法国球星齐达被聘为世界杯形象大使

卡塔尔申办2022年世界杯委员会日前发表声明，称前法国球星齐达内已经被聘为卡塔尔申办世界杯的形象大使。如果卡塔尔能够成功申办，那他们将是1930年举办首届世界杯的乌拉圭之后最小的申办国。

CEO of the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee Hassan Al-Thawadi (R) presents new official ambassador Zinedine Zidane with a personalised shirt in Doha September 16, 2010.

Former France midfielder（中场队员） Zinedine Zidane has been appointed ambassador for Qatar's attempt to host the 2022 World Cup, said the Gulf Arab state's bid committee.

Qatar's bid is one of nine for the finals but their main opposition is likely to come from Australia, Japan, South Korea and United States.

"Football is for everyone," Zidane said in a statement. "When I think of all the youth of the Middle East, what they're missing is an event like the World Cup.

"We had [the 2010 World Cup] in Africa and now it is time for the Middle East."

It is almost certain one of the four European bids from England, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands will win the right to stage the 2018 World Cup, meaning a country from outside Europe will stage the 2022 finals.

Qatar would be the smallest host country since Uruguay held the inaugural（开始的，就职的） tournament（锦标赛，联赛） in 1930.

The head of a FIFA inspection team hinted on Thursday the Gulf Arab state's size, rather than its fierce summer heat or the fact it is an Islamic country, could rule it out of contention（争论，争辩） though.

FIFA will announce the venues（场地，场馆） for 2018 and 2022 in Zurich on Dec. 2.