Welcoming The World
Maha Alshammari, Qatar
Goal Click teamed up with Qatar Airways to create a new series telling the inside story of the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar – through the eyes and voices of football fans across the Arab world. Fans from Qatar to Oman, Palestine to Egypt, captured their personal experiences during the tournament, demonstrating the passion for football from these communities.
Maha Alshammari, 18, from Qatar, told a story of what football means to her and her community, supporting the Qatari national team, and the opportunities for Qatari women in football.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?
My name is Maha Alshammari. I am 18, born and raised in Qatar. I just graduated high school and will be going to university in Ireland. My history with football is not wide. However, I started enjoying it more recently ahead of the World Cup, since my father works for the Supreme Committee as an IT manager - and I started seeing all the work that goes on behind the scenes, which made me appreciate it more. I attended my first football match in December 2019, and it was a whole new experience and I attending more matches now. I am still educating myself on all the teams but for now I support the Qatari national team.
Football before didn’t mean a lot to me before but knowing now how much effort is put into it by the players and the organisers, it made me appreciate it much more. Before the Arab Cup, I had only been to watch one match. But now, I’ve been going to the matches regularly and getting hyped up more than my brothers who are big fans of football, which I think is a sign that I’m becoming a huge fan.
What have been your experiences of the FIFA Arab Cup as a Qatari fan?
As the host nation of the Arab Cup, watching Qatar play was probably the most exciting thing and getting to the semifinals were beyond what I expected. The enthusiasm of all the fans and how excited the players get when they score is a whole experience on its own. It was beautiful watching Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa attending every match and seeing how proud he is.
Knowing how much effort the country has put into hosting the Arab Cup with everything leading to the World Cup next year, watching everything come to life was amazing. I think the best moment was the first day which was the opening of Al Bayt stadium. They had huge screens that showed legendary actors that passed away but brought them “back to life”. That’s only one of many amazing moments but I’m very glad that I was able to experience it.
What was the atmosphere like at the games?
What I liked most about attending the games was how everyone was cooperative and together. For example, when the team gets closer to the goal, you can see everyone standing and cheering and even if they don’t score, they applaud which I find very cool. There was also a guy holding a loudspeaker and singing national songs, telling the fans to clap in a certain pattern or do the Mexican wave. Moreover, one match I attended hosted the greatest number of fans in Qatar’s history around 64,000 people. These little things aren’t caught on camera, and you can’t see it on television but it’s what makes me go to the matches.
What are the opportunities for Qatari women in football?
Qatari women have great opportunities for practicing football, as there are high quality facilities and equipment; from indoor sport clubs to train in, to amazing coaches to help improve their skills and football learning programs. There are also regular tournaments where all Qatari women teams get to play against each other. Moreover, every now and then there are events that are football related and there’s always a ladies-only event for women players. Football has always been popular with Qatari women, we always have matches in schools during breaks and some schools play against others. The country is expanding the football opportunities for women as it is for all the other sports.
What role does football play in your community and Qatari society?
Football plays a great role in our society. Every city in Qatar has its own football team and sports club. You see children playing football in every yard. Personally, every Friday our family rents this big football field and plays, from children to adults which I find so nice. It does bring people together.
What ambitions do you have for the future?
I will study dentistry and hopefully become a dentist. As Sheikh Tameem Bin Hamad once said “Qatar deserves the best from its people” and I stand by that which is why I want to give back to my country. One of my goals is to open my own clinic to help as many people as possible.
What one thing should the world know about football in Qatar? Do you have a message for the world?
Football unites people from all around the world, no matter the circumstances of the country which includes its size or its culture. And his highness sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad, may he rest in peace, said “Everyone is welcome to everyone’s Doha”.
