The 2022 World Cup would be a historic event not just for Qatar but also the entire Middle East region, Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi has said.
Xavi, who plays for Qatar’s Al Sadd, was speaking in Mumbai where he inaugurated the construction of a community pitch as part of the Supreme Committee’s “Generation Amazing” initiative.
In a traditional ceremony in Mumbai, the Spanish football icon and 2010 FIFA World Cup winner Xavi set the ball rolling for the construction of a new football turf that will benefit at least 2000 children. Xavi met Generation Amazing beneficiaries and local dignitaries before participating in a traditional ceremony to begin pitch construction. Supreme Committee has built 28 pitches for communities across the Middle East and Asia through its’ Generation Amazing programme.
“Qatar has been preparing well for the world Cup since 2010. They had time and still have time to organise everything,” Xavi said. “So it will be a historic World Cup for the Middle East, and not just for Qatar,” the 39-year-old footballer told journalists, Indian media reported.
Qatar stunned the football world by winning the Asian Cup for the first time earlier this year in the UAE, and Xavi said the success has motivated the country to set higher goals.
“I know that they have very good players. The younger generation are doing well, especially after the Aspire Academy was established in 2006.They have a project, which will not end in 2022, but the main objective is 2022,” he said.
“Qatar won the AFC Asian Cup, which is a historic achievement but I know they are capable of doing well in other competitions. “They have a good organisation, good staff and a good coach in Felix Sanchez,” he added.
He also praised the skills of Lionel Messi, saying the Argentinian ace was getting better with time.
“Every day he is becoming a better player. He is unbelievable. I think he is the best player, not at the moment, but in history, because what he is doing is incredible.
“In every game he makes a difference and has been doing it since 12 years. I was playing with him and I know his skills. He is just incredible,” said the Spaniard. He added that a World Cup with 32 teams is better than the proposed 48-team event.
“It is better for the show, spectators and even for the players, the competition is not too long. As of now Qatar is making preparations with 32 teams in the World Cup,” he said.
Former Spanish footballer Xavi Hernandez greets Indian children after a football game in Mumbai yesterday. A FIFA World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, Xavi is the global ambassador for the Generation Amazing programme of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. (AFP)
