The unveiling of the logo for the 2022 World Cup was marked by fanfare in Doha that included a procession of soldiers on horseback watched by a large crowd.
"The logo is very elegant and showing local culture with the (burgundy) colour of the Qatari flag," Algerian hospitality worker Mourad Bencheikh, 36, told AFP as visitors crowded to photograph the new branding.
The emblem was also displayed in Madrid, Buenos Aires and Beirut along with several other major cities. "This one is unique for Qatar," said Sri Lankan quantity surveyor Mohamed Fairoos, 30, as he and a group of friends took a selfie in front of the National Archives projection.
"It's wonderful." The 2022 event will be held in November and December.
Of the eight stadiums Qatar is building or refurbishing for 2022, Khalifa International was already open and will host this year's World Athletics Championships. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to descend on Qatar ahead of the tournament which begins on September 27.
A major road overhaul is also underway across Doha to expand capacity at key junctions and traffic hotspots. Parts of an ambitious metro rail project opened to the public in May. The rest of the three-line network expected to be launched in 2020 -- well ahead of the tournament.
The network will connect nearly all of Qatar's stadiums, transport hubs and tourist attractions, when it is completed.