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How 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar transformed into a beacon of sporting hope amid a crippling pandemic!

2020 has not been the greatest of years for multiple reasons, with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the entire world to a standstill for the majority of the year.

Various sports, including football, have also suffered the brunt of the pandemic. Tournaments have been cancelled, delayed or cut short, with sporting calendars going for a toss.

Asian football also suffered. The internationals stood postponed, with the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers pushed back to 2021 The AFC Cup was scrapped for 2020. The fate of the AFC Champions League, with most of the group stages yet to be played, was unclear.