Qatar follows an ultraconservative form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism, though unlike neighboring Saudi Arabia, foreigners can drink alcohol. Its faith informs its politics.
Former Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA, President Sepp Blatter has said that the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar when he was FIFA president was a "mistake". Blatter, 86, was the boss of FIFA in 2010 when its executive committee controversially voted for the World Cup to be held in Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 respectively. Blatter claims he did not vote for Qatar and instead wanted a "gesture of peace" by hosting the two tournaments in Russia and then the USA, Sky Sports reports.
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