The Qatar World Cup defied anti-Arab prejudice

Argentina's Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophy. Reuters

There is a reason the football World Cup changes host country every four years. The sport may have been born in Europe, but it has since grown into one of the most popular pastimes in the world. All deserve to enjoy it, and all deserve to contribute to its story and development.

Nations that organise World Cups, the supreme footballing event, have a massive responsibility to guard a historic brand. They also have the right to leave their own mark on it. If a host is overseeing the tournament’s first presence in a region of the world, it is a particularly important and rewarding duty. For example, when South Africa hosted the first African World Cup, the Vuvuzela, a local, trumpet-like instrument, became an internationally recognised symbol of the games. It can still be heard at matches today, a constant reminder of the love Africa has for football and all that the continent has done for the game.

In Qatar’s case, the 2022 World Cup did a service to the entire Gulf, Middle East and North Africa. It was a platform to show the world the depth of Arab and Gulf culture, when too many view the region with prejudice.

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  1986: Argentina 3 (Brown 23', Valdano 56' Burruchaga 84') West Germany 2 (Rummenigge 74', Voller 81'): Diego Maradona officially ruled the world when he captained Argentina to a second title. It was the little genius's through ball that set-up Jorge Burruchaga's winner after West Germany had pulled the score back to 2-2 in Mexico. AP

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  1990: West Germany 1 (Brehme pen 85') Argentina 0: A desperately disappointing final in Italy that was decided by a late Andreas Brehme penalty that earned the Germans victory, denying Diego Maradona and Argentina a second successive title. The South Americans also had two players sent-off - the first ever in a World Cup final. Getty

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  1994: Brazil 0 Italy 0 (Brazil win 3-2 on penalties): Stalemate after 120 minutes in the US, Brazil came out on top in the first World Cup final shoot-out with 'The Divine Ponytail' Roberto Baggio sending his deciding penalty high over the bar to hand the South Americans their fourth title. AFP

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  1998: Brazil 0 France 3 (Zidane 27', 45+1', Petit 90+3'): France powered to their first title thanks to the brilliance of two-goal hero Zinedine Zidane in front of a delighted home crowd in Paris. It will also be remembered for Brazil star Ronaldo being left out and then restored to the starting line-up just before kick-off after the attacker had suffered a fit in the build-up. PA

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  2002: Germany 0 Brazil 2 (Ronaldo 67', 79'): Redemption for Ronaldo after the drama and disappointment of four years previously as the striker scored both goals and earned the man of the match award in Japan. It was Brazil's fifth title. Getty

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  2006: Italy 1 (Materazzi 19') France 1 (Zidane pen 7') Italy win 5-3 on penalties: A match that will forever be remembered for Zinedine Zidane's brutal head-butt to the chest of Italian defender Marco Materazzi in extra-time that saw the French star sent-off. France attacker David Trezeguet was the only player to miss from the spot in Germany. AFP

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  2010: Netherlands 0 Spain 1, after extra time (Iniesta 116'): European champions Spain seal their first world crown thanks to Andres Iniesta's extra-time finish. The match in South Africa saw a record 14 yellow cards handed out - more doubling the previous best set by West Germany and Argentina in 1986. Getty

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  2014: Germany 1 (Gotze 114') Argentina 0, AET: Mario Gotze's extra-time finish in Brazil made it World Cup number four for Germany to deny Lionel Messi a first title with a penalty shoot-out just seven minutes away. Joachim Low's side became the first European team to win the trophy in South America.

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  2018: France 4 (Mandzukic og 18', Griezmann pen 38', Pogba 59', Mbappe 65') Croatia 2 (Perisic 28', Mandzukic 69'): Kylian Mbappe becomes only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, after Pele for Brazil in 1958. France's triumph in Russia was their second title after lifting the trophy for the first time in 1998. Reuters

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  2022: Argentina 3 (Messi pen 23', 108', Di Maria 36') France 3 (Mbappe pen 80', 81', pen 118'. Argentina win 4-2 on penalties): A breathtaking rollercoaster of a game that ended with the great Lionel Messi finally winning his first World Cup. France fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 to force a shoot-out but were unable to secure a second successive title, despite Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick. AP

Sunday’s match between Argentina and France has been widely called one of the best World Cup finals of all time, and the culmination of the career of the once-in-a-generation footballing hero Lionel Messi. And by the time it finished, millions, whether attending in person or watching from abroad, had gained a more positive, informed and rounded impression of the region as a result of Qatar’s action-packed, family-friendly tournament. They saw Messi lift the World Cup trophy into the air. They also saw the Emir of Qatar courteously cloaking him in a bisht, a traditional men’s garment worn on formal occasions. It was an image that combined the footballing heritage and triumph of Argentina, Arab culture and the global appeal of the sport.

But throughout the tournament, in western commentary the role of the local culture in making for a more inviting World Cup was rarely mentioned. After the final, one UK newspaper, The Telegraph, used the moment of Messi’s victory celebrations to cast Arab culture in a cynical light, writing that Messi was “made” to wear the bisht, even though he was being adorned with it, as a high honour bestowed by the head of state of the host nation.

The tournament has also been the target of blatant and deliberate anti-Arab racism. Morocco, a hero of this World Cup, was the first Arab and African team ever to reach the semi-finals. Commentators on TV2, a Danish broadcaster, used particularly insulting and racist language to describe Moroccan players hugging their mothers. Morocco, a country that has both an Arab and an African identity, should never be subjected to such tropes in 2022, particularly at a time where it deserved to celebrate so much. And Qatar should be praised for hosting a World Cup at a time of severe global upheaval and in the wake of a terrible pandemic.

For the vast majority, this was a tournament to remember for the ages. That was not only because of the quality of the games, but also because of the astonishing setting in which they took place, and for all it did to push forward the longer journey of turning football into a truly global game. Prejudiced commentary should have no place as the world celebrates the beautiful game.