Qatar spent years preparing. Eight brand-new stadiums were built, including the famous Education City Stadium, which is shaped like a diamond. The Lusail Stadium – the largest, which hosted the final – could hold 89,000 fans. One stadium, Stadium 974, was built from shipping containers so it could be taken apart and reassembled somewhere else after the tournament.
Because December in Qatar is cooler than summer, the tournament was held in the cooler months for the first time in World Cup history. The stadiums were also air-conditioned so spectators stayed comfortable even outside. Qatar invested in improved public transport so fans could travel easily between matches.
The tournament was a grand celebration of football. Argentina won the 2022 World Cup by beating France in a dramatic final that went to a penalty shootout. Fans from every continent mixed and celebrated together in Doha's fan zones, souqs, and along the Corniche. Qatar showed the world a different and colourful side of the Middle East.