and Hamburg star Kevin Keegan was relaxed, cracking jokes. Beside him, cool as ice, just like he was on the pitch, Italy, Parma and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola was a picture of calm. Real Madrid and Spain star Michel Salgado was next on the scene; still looking fit enough to be playing in front
of 90,000 fans at the Bernabéu.
They were watching a bank of TV screens as former Liverpool defender Jason McAteer hosted a daily preview show alongside former Holland star George Boateng, ex-Sunderland manager Peter Reid, ex-Sunderland player Michael Gray and retired English Premier League referee Mark Halsey.
It wasn’t long before Graeme Souness, the former captain and manager of Liverpool, joined the group backstage.
Like most of these guys, Souness now has a long-standing relationship with Qatar. He has seen the country grow, watched it position itself both in terms of sport and media.
The former captain of the Scottish national team – who played in three FIFA World Cups – has already heard first-hand what the SC plans for 2022.
In April, Souness met with Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general of the SC. Both were re-united last week when the legendary midfielder visited the groundbreaking Brazil 2014 Fan Zone.
Souness said: “I was really impressed with the Fan Zone and the work that has gone into making it work. Everyone knows this is a hot time of year, but inside, the Fan Zone was incredible. To experience something like that, to get the temperature so comfortable in an open-air environment when it’s very, very warm outside is a great achievement.
“Each time I have meet al-Thawadi I have been very impressed with the plans for 2022. You can see the technology that’s been talked about works already – and there’s still eight years to go!”
The beIN SPORTS final coverage yesterday featured expert analyst and former Everton striker Andy Gray.
Now a full-time resident in Qatar, Gray admits eight years is a long wait to experience the glory of the FIFA World Cup in his adopted homeland.
“It really is an amazing prospect. I think anyone involved in football in this country is lucky to be part of something that’s very much once-in-a-lifetime.
“It’s exciting to have any sort of involvement in the industry as a guest in the country, so you can only imagine how the people of Qatar will feel come the kick-off.
“It’s been a privilege to cover the tournament because we all love football. But to have this tournament in Qatar will be something out of this world.”