Qatar has invested huge financial resources in preparations for the World Cup. The total amount is officially 220 billion dollars, but according to some estimates it reaches up to 300 billion dollars. The statistics say that much has been spent in the 12 years since Qatar won the confidence to host the 2022 World Cup.

Qatar's investment is at least 16 times that of the previous host country, Russia. The total cost is more than three times the previous cost of all eight 1990 World Cups.

The previous highest budget was $19,1 billion, which Brazil spent in 2014, while South Africa allocated just $4,9 billion. Thus, Brazil spent eleven times less than Qatar, and the Republic of South Africa forty-five times less.

The data was shared by BBC editor and well-known journalist Ron Atkins on Twitter, and similar data can be found in other sources. Qatar's costs are huge, even for a rich Middle Eastern country that "lies" on oil and gas deposits.