Qatar, FIFA Set Up Joint Venture to Deliver 2022 World Cup
URICH (Reuters) - Global soccer body FIFA has set up a joint venture with 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar as part of its effort to streamline organization of the tournament, it said.
The global soccer body said in a statement that it would hold a 51 percent share of the venture while the Qatar organizing committee would hold 49 percent.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in 2016 that the federation would take more control over ticketing and organization at the World Cup, adding that the decision was driven by efficiency and not a lack of trust in local organizers.
Until now, local World Cup organizing committees have been left to work largely independently, with FIFA making periodic inspections of their progress, in a pattern that has sometimes led to tension.
In the run-up to the 2014 World Cup, FIFA's then secretary general Jerome Valcke infuriated hosts Brazil by saying the country needed a "kick up the backside" to speed up its preparations.
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said in the statement that the new setup was a "major step" forward in the organization of the tournament.
******A computer generated image of Lusail Stadium that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, with seating capacity of 80,000, in Lusail City, north of central Doha, Qatar. Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
The global soccer body said in a statement that it would hold a 51 percent share of the venture while the Qatar organizing committee would hold 49 percent.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in 2016 that the federation would take more control over ticketing and organization at the World Cup, adding that the decision was driven by efficiency and not a lack of trust in local organizers.
Until now, local World Cup organizing committees have been left to work largely independently, with FIFA making periodic inspections of their progress, in a pattern that has sometimes led to tension.
In the run-up to the 2014 World Cup, FIFA's then secretary general Jerome Valcke infuriated hosts Brazil by saying the country needed a "kick up the backside" to speed up its preparations.
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said in the statement that the new setup was a "major step" forward in the organization of the tournament.
******A computer generated image of Lusail Stadium that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, with seating capacity of 80,000, in Lusail City, north of central Doha, Qatar. Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.