December 1 – Qatar is forging ahead with its World Cup 2022 developments, winning 4-star GSAS sustainability certification for the already completed Khalifa International Stadium and unveiling a spectacular new modular and recyclable design for the soon to be built Ras Abu Aboud Stadium.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 21 – Despite being buffeted by all manner of “abuse”, whether over human rights, unproven corruption allegations or the tournament being controversially switched to winter, Qatar’s most senior World Cup official says he has absolutely no regrets in bidding for the 2022 tournament.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 13 – As Qatar’s relationship with its Gulf neighbours grows ever more tense, the man leading the country’s 2022 World Cup preparations has re-iterated, not for the first time, that his country has nothing to do with terrorism and is in fact leading the fight against it in the region.
By Paul Nicholson
November 10 – The stand-off in the blockade of Qatar by its Gulf neighbours has inevitably dragged the hosting of the 2022 World Cup into the geo-political mix with news that the United Arab Emirates has a plan to attack Qatar’s currency and devalue its economy. Alongside the financial warfare sits a PR offensive designed to destroy confidence in the Qatari economy and change the hosting status of 2022.
November 10 – One of the fiercest critics of Qatar’s record on workers rights has welcomed steps made by the Qataris to end the ‘kafala’ employment system in the country and says other Gulf leaders should copy Qatar’s lead.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 3 – Hassan Al-Thawadi, the public face of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, has shrugged off suggestions that the diplomatic and trade blockade of his country by Gulf neighbours could undermine the hosting of the tournament.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organisers have angrily dismissed claims that the Saudi-led political and trade blockade of the Gulf state could see it stripped of hosting rights because of inability to complete essential infrastructure projects in time.
September 28 – Organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are under fresh scrutiny over their treatment of migrant workers despite insisting for months that much work is being done to improve standards.
August 21 – Qatar has unveiled the design for the sixth of the eight stadia it is building for the 2022 World Cup, the Al Thumama Stadium which is located six kilometres south of central Doha.
July 18 – A second stadium being built for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be ready on time by the end of next year, despite the blockade imposed by Gulf neighbours.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 17 – Reports that FIFA has received a collective request from Arab nations to strip Qatar as 2022 World Cup hosts have emerged as fake.
By Mark Baber
June 19 – Qatar has moved swiftly to reassure the world’s football community that construction is progressing on stadia for the 2022 World Cup, despite the political, economic and social isolation attempts by its neighbours led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
By Paul Nicholson
June 12 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed confidence that the diplomatic crisis surrounding Qatar in the middle east will not threaten the 2022 World Cup, but that FIFA is monitoring the situation closely.
May 23 – Qatar 2022 organising chief Hassan Al Thawadi has been explaining the impact and scale of his country’s World Cup project at the World Economic Forum in Jordan.
By Paul Nicholson
May 18 – Qatar will re-open the Khalifa International Stadium this weekend, the first tournament-ready venue for the first winter World Cup that kicks off 21 November 2022. Khalifa International will host group matches and knock out rounds up to the quarter finals in 2022, but before then it will host the 2017 Emir Cup final, 2017 Gulf Cup and 2019 IAAF World Championships.