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A selection of photographs from the "After the Game" exhibition, first shown at the Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar, has been included in a new exhibition in Mexico City exploring the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.The works form part of "Journeys to Greatness: Qatar 2022 Legacy", presented by the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum in partnership with Mexico's Ministry of Culture through the Centro de Cultura Digital (CCD).The exhibition links the legacy of Qatar 2022 with the next World Cup in Canada and Mexico in 2026 and is part of the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture programme.It uses photography, objects and multimedia storytelling to present football as a shared cultural experience, bringing together players, fans and communities from around the world.The selected images, originally shown in the third edition of the Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar, are integrated across sections of the exhibition including “Look of the Game”, “Matches and Players”, and “Unity in Diversity”, highlighting human stories behind the tournament.3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum director Abdulla al-Mulla said the legacy of Qatar 2022 extended beyond players and matches to include fans whose experiences helped define the tournament.He said the exhibition demonstrated how those memories continued to connect people across borders, adding that visitors had engaged with Qatari and Gulf customs and traditions.Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar director Khalifa al-Obaidli said photography has a unique ability to preserve emotion, noting that the works captured shared human experiences that made Qatar 2022 a transformative milestone.The original "After the Game" exhibition was created for the 2025 edition of Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar and explored the tournament's legacy through photographers documenting moments of celebration, reflection and connection.The "Journeys to Greatness" exhibition is an interactive multimedia presentation of the World Cup as a defining moment for Qatar and the wider region.It runs at the Centro de Cultura Digital in Mexico City until August 9 as part of a wider cultural programme symbolically linking Qatar 2022 with Mexico 2026. 

The whistle in Doha may have blown long ago, but the echo carries still. At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) — represented by Managing Director His Excellency Hassan al-Thawadi — joined a high-level reception to mark World Football Day, a celebration of the imprint left by the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 even as the world looks ahead to the next chapter.Hosted by the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the UN under the theme "From FIFA World Cup 2022 to FIFA World Cup 2026: A Legacy in Motion," the gathering traced a thread that runs from the floodlights of Lusail to the stadiums of North America, where the United States, Canada and Mexico will share hosting duties this summer.It was a moment, al-Thawadi suggested, that always belonged to more than one nation. "For the Arab world and the Middle East, Qatar 2022 was a moment of pride that belonged to far more than one country," he told the reception. "It proved that a region too often defined by others could host the world on its own terms with warmth, excellence and a story worth telling."That story, he made clear, was never meant to end with the final whistle. "We never intended the tournament to be a moment in isolation," he said. "From the day we won the bid, our ambition was to build something that would outlast the final whistle — in infrastructure, in expertise, and in the connections forged between people. Today, we see that ambition come to fruition as the lessons learned in Doha continue to shape how the world delivers its greatest sporting experiences."Those lessons are now being packed and posted abroad. The SC and FIFA recently signed a knowledge and expertise transfer Memorandum of Understanding to support the delivery of the 2026 finals. Under it, a dedicated team of SC experts from Qatar has fanned out across Host Cities in the United States and Canada, sharing what they know across a wide span of operations, while a second contingent observes the choreography of a tournament stretched across three nations and two borders.The pedigree is hard to argue with. As the first World Cup staged in the Middle East and the Arab world, Qatar 2022 rewrote the benchmarks for innovation, operational efficiency and fan experience, offering a compact, sustainability-minded blueprint that has since informed how major events are delivered the world over.Doha has scarcely paused for breath since. The country went on to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2023, and in 2025 wrote a fresh entry in the record books by staging the finals of three FIFA competitions in the space of three weeks — the inaugural 48-team FIFA U-17 World Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Arab Cup.And the welcome mat stays out. Later this year Qatar opens its doors again for the second of five consecutive editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, running from 19 November to 13 December — proof, if any were needed, that the legacy is still very much in motion. 

Qatar plans to host more high-profile sports and football tournaments over the next five years, building on the success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the FIFA Arab Cup, the AGCFF U-23 Gulf Cup, and other major events, according to Jassim al-Jassim, CEO of the Local Organising Committee for Football Events.Al-Jassim was speaking at the third edition of the Mutual Dialogue Summit during a session titled “From Hosting to Legacy: How Gulf Sports Shape a Youth-Led Future,” moderated by Asrar al-Ansari, director of the Youth Department at the Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Kuwait).He said the experience gained from hosting global tournaments, coupled with Qatar’s advanced infrastructure, has positioned the country to stage major international sporting events. He noted that many young Qataris discovered and developed their capabilities through hands-on involvement in these tournaments, enabling them to assume senior organisational and management roles without external supervision.Al-Jassim stressed that Qatari professionals have earned FIFA's full confidence to organise events independently, without direct intervention. He added that Hamad International Airport, security agencies, administrative bodies, and other state institutions are now fully equipped to manage large-scale international events, supported by effective contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges.He also highlighted Qatar’s growing reputation as a family-friendly, safe, and welcoming destination for women, noting that the country's sporting events consistently record high ticket sales.While embracing modern technologies and global best practices, al-Jassim said Qatar has remained committed to showcasing its heritage and traditions. He cited Al Bayt Stadium’s architecture and the Gulf bisht presented to Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup final as examples of this cultural emphasis.He further noted that Souq Waqif has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for visitors during international tournaments. This outcome was not deliberately planned, but one that reflects the enduring appeal of authentic Gulf heritage. Respect for national traditions, customs, and laws, he said, has remained central to all event-planning efforts.Among the most significant outcomes of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, al-Jassim added, was the importance of investing in local youth by training and engaging them in planning and organisational processes. This approach has paid off, with many trainees now holding senior management and supervisory positions and performing their roles with high efficiency.The third edition of the Mutual Dialogue Summit concluded on Monday. Organised by the QatarDebate Centre, the two-day event was held at Msheireb Museums in Doha and brought together more than 100 young men and women from GCC countries. It was held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, in co-operation with Msheireb Museums as the cultural partner. 

Katara Cultural Village, in collaboration with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, will host the “FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy” exhibition at 5.30pm Monday (December 29), at Building 45.The exhibition will highlight the cultural, humanitarian, and sporting legacy of the first World Cup to be held in the Arab region and the Middle East.It will offer an interactive experience showcasing the milestones of Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and its exceptional organisational successes.The values it embodied include bringing people together, sustainability, innovation, and Qatari cultural identity.The exhibition will also highlight the lasting impact of the tournament on various levels, including infrastructure development, the promotion of cultural and artistic activities, and the support of community initiatives.Furthermore, it will document unforgettable moments that will remain engraved in the memories of fans worldwide.This exhibition reflects Katara and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy's commitment to preserving and enhancing the tournament's legacy for future generations, consolidating Qatar's position as a global cultural and sporting destination. 

FIFA will kick off a multi-phase ticket sale process for the 2026 World Cup this month with initial single seat prices as low as $60 for group-stage matches and as high as $6,710 for the final.Those prices will fluctuate based on demand, and fans will be able to buy single-game tickets, venue-specific tickets and team-specific packages, world football's governing body said Wednesday as it announced a schedule for the first phase of sales.Forty-eight teams, the biggest field in World Cup history, will play in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19 next year.Fans who have a Visa card can register for a FIFA ID on the body's website to enter a presale draw to be held September 10-19.Those selected through the randomized presale draw can then apply to purchase tickets starting October 1.Sales will be capped at four tickets per person per match, and no person can purchase more than 40 for the entire tournament.Further ticket sales will be launched in the coming months, with registration for phase two expected to take place October 27-31 for sales from mid-November to early December.Phase three will begin shortly after the tournament draw is held in Washington on December 5 and fans can submit applications for specific matches.Closer to the tournament, fans will be able to buy remaining inventory on a first-come, first-served basis.FIFA said in a statement it planned to offer additional products such as supporter tickets for fans who want to sit with others backing the same team, and conditional supporter tickets for fans who want to reserve a place in potential knockout rounds.FIFA will also launch an official resale platform.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’s success as the most accessible tournament ever, a notable feat given the country’s developing infrastructure, was a key insight shared at the Qatar Events Show 2025, highlighting a commitment to lasting accessibility. Speaking at the Qatar Events Show’s second day at a talk titled ‘Accessibility in Events Design’, Ahmed Habib, a senior media content specialist at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, noted that true accessibility extends far beyond physical infrastructure, demanding a holistic approach rooted in inclusivity and a deep understanding of diverse needs. “Qatar has done a very good job of building world-class events facilities that are accessible,” Habib said, citing the country’s fortunate starting point with accessible hotels, public spaces, and cultural sites. He pointed out that the foundation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’s unparalleled accessibility was the establishment of an Accessibility Forum. Operating under the theme, ‘Nothing about us without us,’ this initiative brought together disabled individuals from the community six years prior to the tournament. Habib said their direct involvement was instrumental in shaping a tournament that was not only accessible in its execution but also actively contributed to making Qatar more accessible for people with disabilities in the long term. “We brought disabled people from the community and we said, ‘Listen, we're going to organise a massive tournament in Qatar, and how do you want the tournament to be accessible? But more importantly, is how can this tournament make Qatar more accessible for you after the tournament is over?’” he said. This collaborative approach, he added, ensured the tournament was “delivered to the highest standards,” driven by innovation and a belief that “football is for all”. Habib underlined key innovations such as the introduction of Audio Descriptive Commentary in the Arabic language, offering blind fans an immersive experience through dedicated commentary accessible via their own devices. He noted that this groundbreaking facility, previously unavailable to Arabic speakers, has now paved the way for similar accessibility features in cultural spaces, events, and theaters. “What’s the point if I come to an event that’s physically accessible, but the staff meet me at the door and say, ‘I don’t know if you can come in because you're in a wheelchair’? Then the event is not accessible because staff and volunteers have not been trained,” he added. Habib stressed the critical need for comprehensive staff and volunteer training, equipping them with the knowledge and cultural understanding to welcome and support individuals with disabilities, whether they are attendees, speakers, or colleagues. “What are you going to do if someone who is deaf shows up at your event? Someone who is blind? At least have some sort of minimum training, recognition, understanding, and build that culture amongst your staff and team,” he urged event planners. Habib emphasised the importance of universal design principles in graphic design, citing high colour contrast, appropriate font choices, and clear hierarchy in signage as beneficial for everyone, not just those with specific visual needs. He illustrated this with an example of signage at Toronto Pearson International Airport, where icons and shapes communicate effectively, allowing non-English or French speakers to navigate with ease. Habib also discussed the distinction between the medical model and the social model of disability, where the former often views disability as an illness requiring supervision and dependence. In contrast, he said the social model suggests that disability is a societal construct, and it is the responsibility of society to create inclusive environments where everyone is equal and can participate fully. “Event planners play an important role,” Habib said, reiterating that they have the power to determine whether guests feel ‘disabled or enabled’”. He added that event planners should never view individuals with disabilities as a “loss or abnormality”, nor should they see them as having “restrictions or lack of ability”. Instead, he said the focus must be on fostering an environment where every individual, regardless of ability, can fulfill their potential and participate without limitation.