A senior official associated with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has invited members of India’s World Cup-winning cricket teams of 1983 and 2011 to the Middle-East nation for football’s quadrennial showpiece.
Admitting to not having been aware of how big cricket was in India, Nasser al Khater – CEO, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – extended the invitation to all members of the winning squads from the two campaigns.
“It is safe to say that this World Cup (Qatar 2022) is for all of us to celebrate. I think I have to say, we look forward to welcoming you there,” al Khater said at an awards function in Mumbai.
“I did not realise how big cricket was in India. I know that there are some members from the 1983 World Cup-winning team and the team that won the World Cup in 2011 here. I extend [to] you a special invitation to come and attend the football World Cup in Qatar.”Nasser al Khater, CEO, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
The 2022 World Cup chief also extended a special welcome to footballers from India for the showpiece event, which is going to be hosted in Asia for only the second time in its nine-decade existence.
The 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be the first World Cup not to be held in the customary months of May/June/July, and is slated to be held from 21 November to 18 December 2022.
(With inputs from PTI)
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