Qatar hoping to host a world cup in 2022 with audience

Qatar is confident that the FIFA World Cup will go ahead as planned after a rapid progress in the COVID vaccine production. And Melbourne has received its first international flight since June. Follow DW for the latest.

Qatar is planning for a completely normal men's soccer World Cup in 2022 in the wake of the swift progress in coronavirus vaccines.

Sports events across the globe have been culled or postponed due to the pandemic, including Euro 2020, the Tokyo Olympics, and Wimbledon, and Qatar officials were initially concerned their event may be impacted, despite it being two years away.

Qatar 2022 will be the first World Cup to be staged in the Middle East. The tournament's chief executive Nasser Al-Khater told news agency the Associated Press: "The introduction of the vaccine and the roll-out of the vaccine, it's definitely good news for everybody."

"We're very hopeful and very looking forward that, by 2022, hopefully things will really be back to complete normal, and looking forward to hosting the fans and having a successful World Cup."