أحمد خليل: الحضور العربي القياسي في المونديال امتداد لإرث قطر 2022

يستعد العالم العربي لخوض مشاركة تاريخية في كأس العالمFIFA 2026 ™️، بعد تأهل ثمانية منتخبات عربية إلى المحفل الكروي الأكبر، في رقم قياسي غير مسبوق للمنطقة.

ويضم هذا الحضور العربي التاريخي منتخبات قطر والسعودية والأردن والعراق ومصر والجزائر والمغرب وتونس، التي ضمنت تأهلها إلى النهائيات بعد مشوار مميز في التصفيات.

وتشهد النسخة المقبلة من البطولة، التي تستضيفها الولايات المتحدة وكندا والمكسيك، مشاركة 48 منتخبًا للمرة الأولى في تاريخ كأس العالم. وفي ظل هذا التوسع، سجلت المنتخبات العربية حضورًا غير مسبوق يعكس التطور الذي شهدته كرة القدم العربية خلال السنوات الأخيرة.

ولا يرى نجم حراسة المرمى القطرية السابق أحمد خليل في هذا الرقم مجرد إحصاء عابر، بل يقرأ فيه نتيجة لمسيرة طويلة من العمل والتطوير شملت مختلف الجوانب، وأسهمت في تعزيز تنافسية المنتخبات العربية على الساحة الدولية.

وقال خليل في حديث مع اللجنة المحلية المنظمة لأحداث كرة القدم: تواجد ثمانية منتخبات عربية في كأس العالم شرف حقيقي للكرة العربية، لكنني أتمنى ألا يبقى هذا الحضور تشريفيًا، بل أن نشهد منافسة فعلية وحقيقية من جميع هذه المنتخبات داخل مجموعاتها.

وأكد خليل، الذي خاض تجارب دولية واسعة مع المنتخب القطري، أن ما تحقق اليوم جاء ثمرة جهود متواصلة على مختلف المستويات، مضيفًا: المستوى الفني ارتفع، والبنية الإدارية تطورت، والدعم المادي توسّع. وصول ثمانية منتخبات عربية إلى هذه المرحلة دليل على نجاح منظومة متكاملة، تضم المسؤولين والاتحادات والأجهزة الفنية معًا.

ويأتي هذا الحضور العربي القياسي بعد سنوات شهدت خلالها كرة القدم العربية تطورًا لافتًا، تزامنًا مع استضافة قطر لبطولة كأس العالم FIFA قطر 2022™️، التي شكّلت محطة مفصلية في تاريخ اللعبة بالمنطقة، وأسهمت في إبراز قدرات العالم العربي على تنظيم أكبر الأحداث الرياضية العالمية. كما شهدت البطولة إنجازًا تاريخيًا تمثل في بلوغ المنتخب المغربي الدور نصف النهائي، في أول إنجاز من نوعه لمنتخب عربي وأفريقي في تاريخ كأس العالم.

وفي السياق ذاته، ربط خليل هذا التحول بالأثر الممتد لاستضافة قطر لكأس العالم 2022، معتبرًا إياها نقطة تحول فارقة في مسار كرة القدم العربية: قطر أثبتت للعالم أن المنطقة العربية قادرة على تنظيم أرقى البطولات الكبرى بتميز، وتمتلك مواهب كروية متألقة. وما شهدناه بعد 2022 من ارتقاء في مستوى المنتخبات العربية ليس مصادفة، بل انعكاس مباشر لتلك التجربة الاستثنائية.

وعن تطلعاته للمنتخب القطري تحديدًا، أبدى خليل ثقة واضحة في قدرة العنابي على الظهور بالمستوى المعهود في المنافسات الكبرى، مشيرًا إلى أن اللعب الجماعي والروح القتالية والانتماء للمنتخب تبقى ركائز أساسية لا غنى عنها في مثل هذه المحافل.

واختتم خليل حديثه بالتأكيد على أهمية البناء على هذا الزخم العربي المتنامي، معربًا عن أمله في أن تشكل المشاركة التاريخية في كأس العالم FIFA 2026™️ خطوة جديدة نحو ترسيخ حضور المنتخبات العربية كمنافس حقيقي على الساحة العالمية، وفتح آفاق أوسع أمام الأجيال العربية القادمة.

وبينما تستعد المنتخبات العربية لخوض منافسات كأس العالم FIFA 2026™️، تواصل قطر من خلال اللجنة العليا للمشاريع والإرث الإسهام في البطولة من خلال تعاون قائم مع الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (FIFA) لمشاركة الخبرات والمعارف التي اكتسبتها خلال استضافة كأس العالم FIFA قطر 2022™️، في امتدادٍ للإرث الذي تركته البطولة على المستويين الإقليمي والعالمي.

وفي وقت لاحق من هذا العام، تستعد قطر مجددًا لاحتضان العالم من جديد، عبر استضافة النسخة الثانية من خمس نسخ متتالية لكأس العالم FIFA تحت 17 عامًا™، وذلك خلال الفترة من 19 نوفمبر إلى 13 ديسمبر.

وللحصول على أحدث المعلومات حول الفعاليات الكروية المقبلة، يرجى متابعة الحساب الرسمي @RoadtoQatar على عبر مختلف منصات التواصل الاجتماعي.

Mexico City: FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to face the media on the eve of the World Cup on Wednesday, as off-field distractions dogged the build-up to the tournament. slot-chickenroad.org

Infantino is likely to face tough questions about sky-high ticket prices and an immigration crackdown that has seen a top referee, fans and team officials barred from co-hosts the United States.

The head of world football's governing body will give a rare press conference in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico play South Africa on Thursday in the opening match at the Estadio Azteca.

The 2026 men's World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams and is the biggest and most ambitious in the event's history, with matches also taking place in Canada.

But the refusal of US immigration authorities to allow Somali referee Omar Artan, one of Africa's leading match officials, into the country underlined fears that Donald Trump's immigration policy could leave deep scars on the football extravaganza.

Artan said the "biggest dream of my life" had been ripped away after he was turned back at the US border.

"I am very, very disappointed," Artan told The New York Times.

"I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."

Artan, who was named the 2025 men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, would have been the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup.

He said he was subjected to an 11-hour interview with border officials at Miami International Airport and then detained for several further hours in a holding cell before being put on a flight back to Turkey.

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," he added -- an assertion confirmed to AFP by a Somali government advisor.

A US State Department official alleged to AFP that the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations", therefore "making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States".

Artan returned to a hero's welcome in Mogadishu and vowed to take part in the next tournament in 2030.

"I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud... Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged," Artan told more than 100 supporters and journalists at Mogadishu's main airport.

Meanwhile, concerns were rising that the curtainraiser in Mexico City could be disrupted by social unrest.

Protesters Tuesday blocked an avenue leading to the Estadio Azteca although lines of police prevented the demonstrators from reaching the stadium.

Thousands took part in the demonstration following a week of action that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a "provocation."

Sheinbaum has said that the opening match was "guaranteed," though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.

Messi sparkles on return

On the pitch, Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi scored moments after coming off the bench on Tuesday to dispel any injury doubts and help the holders win their final warm-up game.

The 38-year-old Messi had not featured for Argentina in the build-up to their title defence after injuring a hamstring playing for Inter Miami in late May.

He was introduced as a substitute with 20 minutes left to huge acclaim from a capacity 88,000 crowd against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, and his clever through ball played in Lautaro Martinez, who was fouled in the box.

Messi, who drove Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar four years ago and is set to feature in his sixth World Cup, lashed in the penalty to help the reigning champions ease to a 3-0 win.

Argentina's first match is on June 16, against Algeria in Kansas City.

Along with Spain, France and England, Argentina are among the favourites to win the title.

Messi is set to feature in his sixth World Cup.

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا) استبعاد الحكم الصومالي عمر عرتن من إدارة مباريات كأس العالم نتيجة منعه من دخول الولايات المتحدة.
حيث كان من المقرر أن يصبح أول حكم من بلاده يدير مباريات في كأس العالم ..وقال متحدث باسم فيفا: الاتحاد الدولي لا يملك أي سلطة للتأثير على القرار، موضحا أن ذلك يعود حصرا إلى الدول المضيفة للبطولة، وفي مقدمتها الولايات المتحدة.ولم يتضح على الفور سبب قرار سلطات مطار ميامي الدولي منع عرتن من دخول الولايات المتحدة، لكن الصومال من بين دول عدة مدرجة على قائمة حظر السفر التي أقرتها إدارة الرئيس دونالد ترامب.

By David Hunt, Sported Coaching

There are few better ways to start the day than an early morning open-water swim.

Recently, while spending time in Portugal, I headed down to the beach before breakfast for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Standing on the shoreline, I knew it was going to be a cold one. The sand beneath my feet felt chilly and the sea temperature was around 16°C.

The first few moments were exactly what you would expect – a sharp intake of breath, a racing heartbeat and a brief debate with myself about whether this was actually a good idea. Let's get the big muscle groups working and try and get warm as quickly as possible.

A few minutes later, however, I was swimming comfortably through crystal-clear water with the dramatic Algarve coastline behind me, under a deep blue sky. It was invigorating, refreshing and a reminder of why so many athletes are drawn to open-water swimming.

The Reality of Cold-Water Swimming

Many triathletes from the UAE are used to swimming in warm water for most of the year. The Atlantic Ocean can come as quite a shock.

Cold water places additional demands on the body. Muscles take longer to warm up, breathing can feel restricted during the first few minutes and staying comfortable becomes much more dependent on having the right equipment.

The good news is that with sensible preparation, cold-water swimming can be both safe and enjoyable.

Choosing the Right Wetsuit

Your wetsuit is your first layer of protection against the cold. A quality triathlon wetsuit will comfortably handle water temperatures down to approximately 12°C for most swimmers.

For colder conditions, thermal wetsuits provide additional insulation through specialised inner linings that help retain body heat. The additional warmth can be particularly valuable during longer training sessions or endurance events.

The trade-off is that thermal suits can feel slightly heavier than traditional wetsuits, particularly around the shoulders, but many swimmers consider this a worthwhile compromise. Personally fatigue sets in earlier in a thermal suit through a combination of the cold and the heavier suit.

Don't Forget Your Extremities

One lesson from my recent swim was how quickly your extremities lose heat. Despite swimming continuously for approximately 45 minutes and covering around 2km, my feet remained cold throughout the session.

If you regularly swim in colder water, consider adding:

Thermal Swim Cap

A neoprene swim cap or skull cap helps reduce heat loss and can make a noticeable difference to overall comfort.

Thermal Gloves

Cold hands can quickly become numb, affecting both comfort and confidence in the water. Thermal gloves help maintain warmth and dexterity during longer swims.

Thermal Swim Boots

For many swimmers, feet are the most difficult area to keep warm. Thermal swim boots can significantly improve comfort and extend the amount of time you can comfortably spend in the water.

Safety First

No matter how experienced you are, safety must always come first in open water.

A year ago, I experienced a very close encounter with a high-speed motorboat that simply failed to see me, and my colleagues, in the water. Since then, visibility has become one of my highest priorities whenever I swim outdoors.

Wear a Brightly Coloured Swim Cap

Bright colours such as orange, yellow, red or fluorescent pink stand out against the sea and make you much easier to spot.

Dark colours may look stylish but are surprisingly difficult for boat users to see.

Always Use a Tow Float

A brightly coloured tow float is one of the simplest and most effective pieces of open-water safety equipment available.

Not only does it improve visibility, but it can also carry essentials such as:

• Mobile phone (in a waterproof pouch)
• Nutrition
• Hydration
• Car keys and valuables

It also provides something to hold onto should you need a brief rest during a long swim.

Respect the Conditions

The Algarve coastline is stunning, but conditions can change quickly. Even on calm days, currents, swell and wind can create challenges that are not immediately obvious from the shore.

Before every swim:

• Check local conditions and tides
• Swim with others whenever possible
• Tell somebody where you are going
• Stay within your ability level
• Build exposure gradually

Cold-water adaptation takes time.

Why It's Worth It

There is something uniquely satisfying about completing a cold-water swim.

The combination of physical challenge, mental focus and connection with nature creates an experience that is difficult to replicate in a swimming pool.

Whether you are training for your next triathlon, preparing for an open-water event or simply looking for a new adventure, cold-water swimming offers an entirely different dimension to the sport.

Just remember: stay visible, stay warm and respect the conditions.

The Atlantic might be cold, but that's part of the attraction.

By David Hunt certified tribute coach