Qatar claims success of World Cup test as football fans open their eyes to Doha

The man in charge of organising the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has labelled this month's club equivalent a "great success" as a test event but admitted the Gulf state has plenty still to learn over the next three years leading up to the controversial tournament.

Hassan al Thawadi, secretary general of the supreme committee for the World Cup, also insisted the tiny country will be able to handle an influx of huge numbers of supporters and sought to reassure fans used to western culture that they will be made to feel welcome.

"Our plans were previously theoretical and today they are being applied on the ground. Overall I think the Club World Cup has been a great success as a test event," Al Thawadi told media in Doha ahead of Saturday's final between Liverpool and Flamengo.

"There are three more years to go to learn, so I have no doubt that by 2022 we will be ready."
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"These are small events but important events," he said, adding: "The state of advancement of the work here is unique."
There has also been concern about how LGBT fans will be welcomed, although Paul Amann, of Liverpool's LGBT supporters' club, Kop Outs, told AFP he was "satisfied their approach is to provide an 'everyone is welcome' ethos that does include respect, albeit through privacy."
Al Thawadi stuck to that theme as he insisted all fans would be welcome, but admitted: "Public displays of affection, regardless of sexual orientation, are not part of our culture and we ask people to respect that fact."