FIFA World Cup in Qatar has gone down in history since the cheers of over 4 million Argentines who took to the streets of Buenos Aires to greet the triumphant mission with a wild all-day party died down. It was perhaps the most controversial event in the history of modern football, when shots were heard everywhere long before the dust settled after FIFA’s unexpected (and for many shocking) decision to entrust such a colossal project to a country that had a lot of money, but absolutely no money. the necessary experience and know-how to carry out a mission that seemed impossible.

The bloodstain of the deaths of more than 6,000 migrant workers was not faded by the glow of the World Cup, which went much better than even the most optimistic people could have expected. Football players with great experience and performances were pleasantly surprised by the organizational and competitive success of the event. For the millions of spectators and for most of those who have been to Qatar, it was the best World Cup ever, with many records and thrilling moments that will remain indelible.

Organizationally, the country, which was far behind in many areas, has managed to self-organize and impressively improve its infrastructure in terms of technology, facilities, communications, tourism, transport, etc. to such an extent that it has nothing to envy the advanced countries of the Western world or the Far East. where all 64 games run smoothly. Despite the high cost of living and the restrictions imposed by the code of ethics and social behavior of the Arab-Muslim world, most visitors were satisfied with the level of hospitality. A sense of security also played a dominant role, with the initially repulsive ban on alcohol helping to reduce tension and incidents.

Messi and Mbappe were the players who stole the show – they dazzled Morocco, Japan.

The fields were excellent and offered amenities found only in the very modern fields of Europe. Television production was outsourced to technocrats from abroad, and high quality equipment offered viewers around the world a high-tech experience.

Technology has also played a dominant role in the development of VAR matches and beyond, culminating in Japan’s… 1,000th goal that would have been considered scandalous had it been scored without technology. And we’re talking about the goal that (indirectly) kept a football superpower like Germany out of the World Cup.

Competitively, we had excellent records, for example, the most goals in the history of the institution (172 against 171 in 2014 and 1998). The level was excellent and the icing on the cake was probably the best final we have ever seen in a World Cup. Most of the stars lived up to their reputations, Messi and Mbappe being the main examples, with the exception of Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved in a shallow competitive environment and became a scandal in Portugal.

There were many positive and negative surprises, big results, setbacks, penalty decided matches, impressive team reaction, teams that impressed (like Morocco and Japan) and others that disappointed (England, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal). ), new main characters that have appeared and will keep us busy in the coming years. It was a very special World Cup, no matter how much you want to miss it, the images, memories and emotions will not leave you…

An experiment that worked

FIFA’s choice of Qatar provoked a storm of responses for another reason: the high temperatures were prohibitive for the World Cup in the summer and forced an unprecedented “cramming” of all other competitions. This state changed decades of habits and at first seemed indigestible, but in the process it presented a pleasant surprise. Instead of players already exhausted at the end of a grueling season, they appeared at the start of the new season fresh, hungry and full of energy. The level of competition was high and the spectacle surprisingly attractive, to the point where there were timid voices asking for other events during the winter when conditions allowed. The sine qua non is an agreement between television networks and sponsors who pay billions to have a product that appeals to the global fan base.