FIFA proposes adopting Arabic as an official language
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FIFA proposes making Arabic its fifth official language in the aftermath of the conclusion of FIFA's Arab Cup 2021, which was held in Qatar.
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This development comes as Qatar is in top gear to host the World Cup next year
December 18 is the UN's World Arabic Language Day and marked the culmination of the inaugural FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021.
In light of both these occasions, and in recognition of the Arabic language, which is spoken by almost half a billion people around the world, FIFA has proposed to make Arabic its fifth official language, after English, German, Spanish and French.
⚽ FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed that Arabic becomes the fifth official language of the world football organisation 👇https://t.co/QECDox21cU
— Doha News (@dohanews) December 19, 2021
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that this proposal stems "from long-term discussions with stakeholders in Qatar and those across the MENA region, and coincides with the conclusion of the FIFA Arab Cup, which successfully brought together 23 national teams in a celebration of football and unity across the Middle East and Arab world."
FIFA added that Mr. Infantino’s proposal is “in recognition of the importance of the Arabic language, which is spoken not only by the 450 million people that live in the more than 20 Arabic-speaking countries but also by millions of Arabs worldwide.”
This development comes as Qatar is in top gear to host the World Cup next year.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
