The winner is … Qatar: Curtain comes down on Project Hard Football Power

It was costly, carbon-heavy, bloodstained and corruption-shadowed but this micromanaged power play couldn’t have gone much better for the hosts

SHARING THE LIMELIGHT: Argentina's Lionel Messi (centre) with the World Cup trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino (left) and Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani look on. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

“And the winner is … Qatar!” 

It all began with those words, read out in a tone of strangled gaiety by Sepp Blatter on stage at Fifa house. Twelve years on Qatar 2022 has now concluded with the same phrase hanging in the air.