卡塔爾申辦2022年世界杯委員會日前發表聲明，稱前法國球星齊達內已經被聘為卡塔爾申辦世界杯的形象大使。目前申辦2022年世界杯的國家有9個之多，卡塔爾的主要對手將是澳大利亞、日本、韓國和美國。由于2018年世界杯的舉辦者基本確定將在英格蘭、俄羅斯、西班牙和葡萄牙、比利時和荷蘭之間產生，所以2022年世界杯將在歐洲之外舉辦。如果卡塔爾能夠成功申辦，那他們將是1930年舉辦首屆世界杯的烏拉圭之后最小的申辦國。2018年和2022年世界杯的舉辦國將于12月2日在蘇黎世公布。

CEO of the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee Hassan Al-Thawadi (R) presents new official ambassador Zinedine Zidane with a personalised shirt in Doha September 16, 2010. [Agencies]

Former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane has been appointed ambassador for Qatar's attempt to host the 2022 World Cup, said the Gulf Arab state's bid committee.

Qatar's bid is one of nine for the finals but their main opposition is likely to come from Australia, Japan, South Korea and United States.

"Football is for everyone," Zidane said in a statement. "When I think of all the youth of the Middle East, what they're missing is an event like the World Cup.

"We had [the 2010 World Cup] in Africa and now it is time for the Middle East."

It is almost certain one of the four European bids from England, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands will win the right to stage the 2018 World Cup, meaning a country from outside Europe will stage the 2022 finals.

Qatar would be the smallest host country since Uruguay held the inaugural tournament in 1930.

The head of a FIFA inspection team hinted on Thursday the Gulf Arab state's size, rather than its fierce summer heat or the fact it is an Islamic country, could rule it out of contention though.

FIFA will announce the venues for 2018 and 2022 in Zurich on Dec. 2.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）