Bin Hammam: World Cup would lift the Middle East

Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam believes staging the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will provide the whole Middle East region with a lift it so desperately needs.

Qatar are up against fellow AFC members Australia, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia for the right to host the showpiece tournament in 12 years time, as well as bids from England, Russia and America. Holland and Belgium and Spain and Portugal have both submitted joint proposals.