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What the World Cup means for development of the world’s economy

Recent host country selections — South Africa in 2010, Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022 — shows a leaning towards rising economies but given increasing anti-globalisation, will they get the ball again?

Bangladeshi Argentina football fans watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia match during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football, in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 22 November
Bangladeshi Argentina football fans watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia match during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football, in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 22 November Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

Jim O’Neill, a former chair of Goldman Sachs Asset Management and a former UK treasury minister, is a member of the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development.

The 22nd World Cup is underway, but who at the beginning of this century would have thought it might be hosted by tiny Qatar? Yet here we are, and the only surprise is that it doesn’t feel all that surprising.

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