FIFA, Qatar announce joint venture to deliver 2022 World Cup

The joint venture will be a first of its kind in the history of the tournament. Earlier, the host nations solely had the rights to carry out the organisational duties in the 21 editions that have taken place.

The 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar for the first time.

FIFA and Qatar announced on Tuesday a joint venture to deliver the 2022 World Cup, which will be held for the first time in the Middle East.

The joint venture will be a first of its kind in the history of the tournament. Earlier, the host nations solely had the rights to carry out the organisational duties in the 21 editions that have taken place.

From the 2026 tournament in the North American continent, FIFA will be solely responsible for holding the event with no involvement from the three host nations.

FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura, who is part of the nine-member management board that met for the first time in Doha on Tuesday, said the new approach was undertaken in an effort to avoid inefficiencies and to deliver the best possible tournament for the fans, players and officials.

FIFA will work with the planning expertise the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) which has been built up since the hosting rights were won by the country in 2010.

The SC will continue to manage the development of the infrastructure and the legacy programme.

SC secretary general H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, who will now also work as the chairman of the joint venture, said, "The formation of this new joint venture comes at a strategically important time on Qatar's World Cup project as we complete our various infrastructure projects, such as stadiums and training sites, and turn our attention to finalising the unique fan and player experience that Qatar 2022 will provide."

The tournament is less than four years away and is set to be played between November 21 to December 18, involving 32 teams.