Doha: Social media personalities from across the globe descended on Doha this week for the Influencer Cup – a competition organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), powered by Qatar Airways and supported by Visit Qatar.
Twenty-nine football influencers competed in matches at Stadium 974, one of eight FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament venues. The influencers were split into four five-a-side teams representing different regions: Asia, Middle East and North Africa, the Americas and Europe. They benefitted from top-level coaching from Qatar Legacy Ambassadors, Cafu, Ronald de Boer and Tim Cahill – who all appeared at multiple World Cups.
The competition, which was won by Team Americas, featuring Argentinians Morena Beltran and Markito Navaja, Mexican Werevertumorro, US influencers DJ Diveny and Michael Bolvin, and Brazilian trio Caio Lo, Vitor Lo and Ale Xavier, was organised to showcase everything Qatar has to offer through the eyes of highly-engaged influencers who boast millions of followers worldwide.
Caio Lo was top scorer in the tournament, while other high-profile participants included Billy Wingrove, Sean Garnier, Mo Ali Haydarpour and Bashar Arabi.
Omani football freestyler, Mohammed Al Noufali, said: “It was a wonderful experience. It was amazing to play at a World Cup stadium. The World Cup feels so close – it’s so exciting for everyone. The 2022 World Cup is a tournament you cannot miss. It’s the first World Cup to be hosted by a Middle East and Arab country. Whether you love football or not, you have to visit Qatar. It will be unforgettable. This is an opportunity for all Arab countries – and a chance for tourists from all over the world to visit Qatar and learn about Arab culture and heritage.”
DJ Diveny, street footballer and freestyler from the US, said: “I’m really excited to be here and to share the love of football. This event shows football unites us and is inclusive, and that’s what I love about it the most.”
He continued: “I would tell fans, especially those from the United States, that it’s amazing out here. Qatar is beautiful, the people are friendly, the stadium is fantastic and where we stayed was awesome. So, everyone back home, check it out, because it’s cool.”
Khalid Al Naama, the SC’s Digital Media Director, said: “We are pleased to welcome such a diverse group of influencers to Qatar for this competition. We see this as a golden opportunity to showcase our country’s readiness for the FIFA World Cup and build excitement ahead of the tournament.”
Khaled Al Suwaidi, the SC’s Stakeholder Relations Director, said: “We have worked closely with Qatar Airways and Visit Qatar to organise the Influencer Cup. Both organisations have played a key role in showcasing Qatar’s image to the world and driving engagement ahead of the World Cup. I would like to thank them for helping to organise a successful event which shows Qatar is open and welcoming to everyone.”
