Qatar's PR campaign is working: Argentines and Moroccans are celebrating - and the Germans are gone

Created: 2022-12-13 09:29

By: Gunter Klein

Cheering in the Doha souk – Qatar loves pictures like this.

© Mahmud Hams/afp

The World Cup is going to Qatar's taste.

Football fans from Argentina and Morocco are cheering in the emirate and not the overly critical Germans.

A comment.

Doha - Sunday's World Cup final falls on Qatar's national day.

The week started yesterday with massive flag-flying of public buildings, it is now entering the final phase of the tournament and, above all, a large state PR campaign.

And you can already say that Qatar got what it wanted.

Morocco and Argentina in the World Cup semifinals are Qatar's great luck

Until a few days ago, the hosts were still hovering over the tournament with the unappetizing vision of a semi-final with four European countries.

Then Qatar would probably have had to use tricks to fill the two largest stadiums with up to almost 89,000 seats, because you really can't say that fans from and from France or the Netherlands would flood the Arab world.

It was noticeable that England - France, for example, a dream match from the "old world", started in front of a few thousand empty seats and the arena only justified its sold-out reputation in the second half.

Morocco and Argentina in the top four are lucky for Qatar.

Morocco, because it is writing the story of the (overdue) rise of Africa and at the same time represents the Arab world.

The historic point of this culture's first-ever semi-final presence will be linked to Qatar.

Fan flight at the World Cup opening game: the best pictures of the half-empty Qatar stadium

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World Cup in Qatar: Unlike the Germans, who are perceived as annoying, the Argentines don't question anything

Finally, Argentina provides the backdrop the tournament needs to be seen as a benchmark for future World Cups.

There are tens of thousands in the city, they are interested in football and fun, they don't question anything, they are the kind of guests this ambitious state, concerned about its glossy image, would like them to be.

Unlike the Germans, who are perceived as annoying.

Argentina also have Lionel Messi, who plays at Qatari investment Paris Saint-Germain.

A Gauchos final against France with Kylian Mbappé, Qatar's other PSG jewel, would confirm the Qataris in their politics.

FIFA is celebrating for the Qatar World Cup – it's scary and sad

It's running for Qatar.

Ultimately, the timing of the tournament also suits the World Cup country.

The supporting program, which delivers the images of lively celebrations by the sea or from the winding souk, would not have been possible in June and July at a paralyzing 50 degrees.

FIFA will long celebrate everything that has come about on the basis of unprecedented corruption.

And that is also horrible and sad in the midst of the sincere joy that many live here and in which one wants to share.