In exactly five years' time, the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ will kick-off in Qatar.

This country will be the focus of the world on 21 November 2022 as 32 teams prepare to battle it out for the greatest prize in sport.

Qatar will be buzzing as it welcomes fans from across the globe. Spectators will attend state-of-the-art stadiums as they sample the first compact World Cup.

For the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), 2022 will be the culmination of a dream that started in 2009, when the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee was formed.

On 2 December 2010, when Qatar won the right to host the tournament, the hard work really started. Since that moment in Zurich, numerous milestones have been achieved.

Khalifa International Stadium has been successfully redeveloped, while seven tournament venues are currently under construction. Legacy programmes have been launched, including Generation Amazing, the Josoor Institute, Challenge 22 and Workers' Welfare.

The SC has successfully organised a vast range of special events, including the Brazil 20014 Fan Zone at Katara, the annual Workers' Cup and numerous community engagement initiatives, such as the Youth Panel and Accessibility Forum.

For H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, the SC's Secretary General, the hard work is beginning to pay off.

"Every day we're working to deliver the promises we made in 2010," said Al Thawadi. "We remain determined to host the greatest World Cup of all time."

Al Thawadi continued: "We know the next five years will be just as challenging – if not more challenging – than the previous seven. However, we are prepared to go the extra mile. For Qatar – and all of us at the SC – this is about much more than football. We want this tournament to break down stereotypes, narrow the world's cultural divides and bridge the gap between East and West."

Al Thawadi said he was proud of Qatar's progress since 2010 and hopes the tournament can unite and inspire the entire region.

"We've come a long way and achieved so much in the last seven years. Time and again we've delivered when it matters. I'm extremely proud to lead an organisation like the SC and I look forward to continuing this incredible journey.

"Football has the power to unite and inspire like no other sport. We want our World Cup to be a catalyst for Qatar and the region to realise their full potential."