New York, May 24 /QNA/ Her Excellency the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, hosted a high-level reception on the theme “From the 2022 FIFA World Cup to the FIFA World Cup 2026: a legacy in motion” at the United Nations headquarters in New York, on the occasion of World Football Day. The reception highlighted the importance and legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the first World Cup hosted by an Arab country and in the Middle East region, and highlighted how the State of Qatar has harnessed the power of sport to unite people and countries beyond cultures and continents. As the international community looks forward to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, the reception was also an opportunity to highlight the growing role of football as a platform for economic development, youth empowerment and strengthening multilateral cooperation. High-ranking personalities attended the reception, including His Excellency Mike Waltz, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, His Excellency Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, His Excellency Hassan bin Abdullah Al Thawadi, Director General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), His Excellency Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, His Excellency Ms. Gabriela Cuevas, Mexican Federal Government Coordinator for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and His Excellency Mr. Adam van Koeverden, Canadian Minister of State for Sports and personal representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as a broad participation of their Excellencies the Permanent Representatives of Member States to the United Nations and senior UN officials.
In her welcome speech, Her Excellency the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN highlighted that the World Cup embodies the values that make football a universal means of uniting people and promoting understanding among men, stressing that the organization by the State of Qatar of the 2022 World Cup, the first tournament organized in the Middle East and the Arab world, was a historic milestone that strengthened dialogue between cultures and established a new concept for organizing major sporting events through a sustainable and interconnected model based on innovation, ease of access and long-lasting impact term. His Excellency added that the tournament provided a platform bringing together people of different races, cultures and religions to celebrate common human values. She cited His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who said after the tournament that Qatar had kept its promise to organize an exceptional tournament among Arab countries, providing people around the world with the opportunity to discover the richness of our culture and the authenticity of our values. For his part, His Excellency the Director General of the SC highlighted in his speech that the true legacy of the Qatar 2022 World Cup extended beyond the tournament itself, noting that it constituted a historic moment that brought the world together for the first time in the heart of the Arab region, and demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt the unique power of football to build bridges between cultures, challenge stereotypes and unite people under a common humanity.
His Excellency added that the real criterion for the success of the World Cup was not the matches that took place, but rather the lasting impact the tournament had on people’s lives after the final whistle. His Excellency also explained that the 2022 World Cup has helped strengthen cultural understanding in a profound way by celebrating differences and common human values through football, emphasizing that one of the most lasting lasting legacies of the tournament is the human capital, expertise and institutional know-how that The State of Qatar is proud to share with future host countries and the global football community.
His Excellency the Director General of SC also expressed Qatar’s pride in perpetuating this heritage in solidarity with the United States, Mexico and Canada, also expressing his conviction that the 2026 World Cup will constitute a new chapter in football’s contribution to development, dialogue and peace. In turn, His Excellency the Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN indicated that the fans who come to watch the 2026 World Cup will see the United States as it really is, not only through the stadiums, but also through the workers who built them and who maintain, secure and operate them. He added that we would see work crews, small business owners, hotel workers, taxi drivers, restaurant workers and emergency workers, as well as streets, neighborhoods, churches, local restaurants, highways, farms, beaches, mountains and the skylines of American cities.
He stressed that the world would see the United States rise early, work hard, raise the flag and welcome visitors from all corners of the world. Furthermore, His Excellency the President of FIFA declared that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar had been an exceptional event in all respects.
He added that it was the best edition ever organized and helped to consolidate the position of the State of Qatar on the international stage in an unprecedented way. He further expressed confidence that the world would witness this effect again in North America in 20 days and that it would succeed in uniting the world once again. For his part, His Excellency the Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup also highlighted the exceptional capacity of football to unite people around the world, noting that His Excellency the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has established a strong partnership with FIFA in order to promote American hospitality and celebrate the spirit of competition.
He added that the World Cup is not just a sporting tournament, but rather a symbol of global unity. During these exceptional weeks, as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, fans from around the world will create unforgettable memories at the greatest sporting event in human history.
For her part, Her Excellency the coordinator of the Mexican Federal Government for the 2026 FIFA World Cup expressed the pride of her country in hosting the World Cup for the third time in its history, adding that Mexico is ready to welcome the world in a spirit of unity, passion and common vision for the future, which reflects the best of its people and culture, as well as the power of sport to bring nations together and strengthen the rapprochement between them. Furthermore, His Excellency the Canadian Minister of State for Sports and Personal Representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup stressed that the tournament constitutes a global celebration that contributes to bringing people and countries closer together. He insisted that as we remember the lasting legacy of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and look towards the 2026 edition, Canada is proud to contribute to the perpetuation of this legacy based on unity and inclusion. and cooperation.
He added that Canada, in cooperation with its partners, strives to harness the power of sport to strengthen connections between communities, inspire people and highlight what can be accomplished through common action. The high-level reception concluded with a special visual spectacle on the facade of the United Nations Secretariat building, a symbolic initiative that embodies the continuation of the legacy of the World Cup and its contribution to promoting common progress and international cooperation through the universal language of football.
