DOHA, (Reuters) – Qatar’s dreams of hosting the 2022 World Cup were given a surprise boost yesterday when Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said they were “definitely achievable” despite the searing summer heat.
“I would back the Qatar bid,” Ferguson told a sports coference. “I admire their purpose and vision.”
Ferguson added that the Gulf state had a “marvellous chance” of hosting the finals, even amid worries about temperatures that can rise to 50 Celsius.
His remarks came shortly after world soccer’s governing body FIFA published its technical reports on the bids to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
FIFA said that, despite proposals for cooling the stadiums, Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 tournament could pose a potential health risk because of the midsummer heat.
Qatari organisers say they have tackled the issue by constructing climate-controlled, zero-carbon emitting stadiums. The country has harnessed solar-powered technology to cool stadiums to about 27 Celsius.
Ferguson said the idea of dismantling modular stadia to be shipped to developing countries would be “absolutely fantastic” for football across the world.
