The Peninsula
Qatar Museum’s 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, one of the most innovative and technologically advanced museums in the region, has announced the opening of “Qatar Football History. Discover a Journey of 75 Years” exhibition at the historic Doha Stadium, sponsored by ACCIONA Cultura.
The exhibition, on view from November 16 until December 19, highlights the Qatari journey in football from the earliest days of playing on pitches made of sand, to the opening of Doha Stadium in the 1960’s, which was the first grass pitch stadium in the region. It was organised in cooperation with the Veteran Players Committee of Qatar Football Association.
Sharing Qatar’s fascinating football history over the past 75 years, the exhibition invites fans and visitors to explore the first football stadium in the country, watch historic video footage of Qatari legends as well as three-time FIFA World Cup winner Pelé playing at the venue, listen to boxing legend Muhammad Ali speaking after a fight at Doha Stadium, as well as allowing them to play on the pitch.
Qatar Football History is organised thematically covering five areas around the start and rise of the game in Qatar, the growth of Qatari football stars at Doha Stadium, the Qatari team of 1981 which surprised the football world on the pitch, hosting of the world’s greatest athletes over the last three decades, and major recent achievements with Qatar winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in 2010, and becoming Asian Champions in 2019.
President of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al Thani said: “The Qatar Football History Exhibition provides visitors an opportunity to learn about the history, culture and passion for football in our country. The exhibition holds a unique significance for Qatari fans and also showcases the long-standing love for sports in Qatar and the formation of football stars in maroon over the past 75 years.”
Centred around Qatari football achievements and other sports events that took place at Doha Stadium in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the exhibition will also showcase displays such as the golden boot trophies of Mansour Muftah as top Arab goalscorer, as well as the bronze foot of FIFA World Cup winner Pelé, and a display including goalkeeping gloves from the Qatar women’s football national team.
Director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Abdulla Yousuf Al Mulla said: “With Qatar ready to welcome the world for a celebration of global football, we believe this is the perfect time to showcase the country’s proud football heritage and history. I am sure that this exhibition will appeal both to Qatari and local audiences, as well as to those visiting our country and that it will make for a memorable experience for visitors during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Qatar Football History is a cultural extension of the World of Football exhibition, currently on view at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum.