Politics student and FIFA World Cup Ambassador Ghanim ready for tournament kick-off in Qatar

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be kicking off in Qatar in just five days. Politics student Ghanim al-Muftah was proudly selected as one of the Ambassadors for the tournament and is determined to use this responsibility to promote solidarity and peace.

Ghanim suffers with caudal regression syndrome, an extremely rare disorder that prevents development of the lower half of the body. But that doesn’t stop him inspiring others with his positivity and ability to make the most of opportunities.

“I look at the FIFA tournament as a unique opportunity to resolve differences peacefully, coming together supporting each other’s prosperity, it is a celebration of diversity with an overarching principle of sportsmanship and mutual respect. The post-pandemic world is very different from the one we used to live in, we all have learned from this crisis that we need more solidarity, within and among societies. Only in this joint effort can we overcome present and future conflicts. Within my capacities as a FWC ambassador, I want to send a message of hope, inclusivity, peace, and unity for humanity.”

To find out more about Ghanim's experience as an ambassador, explore FIFA's official news coverage including their episode of Living Football which includes a feature on Ghanim. 

When discussing plans and motivations for the future, Ghanim continues to strive to make change and fuse together the knowledge gained from his Politics degree and his real-world experiences to continue to push boundaries and make a difference.

“Today, many of the world’s 1 billion disabled women and men still struggle to overcome barriers blocking their human rights and inclusion in societies. Despite existing legal frameworks at the international, national and local levels, millions of disabled people remain marginalized, lacking access to work, fair treatment and basic services such as health care and education.

In my future I pledge to always support efforts to raise awareness and advocate for the importance of including a disability perspective in the political discussions. I hope to help raise public awareness on disability rights; foster respect for disabled persons and though the process promotes more inclusive and tolerant societies.”

To find out more about Ghanim’s Loughborough journey, click here