More than 50 young people – representing 30 different nationalities – have joined the 2018 Youth Panel, which gives students an opportunity to learn about planning and preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™.

Run by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the group of 54 youngsters, aged between 14 and 21, will get the chance to visit stadium and infrastructure sites, and benefit from exclusive access to the architects, engineers and other experts involved in laying the foundations for Qatar 2022. Members will also support the planning and delivery of SC events and get the chance to promote and cover key milestones on social media.

This year's cohort recently attended an induction session hosted by Mead Al Emadi, the SC's Community Engagement Manager. Participants were briefed on preparations for the tournament and informed about the upcoming agenda of activities.

Commenting on the objectives of the Youth Panel, Al Emadi said: "Our main goal with this initiative is to listen to young people and learn about the kind of future they want and how Qatar hosting the World Cup can make that a reality.

"Through the Youth Panel we gain youthful perspective on our plans for the tournament and legacy to ensure we deliver an innovative tournament.

"We also want the panelists to benefit from the experience by learning about our plans and passing the knowledge to their family and friends."

This year's group includes 21 Qataris, as the SC aims to further strengthen links with the local community as preparations continue for the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Arab world.

Al Emadi added: "We want young people to know that their opinions and ideas will make a difference as we work hard to deliver the legacy this tournament and our country deserves."

The Youth Panel was launched in 2015 and has seen 120 young people graduate so far. More than 400 applications were received this year, with 100 youngsters being shortlisted, 93 interviewed and 54 making the cut.

This year's panelists will take part in nine sessions between now and May 2019. They will be encouraged to share key lessons learned with their peers, through school assemblies and social media, in order to spread the SC's messages far and wide.

As well as learning about Qatar 2022, panelists benefit from numerous learning experiences that help to complement their education. Since 2015, a number of Youth Panel members have taken up internships with the SC and its stakeholders.