Qatar's emir thanked Vladimir Putin on Thursday for what he said was Russia's support organizing the upcoming World Cup. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also lauded Russia's hosting of the soccer tournament in 2018. "After Russia made a great success in organizing the 2018 World Cup, Russian friends have provided great support to Qatar, especially in terms of organization, with the organizing committee of the 2022 World Cup," the emir said. "We thank you for this and we are proud of this relationship.
This will continue until the end of the World Cup. I am very happy to see you, Mr. President. Thank you." The Russian president wished Qatar success in hosting this year's event, which starts on Nov.
20. "We are also doing everything we can in terms of transferring the experience of preparing for the World Cup, you know this, we just had the opportunity to talk about it with you," Putin said. "I would like to wish you success in holding this major event.
I'm sure that it will be [a success]." Neither leader specified how exactly Russia had helped Qatar, the first Arab country to host the World Cup.