Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Qatar are not just looking to 2022, they retain an interest in Brazil 2014.
On Tuesday, the Qataris play South Korea in Seoul in their sixth match in the Asian qualifying group. The Gulf state sit fourth out of five. The top two go to Brazil, the third has to clear a two-round play-off hurdle to join them.
South Korea and Uzbekistan are favourites to qualify automatically, with Qatar vying with Iran for the play-off slot, but only one point currently separates the quartet.
Qualification would provide Qatar with much-needed sporting credibility. Currently ranked 101st by Fifa, they have never qualified for the World Cup. This is not surprising considering it has a population the size of Bucharest and no footballing background, so a few short-cuts have been taken. Qatar has liberally naturalised players born in Africa, Brazil and other Middle Eastern states with the result that 16 of the players called up in the last year were foreign-born. For the first time in two decades the coach is, at least, a Qatari, though for how long remains to be seen.
Fahed Thani became the fifth coach in two years when he was appointed in January. That sort of impatience underlines that Qatar is a nation in a hurry to establish itself, whether that be by political or sporting means.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments