Qatar faces up to World Cup challenges

That question is not normally heard at lunchtime in Islamic Qatar but the drinks flowed freely while FIFA's inspection team toured Doha this week to evaluate the country's chances of hosting the 2022 World Cup.

The tiny Gulf Arab state is eager to display a liberal and welcoming image to inspectors and media, though its $4 billion bid for the tournament has been dismissed by many as unrealistic given its conservative social mores and lack of football culture.

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