Wesley Sneijder says he has settled into life in Qatar very easily, and revealed he is 'excited' to call the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ host nation his new home.

In an exclusive interview with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the former Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Galatasaray and Ajax midfielder says even after a short period of time living in Qatar, he knows the country will host a special FIFA World Cup™.

"From the moment I arrived here I was really impressed," he said. "I'd already been told all the stories from the people that I know who have lived here or still play here – like Ronald de Boer or Anouar Diba.

"They told me a lot about Qatar, but since day one I have been impressed. The organisation is amazing, the pitches are some of the best in the world, everything [is great]."

The 33-year-old, who has appeared at five major international tournaments in three different continents, also said it is the Middle East's time to welcome the world in 2022.

Speaking following a tour of the SC's Legacy Pavilion, hosted by Assistant Secretary General for Tournament Affairs Nasser Al Khater, he highlighted the unifying power of the beautiful game and said the country is ideally situated in the centre of the world, making it geographically accessible to more people than ever before.

"Sport in general brings many things together," he continued. "So it is good to change the location. We did it in South Africa in 2010, then we went to South America. Before we were in Europe in Germany, now we go to Russia – another new part of the world.

"Qatar will be an amazing place, as I could see in the video [at the Legacy Pavilion]. I never thought about Qatar being really central. So many countries can watch it. I think it's time to do it here."

Sneijder, a runner-up with Holland at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, also discussed matters closer on the sporting calendar, including his former team Real Madrid's chances of winning an unprecedented third consecutive UEFA Champions Leaguetitle.

"It's going to be really tough for them this season," he said. "It's going to be hard, but they managed a great result in the Bernabéu against PSG so I think they will progress. They have not been that good this season, but the Champions League is always different and they know how to play in finals, so for sure they will reach the final."

The midfielder has now swapped the UEFA Champions League for the AFC equivalent, with his new club Al Gharafa – where he says the challenges of balancing domestic and continental football are just as intense, and rewarding.

"People in Holland think it's [QSL] an easy league, but it's not as easy as they think it is," he explained. "The games are on a good level, and when you play in the [Asian] Champions League every four days it's really tough.

"At Al Gharafa, every week we try to improve and every week we want to go to the next level. That's what I like and I see it in all the guys I play with."

Finally, when the season is over, Sneijder admitted a tough summer lies ahead – as he will be forced to sit out a FIFA World Cup™ for the first time in his career, after Holland failed to qualify for Russia.

"It's a shame," he said. "We have always been there and now, for the first time, we won't be. That's a big disappointment for the whole country, but not only for the country, for the whole world. Holland needs to be at the World Cup and I hope we will be back here in Qatar in 2022."