AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Ibrahim Al-Ghanim, a former Qatar nationwide soccer staff defender, was dressed like 1000’s of different native males as he rushed to his seat by way of a major lobby at Al Bayt Stadium.He wore the standard thobe — the long-sleeve, floor-length white gown — and got here to rejoice Qatar’s nationwide staff on Tuesday in its last match on the World Cup.“We’re all right here to assist Qatar and the staff, and to take pleasure in it,” Al-Ghanim mentioned. “After all, no Qatari anticipated to win the World Cup.”Al-Ghanim prompt not utilizing the World Cup because the barometer. He pointed to Qatar successful the 2019 Asian Cup, beating Japan within the last.“We’ve got had success, however that is larger,” he mentioned. “We’re progressing.”Qatar misplaced Tuesday’s match towards the Netherlands 2-0. Qatar misplaced all three of its group video games, scored just one aim, and was eradicated from its personal event even earlier than this last recreation.Qatari followers applauded courteously on the finish, some held up banners expressing assist, and one group displayed an indication in English with the Arabic phrase for “thanks” thrown in.“Win or Lose — Shukran,” it learn.Qatar was the primary host nation to lose its opening match, and solely the second to be eradicated from the group stage. However that was not the principle level. Merely having the World Cup — the primary within the Center East — was the main target.Qatar has a inhabitants of three million, however solely about one in 10 is Qatari. Staff — each expert and unskilled — come from everywhere in the world.Throngs got here sporting Qatar’s colours, kids wore “I like Qatar” shirts, and a person on stilts carried out close to the VIP entrance.“We’re right here to assist the staff and say goodbye,” mentioned Ramzy Dabbous, a Lebanon-born chef who has lived in Qatar for 12 years.He carried a maroon and white Qatar flag in a single hand with a big flag masking his again.He additionally wore an orange sweater.“I additionally just like the Netherlands soccer,” he mentioned.Prathik Venkatesh was born in Qatar and has lived within the nation most of his life. However his roots are in India and he research in america.“I’m not Qatari, however I used to be born right here and dwell right here since I used to be a child,” mentioned Venkatesh, additionally draped in Qatar’s maroon and white colours.Prem Lama, a Nepalese who mentioned he has labored for 19 years in Qatar, and his daughter, Avilasha, have been additionally saturated in Qatar colours.“I like soccer,” Avilasha defined. “And it’s the World Cup in Qatar.”And possibly the final for a very long time.___