In full: Has the World Cup 'changed the perception' of the Middle East?

Qatar World Cup chief Hassan Al Thawadi says that the World Cup has changed perceptions of the region and transformed his country.
He also insists that there should be recognition for improved workers' rights after previously "unacceptable" conditions - adding, "the progress will not end when the final whistle is blown."
#qatar #worldcup #skynews #interview #exclusive #qatar2022
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[@Fundyzwane]

I like this guy, very passionate about his country.

[@superwoman8785]

There are two winners in this world cup Argentina and Qatar 🇶🇦 congratulations to both 👏

[@bollocks5724]

Lol nope only one winner, fifa.

[@pirozzamankhan4175]

Qatar was the BIG loser in that world cup

[@superwoman8785]

@@pirozzamankhan4175 haters lost

[@pirozzamankhan4175]

@@superwoman8785 Qatar is 32nd on the list! Yes, they won the 1st position from the bottom of the list. Congrats 👏

[@cafeespresso99]

don't forget that Palestine and Morocco were also big winners

[@KevinJones-qp9er]

Must say it was a great world Cup !!!!

[@habibhussain825]

And the final best match of all

[@loveisall5520]

Cares more about a children's game, obviously, than the world where it's played. No surprise...

[@zzhughesd]

Great final !!! Not a bad cup. Players teams make the cup.

[@mosnackbar4121]

Not as good as Russia WC

[@KevinJones-qp9er]

@@mosnackbar4121 why ?

[@aks5615]

One of the greatest football wc i ever watched bravo qatar 🇶🇦 👏

[@Grrr111___]

lol

[@Lightseer72]

Respect for Hassan. Imagine the amount of pressure he had for 13 yrs and he made it.

[@Gibbo1]

They hosted a brilliant World Cup, well done Qatar

[@zanadilah68]

Bravo to Qatar.. my family and myself were so delighted that we were there during the World Cup. We had an amazing experienced and we would like to go back to Qatar as a tourist now without the Hayya Card.

[@h0ne5t1y3]

Hassan is a man of great intellect, Respectful & Fully engaged in conversation with the interviewer. Well done Qatar !! For Hosting the World Cup, was one of the Best World Cup! Definitely will go down in History! Will be remembered for a long time to come!! Love from United Kingdom!!

[@boubougassama91270]

The Karen reporter just take a seat 💺 and listen 👂🏾 him talking 😂😂😂 al thawadi 🤲🏾🤲🏾🇶🇦🇶🇦🧠🧠🧠

[@nothereandthereanywhere]

This guy can talk about football indeed. It is fairly clear he loves it. Indeed, one of those things that can build bridges and I do hope we can build them

[@muslim_lives_matter_]

Qatar was a good host. Instead of relying on mainstream media like BBC for coverage look at the perceptive of the millions of fans from around the world that actually went to the games live. No alcohol. No hooligans.

[@casperr8349]

Unfortunately, the experience is gonna be different in 2026. No shot of being able to see more than one match a day with the amount of distance between each stadium.

[@jimmyturner4909]

alhamdulilah im happy Qatar helped it was a great World cup to watch

[@etnalutt3492]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@blyatman3551]

LETS GOOOOO

[@ghanagirltravels607]

The best world cup by far. Great job Qatar

[@johnobrien3684]

Well spoken , Hassan Al Thawadi!! What an incredible final!! The name Lionel Messi will be forever linked to Qatar!! I visited the country and I agree that this World Cup was very well organized ... People everywhere were very friendly and outgoing!!

[@durich1000]

Qatar proved to the world that football can be enjoyed in the stadiums with out alcohol. Fans enjoyed the experience free from violence or incidents or crimes related to alcohol consumption. Football was enjoyed safely. Families felt safe. Where there's alcohol football experience can never be safe. There's always the risk of people becoming drunk and act with unpredictable behaviour. So a clear message to football around the world. Enjoyment wasn't diminished by the absence of alcohol. To the contrary, it was enhanced.

[@petercross3984]

The atmosphere was terrible, they don’t understand us or football and they never will.

[@etnalutt3492]

Every Part of the World has specific culture. The West expects the whole world to think the same way, look the same etc. Yet, we love the food from all over the world. I love cultural diversity

[@MrSailormoonlover]

Culture and tradition is not a defense for human right violations. Human rights are not a western concept.

[@gj6126]

He said there 414 deaths that took place in all infrastructure in Qatar . All cultures should see that as a tragedy. What were the safety standards ? Where workers forced to work in heat of day with lack of water?

[@abi1971]

@@gj6126 And not a single mention of what supports are being provided for the deceased's families. Those men are in their country to support their families, but they are now gone.

[@salimtaja6180]

@@gj6126 in germany 100-200 die every year from constrcutions

[@gj6126]

@@salimtaja6180 No!!!! the data for 2021 shows that 1 construction worker dies every 4 days in Germany. and that's in a population of 83 million. And these deaths could be in any type of construction nationwide (buildings, schools, roads, tunnels, offices, hospitals, theme parks , dams...) Now Qatar has a population of under 3 million (including the migrant workers) - almost 30 times smaller than Germany. And the tally of 414 who died ( this is their official admission but it could be many , many more) is not all the migrant deaths IN CONSTRUCTION in Qatar but all the migrants who died constructing PROJECTS SUROUNDING THE WORLD CUP in QATAR (eg building the Metro, expanding airport, new hotels) This means that the construction that these migrant workers gave their lives for was construction that was DIRECTLY related to the World Cup. It was a very big price to pay for hoting the tournament

[@desertrose4534]

Nothing can change the idea of West ...they dont want to see the truth. İf ur partner dont want to see the truth. What can u do

[@fahd3228]

I'm Arab and so proud I don't give a F what is the world perception about us, because WE define ourselves nobody else does . Thanks Qatar for the great job

[@tahidhanna]

Don't generalise western opinions with the world. Only the western nations had isue due to jealousy racism, and hatred Rest of the world( 6 billion people enjoyed the qatar world cup.

[@SA41959]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 well said!

[@ShevCheNko_tv]

Fantastic job Qatar. Best world cup EVER!

[@easterneye2773]

What a World Cup!! Amazing games. No violence. No shootings. No muggings. No stabbings.. No English fans arrested for thuggery, hooliganism and drunkenness And yet we preach on how they should do things!!! 😂😂 Rather than being so western centric, we could learn from Qatar✌️Well done Qatar for the hospitality and for staging one of the best world cups ever!! 👏👏

[@poorgamer9125]

yeah I love authoritarianism too!

[@justagirlsd3000]

Yes we should enslave as many people as possible and force them into labor to build more crap

[@mosnackbar4121]

Morrocan fans in Europe disagree....😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Saudivision2025]

@@mosnackbar4121 They born in Europe,they are europeans ,so don't call them moroccans

[@mosnackbar4121]

@@Saudivision2025 afrikaans from Holland are also African 😀

[@Awaan123]

I have been watching world cup games since 1990 and this was the best world cup I have had. Just the final tops it all.

[@mahfujurrahman8057]

Qatar has proven western media wrong! Haters who didn't want world cup to be held there. Well done Qatar 🇶🇦 👏 👍 #bestworldcupeverqatar

[@TheBlackPrince447]

Great final great world cup, Qatar nailed it. I think all the games been close together must have made it so much easier for fans over there going to games.

[@wowAmazingWorld]

I could listen to Hassan 24/7 without getting board, such a clever, smart intellectual mind. He should be a lecturer in a prestigious University for graduates.

[@KZ.7160]

Respect Qatar’s culture!! Qatar did a great job, great World Cup.

[@danw918]

Yeah before this world Cup I thought middle Eastern countries were privileged, didn't care if poor workers died, were against booze and would use their money in illegal ways to get whatever they wanted from bribery. So happy that a few football games showed me once and for all that these generalisations were completely wrong.

[@Ayo15908]

Wow! A superb interview from an intelligent leader. Congrats 🎉 Qatar and the Arab world.

[@shimashima4197]

The world cup was amazing in Qatar ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 the environment out there was outstanding, the fans, the food, outstanding 🔥

[@emilgrigorescu8282]

They ve done a good job under circumstances!

[@monirahmed7046]

Qatar has proven western criticism and media critics wrong by holding a beautiful World Cup with their amazing warmth and hospitality towards fans none of whom have complained. Western media are jealous it went too well against their criticisms. They even linked EU corruption to Qatar as a last week (weak) attempt to damage the country’s global standing. Qataris have brought dignity to not just Arabs but also Africans / Muslims / fans from the Global South, people of colour… Well done to the Emir of Qatar and his brilliant team…

[@gj6126]

414 deaths in all infrastructure construction in Qatar is a heavy price to pay. The football was great but not worth that human cost.

[@pirozzamankhan4175]

Totally disagree

[@bestryfulhd2102]

Part of Al Jazeera report : News|Qatar World Cup 2022 Qatari minister slams Western media coverage of World Cup record In February 2021, the Guardian newspaper reported that 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had died in the country since 2010, when Qatar was awarded the World Cup. The Qatari government has stated that these figures, provided by the respective countries’ embassies, included deaths of people not working on World Cup projects. It said, “The mortality rate among these communities is within the expected range for the size and demographics of the population.” The government said there were 37 deaths between 2014 and 2020 among workers directly linked to the construction of World Cup stadiums, of which three were “work-related”.

[@pledge2liv240]

@@gj6126 well war crime is heavy price to pay to the credibility (for some country) of giving some moral critics. the critics was great but not worth that human/criminal cost. the fact that this certain country dont even care about imigrants and simply blocked them from the border (but shout loudly about human rights and all those buzzwords) giving moral critics is mind boggling

[@faizafaiza6524]

@@gj6126 millions died in Iraq due to illegal invasion based on lies,let's see if world cup takes place in USA or not

[@mirajali4144]

“One death too many” can I ask the reporter how many deaths occur in the UK everyday?

[@truesay786]

No crime, no rawdy boozed brits, women were safe. Loved it

[@MartinChowdhury]

World Fans enjoyed and Best world CUP ever

[@stephaniewaters1777]

** heterosexual fans

[@tahidhanna]

@@stephaniewaters1777 I'm sure the homosexuals who weren't trying to enforce their ideas on others also enjoyed it.

[@hourbee5535]

My perception of the Middle East has been confirmed since this WC started.

[@thesaltbaron3029]

Arab hospitality is unmatched

[@zzhughesd]

@@thesaltbaron3029 true. Swimming in money. But generous. At least. I grant this.

[@mosnackbar4121]

The e.u..... I mean Qatar 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@avoxy7440]

@@zzhughesd even before wealth

[@rihadalif]

@@zzhughesd atleast its their own natural resource money. unlike some whose ancestors stole it from asia and now acting all posh on top of that not even generous towards those whom they stole it from. 🤣🤣😂😂

[@zouminlandau6753]

World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and USA. Start listing numbers of negative issues in Mexico, USA and Canada..

[@vg9137]

*How about Qatar come to the UK and preach to everyone about the amount of homeless people we have on our streets and how families can't even afford a shower and the energy crisis here in the UK. So please stop trying to interfere and manage other countries, fix the issues here first.*

[@abdenbichikoun2652]

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Argentina opened up the scoring when Messi scored a penalty kick, and doubled their lead with a Di Maria goal in the 38th minute. France made two substitutions in the first half, but went into half-time trailing 0-2. Despite not having a shot until after the 70th minute, France were awarded a penalty as Randal Kolo Muani was brought down in the penalty area. Mbappé scored the penalty, and added a second goal less than two minutes later to equalise the scores. With the scores tied, the match went to extra time. Messi scored again for Argentina in the second extra time half. Mbappé was awarded a second penalty in the 115th minute after his initial shot hit the arm of Gonzalo Montiel. Mbappé scored his third goal, becoming the second player to score a hat-trick in the final of a World Cup. With the scores tied at 3-3, the match was completed by a penalty shootout. Argentina won the final after scoring all of their penalties, winning 4-2.

[@AllaahuAkbar60]

After traveling to Muslim countries I have realized that Muslims are wonderful people and friendly people Allahu Akbar Allah is the greatest ⏲️

[@comfortwalker4355]

Arabs should do what Russians done ,cut oil and gas and racists jealous haters cry

[@notforyou1083]

as an arabic i dont care about changing the view..

[@baileymckenna9017]

As a straight man I support them

[@kiatwatgiattanonphds5551]

Congratulations to Qatar and thanks for your give our world happiness particularly Argentinian people

[@boubougassama91270]

Al thawadi is a genius Qatar really have some genius guy in the Middle East over 12 year this guys and Nasser al khater are working hard to make history and they did 🤲🏾🤲🏾☝🏾☝🏾

[@henryluutu1753]

Thanks to Qatar spokesperson for always highlighting the values of Muslim WORLD without contradiction Thanks to Qatar for preparing the best world cup ever

[@user-st7qd7uw9y]

The casualties from only the World Cup stadiums according to his captured stats of 5 workers is less than the 8 died in Brazil World Cup , 13 during Athens Olympic 2004, 17 in Russia 2018 and there have been 37 deaths among workers directly linked to construction of World Cup stadiums in South Africa. Why three was no such a fuss then. Humm!!!!. Where the 6500 come from I don’t. Even the 414 is a number representing the whole building projects in qatar over 10 years including none work related.

[@samaduddin8220]

Hassan well spoken

[@AMIsmail22]

It was the greeted World Cup ever thanks to Qatar 🇶🇦 bravos

[@usmantaophicyasin8853]

I can categorically say Qatar 2022 was the best world cup ever.

[@mohamedyahya3853]

Well said bro 👏📚🌎🌍❤️👑👏❤️🇶🇦

[@missq2914]

What an eloquent & articulate man! 🫶

[@majorelleelidrissi7980]

Best WC ever. Thanks QATAR 💗

[@Lifejourney69]

Amazing host ❤

[@cafeespresso99]

All future World Cup tournaments should be modelled on Qatar 22.

[@jimspencer3072]

Yes it has

[@ssemyaloumar4166]

Thanks Qatar, Thanks His Highness Tamim al Thani

[@lembagnol5882]

Imo, the greatest soccer world cup ever, best organized, stadiums of top quality. most beautiful of infrastructures. BRAVO QATAR.

[@monotheisticknowledge427]

Well done Qatar, upholding your beliefs no matter what. This will forever be an example of the wonderful Arab world and more importantly, what Islam can offer to the world.

[@bartchojnicki]

well spoken ...as his 2nd lng

[@TheGeologist1]

I still don't know who is the sky news guy who did this interview !

[@JinxTravel]

The football was the best football since 1990. I went to Qatar and it was a great time...

[@arimababe40]

Great interview!!

[@1976darby]

it looked like the most manufacured world cup ive seen both on and off the pitch

[@-ItsBen]

What a great job Qatar

[@mohammedrifaqat1202]

Quatar organised a brilliant world cup. Piers morgan said it eloquently in assessment of Quatars world cup well done.

[@WorldSports7.88k]

Qatar 🇶🇦 ❤️👑❤️

[@AllaahuAkbar60]

Bismillah Hir rahman nir raheem Always begin your day with Fajr prayer and Ayat AL KURSI READ QURAN EVERYDAY AND NEVER IGNORE YOUR FIVE DAILY PRAYERS ⏲️

[@TheTritan408]

Money makes the world problems goes away.

[@MubarakSultan]

On the other hand money on the wrong hands ( the West ) made problems.

[@meryemLux]

How many people have died in the construction? What a stupid question. The envy and jealousy in all its colors. Same question for the interviewer, how many people die in your country in the construction field ?

[@mahboobhussain2312]

Ma shallah great speach best world cup ever

[@mohammedrifaqat1202]

A brilliant world cup great hospitality and lots of brilliant teams .

[@red-hat-mike]

I have NEW respect for Qatar. Congratulations to Qatar on a well run tournament.

[@eustab.anas-mann9510]

It only took 5600 deaths. Barely a blimp in the statistics.

[@red-hat-mike]

@@eustab.anas-mann9510 I am an American. 5,600 deaths pales in comparison to the "100 of thousands" the O'Biden regime have killed. The reality, people die for the greater cause ... throughout history.

[@C.Steamer]

6,500 people died building the infrastructure.

[@red-hat-mike]

@@C.Steamer How many died building Hoover dam?

[@Cleebusishere]

@@red-hat-mike hundreds? The Hoover dam was built nearly 100 years ago as well, and everyone who took part did so on their own free will with the knowledge they could legally leave. How is that at all comparable to the thousands who have died over the last decade constructing stadiums under slave like conditions?

[@CLEANHANDSCLEANHEART]

BEST WORĹD CUP WVER

[@CLEANHANDSCLEANHEART]

BEST WORLD CUP EVER

[@bdooty8706]

world cup has never been as greater, and will not. proud of our brotherly neighboring state of Qatar from a saudi heart. next tournament will suffer after this worldcup

[@antonfernando8409]

But who creates the perception?

[@kurosaki0001000]

The media

[@hishamghazi77]

The western media like Washington Post , New York Times, BBC and so on

[@Yu7Zi]

Propaganda. The same that virtue signals migrant deaths and parades millions of Iraqi, Afghan, Palestinian deaths.

[@aks5615]

Metro this way ➡️

[@aariaari6226]

Qatar good country I am working in Qatar

[@AmitRay47]

The Question arises, "What was the purpose of this one sided interview?"

[@Cull-every-Tory]

Qatar Propaganda hogwash!

[@daudabdi4903]

Indian is too poor to host world cup

[@arcs1016]

If they can host the best world cup, why not Labor reforms? Labor issue is their poorest concern..

[@heytemboumaza6369]

solve that problem in your country first

[@randymarsh1794]

cool VR GOGGLES!

[@pxd291]

So basically they say they were fixing the world Cup for Argentina! And they were monitoring the Games and the Gameplay !! No Wonder!

[@monirahmed7046]

The fact Qatar didn’t execute western media critics before they left the country following World Cup Final after criticising it (unlike Israel which killed Palestinian Christian Aljazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh with a sniper) must provide some comfort that its human rights violations aren’t aren’t too bad…

[@book2316]

It was the best world cup ever!

[@200555280]

I think he shouldn't talk to sky news or any news channel talked badly about Qatar.

[@skkl8045]

There is no hope. I saw how blind are the western media. Fake news about Qatar and about the whole WC. They don't want to be real. Accused morrocan team of being ISIS. Accused arab fans of being antisemitic for raising Palestinian flags.

[@abdusamed9970]

Excellent

[@catherine9808]

Best World Cup ❤ and safest cleanest and most friendly

[@joaoandre7488]

Hi guys. This world cup was well organized and congratulations to Qatar. But something the interviewer has forgotten to ask. He said the number of deaths but he didn't say if the families member received compensation in terms of many of course this money will not pay for the death but help the families reduce the pain a little bit. I am saying this because most workers who worked in Qatar came from poor countries and needed this money to help them with expenses. Even though they paid the expenses they should have given some money to the families it would be much better for Qatar's reputation. I would like this question to be asked and answered. This question will be in many people's minds and must be answered. I would like to hear the answer. Congratulations Qatar.

[@Cleebusishere]

Great comment

[@k_a3785]

True, many migrants have died; The claims vary between 6,500 - 15,000, but there’s a misleading catch in the numbers, mostly because of notorious sources, such as Amnesty International and The Guardian, they never directly claimed that all these people died on stadium construction sites, because, both were merely referring to the numbers obtained from, guess this, the official statistics from the Qatari authorities themselves, 15,021, which referred to the number of foreigners who died in the entire country and all fields between 2010-2020. The country's Government Communications Office said: "Although each loss of life is upsetting, the mortality rate among these communities is within the expected range for the size and demographics of the population”; According to Qatar, the population is 2,891,000 in Total ( released at November 2022), keep in mind that these Migrant workers make up approximately 77 percent of the Qatari population, it should be noted that, the general mortality rates for the migrant workers in Qatar are lower than they are in their home countries. I personally wish for all migrants to have respectable conditions, away from any humiliation, embassies, if available, should offer help if needed, but, and if any migrant died due to poor conditions, then families should be compensated. But, it isn’t as dramatic as the west make it seem, which shouldn’t talk at all since they exploit other countries to break their own western values, or keep them weak and poor to do so (and more) as France does in many African countries.

[@joaoandre7488]

@Y yes, that I wanted to say, Relieves. There isn’t any money in the world to pay for the death of someone.

[@salimtaja6180]

they did talk about it... 350Million+ will be given to the families

[@pirozzamankhan4175]

With all due respect, NONSENSE

[@mamirech53]

Well done Mr Hassan Al Thawadi and well done to Qatar for its achievements in this world cup. The majority of the fans have enjoyed their experiences in Qatar and have spoken the truth about how they appreciate the preparation, organisation and welcome they experienced in Qatar. the Western Media and especially have proven their bias, and their Eurocentrism in the way they look at the rest of the world. Congratulations Qatar.

[@kokomadu155]

Full respect for Middle east And Qatar ❤️

[@MuhammadAli-hr1bj]

Qatar and Morocco have shown the world the benchmark for decorum!

[@citykeys3495]

NO amount of Frog Noise can stop Elephant from drinking water from a pond. Qatar Delivered and restored Honor in Football. It felt like Watching Maradona and Pele play. FIFA FAIR PLAY. #ThankYouQatar 🇶🇦

[@mosnackbar4121]

Thanks for exposure of e.u bribes 👍

[@hudaahmed2348]

We need all the upcoming world cup to be in Qatar …. The best World Cup ever from start to finish. Hats of to Qatar to stand their ground and show who is the boss in their own country🇶🇦❤️

[@Baldrick_dogsbody]

Good one. Well done Qatar...

[@7thestate777]

Now chose democracy or authoritative Kingdom ?

[@hampshireconnoly675]

220 billion dollars spent on this tournament. What a waste of money I dare say. People are starving in the world they could have removed world poverty many times over.

[@MubarakSultan]

Actually it’s More than 300 B but Not on the tournament only spent to build a new modern capital, the stadium’s cost 8B.

[@hampshireconnoly675]

@@MubarakSultan Still a waste of money and the colonizers still are critical of them.

[@Markustajahoyrylaiva]

what about all those deat african low pay workers...

[@keefsmiff]

Nope

[@zezooam]

No homeless people in Qatar ever

[@petermclelland278]

Mr clean.

[@aariaari6226]

Qatar good world cup ever

[@nasihbasheer8342]

Best world cup ever 😘

[@varatharajanthambirajah7355]

When is olympics happens in India ?