PostHole
Compose
Login
Qatar's World Cup
Football, aka soccer, is life. At least, it is for many people across the globe. There are few things that are universally beloved but this sport comes close. And as teams on nearly every continent prepare for the start of the World Cup, all eyes are on one tiny country at the tip of the desert. Qatar. The first Arab country ever to secure the World Cup bid. But it's been a long and complicated road to get to this moment. Espionage. Embargoes. Covert deals. This is the story of Qatar's decades-long pursuit of the World Cup bid and its role in the nation's transformation into a global power.
To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
####
Throughline
NPR
####
Throughline
Get perks with [Podcast Title]+
Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.
-->
How Qatar became this year's World Cup host
Updated December 8, 20224:00 PM ET
Originally published November 17, 20225:54 AM ET
[Ramtin Arablouei, co-host and co-producer of Throughline.]
Sanjukta Poddar
How Qatar became this year's World Cup host
****
Listen
51:48
51:48
[****
Transcript](https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1136875657)
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1136875657/1200556341" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
[****
Transcript](https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1136875657)