Anelka and Makelele praise Qatar's role in developing global football

Manos Staramopoulos • 16 de enero de 2025

French football legends have expressed their admiration for Qatar's achievements in football and the wider sports industry.

Nicholas Anelka  and Claude Makelele,  both in his stages with Chelsea FC

French football legends Nicolas Anelka  and Claude Makelele have expressed their admiration for Qatar's achievements in football and the wider sports industry. Which have been further enhanced by its world-class infrastructure and dazzling hosting of the 2022 FIFA World CupTM. A legacy of sustainability that extends beyond football to include community development in the region and around the world.


In an interview on the sidelines of the French Super Cup sponsored by Visit Qatar, which was attended by 39,682 fans at Stadium 974, the two football stars praised the richness of the sports scene in the State of Qatar and the high potential of the country, which has contributed to organizing a unique version of the World Cup that has never been seen before.


“Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World CupTM has shown the incredible potential of the country and has shown the world that it is capable of organizing major sporting events,” said Anelka, who has played for some of Europe’s top clubs and won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid.

Nicholas Anelka, as won of Champions League with Real Madrid in 2000.

Amazing results


He noted that many questioned Qatar's ability to host the world event, but the results were amazing on the ground and the country was able to achieve a dazzling hospitality. An edition that is considered the best ever in the history of the football event, and also demonstrated the effectiveness and value of the region to host prestigious events and record high-level achievements, setting new standards of excellence.


The former French international, who is known for his attacking skills, continued: "I love Qatar and I really like it as a country that has sunny weather and has excellent infrastructure. When I see Doha, I realize the great efforts made by the country to develop a global city with the most modern facilities and services."


Claude Makelele


For his part, Claude Makelele, who won the European Championship with the French national team in 2000, stressed that Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup left a lasting legacy that was not limited to football but extended beyond it to something more than that. The global tournament brought about a significant change that included many regions in the country.

Claude Makelele with Chelsea in  Stamford Bridge in a  full match of Premier League in 2006. EPIC

Great progress in Qatari football


And he added: “When I see how much football and sports have developed in the country, I feel very happy, and most importantly, the football programs in Qatar are focused on investing in the game as a tool for positive change and development of the communities around. "I love football and have played this great game for many years in many parts of the world, I think many people can learn from Qatar's pioneering model, for example when you enter the football stadiums you notice their amazing design and construction. The highest international standards," he continued, providing fans with an exciting interactive experience that puts them at the heart of the action.


French football legends Nicolas Anelka and Claude Makelele recently visited Doha to watch the French Super Cup sponsored by Visit Qatar, where former Paris Saint-Germain team were crowned champions after beating Monaco 1-0 to win the French Super Cup for the 13th time in its history.


Since Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World CupTM, which was held for the first time in the Arab world and in the region, the country has embraced a series of major sporting events, including the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, which broke records in terms of attendance and digital participation, and the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2024™, which kicked off last month, coinciding with the celebration of the second anniversary of the 2022 World Cup Qatar.


FIFA recently announced the dates for Qatar to host the first five consecutive editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the first edition starting in 2025 from 5 to 22 November. The country will also host three consecutive editions of the FIFA Arab Cup in 2025, 2029 and 2033, with the 2025 edition scheduled to be hosted at the end of this year.


Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)

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