Russia, Qatar to become World Cup hosts

FIFA, the world soccer federation, on Thursday announced the venues of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. As expected, the 2018 World Cup to went to Russia, but the 2022 venue was a surprise – the tiny country of Qatar, located in the Persian Gulf.

The Arab country has a population of 1.6 million, but is promising to use its oil wealth to stage a successful tournament.

“I believe it is a very joyful moment, beyond a doubt, for everyone in the country – the local Qataris as well as all the expatriates who make up a good portion of the population of Qatar,” says the Apostolic Nuncio to Qatar, Archbishop Petar Rajič.

He says it will also offer an opportunity for the country to open up to the world. Archbishop Rajič told Vatican Radio visitors will be pleasantly surprised about the state of the Church in the country.

“The Church is a small community, but it is also a very vibrant one, a very active one,” he said. “People are very much in touch with the Church, and they enjoy a very good level of liberty [of worship] in the country itself.”

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