Decoding Differences

Fahad Ahmad Khan, Qatar

Fahad Ahmad Khan, 19, was born and raised in Qatar. He has played football since a young age and finished high school in 2022. An experienced debater, he was a regular competitor in Qatar Foundation’s “QatarDebate” (the national debating championship) winning the QatarDebate Grand Final Championship twice. As part of the GOALS program, Fahad tells his story of how football helped him integrate into Qatari society and how football can build bridges between people.

Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup has raised so many questions across the world. Is football popular in Qatar? Why does Qatar even care about football? Is the 2022 FIFA World Cup going to be a disaster?

While these concerns may be genuine, they paint a picture of Qatar that is very far from our reality. There are so many sides to Qatar and Qatari football that are often not discussed. The stereotype of Qatar being a small, reclusive country with very little opportunities for expats, workers, and tourists is unfair.

I was born and raised in Qatar. My family moved to Qatar in 2002 from India. Back then Qatar was nothing like it is today. The exponential development in just 20 years is unparalleled.

My earliest memory of football was at the age of six. We lived in a residential compound, which meant there were a lot of different families living nearby. Fortunately, that meant plenty of other children with whom I could make friends!

There was, however, a downside; I was the only Indian in the compound, and I did not speak Arabic. I felt like it was almost impossible for me to approach the other children and make friends with them.

But, there was one language that we all spoke, one that could break through all the roadblocks and barriers in communication, and that was the language of football! Our shared love for the sport of football was enough to transcend all linguistic boundaries.

I can remember one sunny afternoon watching other kids play football. I slowly built up the courage to approach them and asked if I could join in. When the words failed, I gesticulated. It helped that I also had a football with me. They let me play; I was so excited. This game with these children became a daily routine. I could hardly communicate with them, but it was the most exciting part of my day. I had made friends, and every day after school we played football wherever we could.

Our main pitch was a narrow but long strip of concrete road, between parked cars and houses. The road was dusty, and uneven, but a joy to play on. There were always different groups of kids of all ages doing different activities. It was always noisy like a stadium with fans cheering. And the air was filled with the aroma of delicious food from the houses.

After football, we would have lunch at a nearby cafeteria while we watched cartoons and movies. In the process, I started to pick up some Arabic. When I was bullied by kids twice my age for not speaking Arabic, my football friends would stand up for me, and they made me feel that I belonged with them.

Until the age of 13, I just wanted to play football. I was not even interested in watching a big team, I just wanted to play. However, one night, that changed.

I was playing video games with my friends, and they convinced me to watch a game with them. That game was the Champions League Final in 2016 between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. I remember watching it and thinking that this was one of the most intense games of football ever played! We were feeling the intensity as the game headed to penalties. Even the penalties were level until Cristiano Ronaldo had the opportunity to score the final penalty and win the biggest trophy in the world.

That was the moment I fell in love with watching football. Ronaldo, with zero hesitation or pressure, smashed the ball past the keeper into the back of the net and won the match, sending millions of fans around the world celebrating.

From that day on, I have closely followed Cristiano Ronaldo's career, which has had a significant impact on my life. I admire his on-field qualities of leadership, confidence, teamwork, perseverance, hard work. Off the field his gratitude, philanthropy, kindness, and speaking against the human rights violations in Syria has inspired me and shaped me into the person I am today.

Football in Qatar is something that played a significant role throughout my childhood and to this day. To many residents and citizens of Qatar, football is a lifestyle. It is a part of our culture and central to our lives. This could quite evidently be seen in the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 when Qatar became the host to people from many Middle Eastern countries.

It was basically a trailer for the actual FIFA World Cup.

Even those who had severed ties with Qatar in the recent past were treated and hosted in the best manner. I witnessed an older man from Saudi Arabia proudly waving his flag in the tunnels of the stadium, letting those around him take photos.

Later, he invited fans of different Arab countries to join him in singing a wonderful anthem of brotherhood, which highlighted that we are all one, despite our differences, borders, and opinions. We are one, and we are brothers!

The anthem was sung beautifully, which complemented the overall atmosphere and energy of the fans in the stadium. It almost felt like hearing your country's national anthem after a tremendous victory. It gave me goosebumps. This was truly a beautiful sight I wish everyone could see.

I also came across a football mega-fan, proudly wearing all the badges and mementos he has collected over the years watching football in different parts of the world. For him, football has been a major and integral part of his life.

I am also an experienced competitive debater, which is really a discreet way of telling stories. A lot of my debate motions have been catered towards athletes, their freedom to express their political or ideological stances on and off the pitch, and fair play rules in football. Having a long and deep relationship with football allows me to think critically and break down intricate arguments.

Similarly, I have also incorporated debating into my love for football, whether it is predicting matches or comparing individual football players. I try to see things more clearly without personal biases.

Football, especially here in Qatar, has helped me decode differences, it builds bridges over barriers, and unifies diverse people. Football in Qatar has proven to be a language that knows no borders.

With my photos I tried to show what football was like for me growing up, where and how most residents of Qatar play, and the overall football culture in Qatar.

My story is the story of falling in love with this sport through the culture of football in Qatar. I have grown up living and breathing football in Qatar and this is my message to football fans and experts around the world.

I hope the world changes its view of footballing culture in the Arab world.

My dream is that Qatar will become the Mecca of football outside of Europe.