reportage
World Cup 2022: Close-up on Saudi Arabia
Audio 02:25
Hervé Renard, coach of the Saudi Arabian team during a press conference, November 21, 2022. © REUTERS / Albert Gea
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Lionel Messi's Argentina enters the FIFA World Cup this Tuesday, November 22.
Its adversary, Saudi Arabia, pales in comparison.
The Gulf monarchy is a modest football nation, but a great power in its region.
And his presence at the Qatari World Cup is closely observed.
A few years ago, Saudi Arabia triggered a crisis by imposing a brutal blockade on its neighbor.
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With our special correspondent in Doha,
Hugo Moissonnier
In the streets of Doha, Saudi fans are calmer than those of other Arab teams.
But make no mistake.
Fans of the Green Falcons are delighted to commune with their brothers in Morocco, Tunisia and those of impetuous Qatar, a neighbor small in size but without limit in its ambitions: “
Thank you to Qatar!
It's a challenge to host a World Cup but we can see that everything is going well,
exclaims a supporter
.
Besides, it's not far from my house so I'm very happy to be there!
»
I am proud in this World Cup in the Arab world!
Qataris are my brothers, we are together!
There are government affairs and there are people, who have no problems with each other.
The rulers also display their friendship
Last Sunday, during the opening ceremony of the World Cup, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman took his place alongside the Emir of Qatar.
► To read also: Saudi Arabia, a desert country, will host a winter sports competition
Dafrallah Mouadhen, a journalist based in Qatar, explains that Saudi Arabia wanted this World Cup to be shared between Arabia and the Emirates: “
But Qatar took the cake.
There was a certain jealousy,
continues the correspondent of
the Team
and France Football in the Gulf.
But today, Qatar is reconciled with its neighbors, which can be described as a honeymoon.
»
But Mohammed ben Salman may still dream of a World Cup in his country.
Two months ago, the
Times
revealed a joint candidacy project with Egypt and Greece for the 2030 edition: “
It's a project, but the Middle East had its chance.
We will see in 25 or 30 years
”, concludes Dafrallah Mouadhen.
► To read also: World Cup 2022: who are the supporters of Qatar, inhabited mainly by foreigners?
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World Cup 2022
Saudi Arabia
Soccer
Qatar