Most likely, Qatar's biggest ace in the hole was how the 2022 World Cup will change the face of how the rest of the world views the Middle East. This was the carrot that FIFA just could not turn down.

Russia and Qatar have been chosen to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals after a secret ballot of Fifa's 22 executive members in Zurich. Russia was selected, external ahead of co-bidders Spain ...

Outside the stadium, most of the people I chat to tell me they are following World Cup 2022. "But I wish Russia was playing," Eduard tells me. "If we can't take part in international competitions ...

In November 2021, Russian soccer players celebrated at a qualification match for the 2022 World Cup. The team was later banned from the competition. Olga Maltseva/Getty Images ...

The BBC should have spoken out more about Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its human rights record when the country hosted the World Cup in 2018, said Gary Lineker, the broadcaster’s ...

The last World Cup they competed in was the 2018 tournament, which Russia hosted. They also contested the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, eliminated in the group stage, while failing to qualify for 2010 ...

The last World Cup they competed in was the 2018 tournament, which Russia hosted. They also contested the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, eliminated in the group stage, while failing to qualify for 2010 ...