As Qatar counts down to the biggest moment in its sporting history, Abdelkarim Hassan—one of the leaders of its ‘golden generation’—believes that they are ready for the challenge of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
For nearly a million football fans, the first experience they will have of Qatar will be of Hamad International Airport. Regardless of which corner of the globe they will have set off from—or whether their hero’s name on the back of their shirt reads Kane, Mbappé or Messi—upon disembarking in Doha all of them will be walking through the sleek interiors of one of the most iconic airports in the world.
It is the embodiment of the modern face of Qatar, one that many will probably not expect, but one that is innovative, dynamic and forward-thinking. It was planned with the future in mind, a future that plays a vital role in the global aspirations of a country that, come kick-off time in November, will be at the centre of the sporting world. If first impressions count, then this is one hell of an impression to make.
As it turns out, Esquire’s first impression of Abdelkarim Hassan, also comes at Hamad International Airport. The slim, imposing figure walks towards our photography team with purpose, before introducing himself and breaking into a wide smile. He is deceptively tall and undeniably handsome with broad shoulders and a strong, defined jawline. He looks a little nervous, but his presence alone instantly commands the attention of the room.
I’ve learnt how to manage the pressure, and I try to use that experience to
Abdelkarim Hassan
help my teammates around me—especially the younger ones who have a lot of
pressure from the fans and the media. Sometimes they joke that I am more like
their father than a teammate!”
While it is clear that Abdelkarim Hassan is used to being in the spotlight, his level of humility ensures that he never seem entirely comfortable in it.
The left-sided defender is one of the leading stars in a ‘golden generation’ of Qatari footballers, and not only is he a serial winner with his club side Al Sadd SC, but he was instrumental in the national team’s triumph at the Asian Cup 2019, and was even voted Asia’s Best Player in 2018. Still only 28 years old, he has already represented Qatar more than 120 times, and is widely considered by fans as one of the country’s greatest ever players—although it is something that he would never say of himself.
“When I won the Asian Player of the Year, I was surprised,” says Abdelkarim. “Not because I didn’t think I deserved it, but because I am a defender and individual awards are normally given to strikers or playmakers,” he says. “I asked them to show me how they came to the decision, and they showed me all the statistics—I was top in a lot of them!” But, as any hungry professional athlete in the prime of his career, there is still a lot of things that Abdelkarim wants to achieve.
“One of my goals is to play in Europe. I not only want to test myself in the best leagues in the world, but I want to represent Qatar on that stage too, to show the world that we are just as good and can compete.”
Considering the size of the country, it is pretty remarkable that not only was Abdelkarim voted the best player in all of Asia, but the following year his countryman and teammate at Al Sadd, Akram Afif, also won the award. Both players are graduates from the Doha-based Aspire Academy, the sports academy created with goal to scout and help develop Qatari athletes—the system is currently responsible for 70 percent of the national team squad. By pretty much all metrics, the current Qatar team is considered to be the country’s ‘golden generation’ with so many above-average talents all playing at the same time.
In several other countries the tag has proved to be one too heavy to bear—we’re looking at you Belgium and England. For this Qatar team, however, the lofty expectations have already been smashed with not only that imperious victory at the Asian Cup, but strong showings during invitations to South America’s Copa America in Brazil in 2019, followed up by a semi-final place at the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer only losing to a late goal against the hosts USA.
“One of my teammates at Al Sadd, who wasn’t in the national team when we won the Asian Cup, told me that he can sense that the feeling around the players that won it is now different with regards to attention that we get from the media and the love from the fans,” explains Abdelkarim. “It is like each of us achieved something that the country is forever grateful for. But with that, always comes more pressure.” It’s not a surprise that Abdelkarim is one of the leaders of this generation. For more than a decade he has been one of the first names on the team sheet for both his club and country.
Abdelkarim’s rise
Having joined the Aspire Academy at 13 years old, his progress was so rapid that only three years later he became the youngest player to ever play for the national team. It was an incredible achievement considering he had yet to signed a professional contract with Al Sadd SC and was still enrolled in the academy.
“I remember going to my very first training session with the national team carrying my bag over my shoulder with my school uniform in it,” he laughs. To his friends and teammates, Abdelkarim is known as ‘Kimo’.
“It was a nickname that I was given when I was younger and part of the Aspire Academy,” he explains of the rough portmanteau of his first name. Having the team-focused mentality that he does, he has continued to wear it without question. “After a couple of years I was wondering what it actually meant, and someone told me it means ‘small fish’,” he laughs again. “I was, like, c’mon man!”
On the field, Kimo is anything but a small fish. With a reputation as a goal-scoring defender, he has already scored 15 international goals thanks to his fierce left foot, a collection of bullet headers and savant-esque positioning during attacking set pieces. But it is his role as an on-field leader that continues to stand out. A mature head on still young shoulders.
“The big difference with me now and ten years ago is my mindset,” he says. “Because I started so young, I had to grow up fast. I’ve learnt how to manage the pressure, and I try to use that experience to help my teammates around me— especially the younger ones who have a lot of pressure from the fans and the media.Sometimes they joke that I am more like their father than a teammate!”
Despite the big-game pressure of playing in the Asian Champions League final (which Al Sadd won in 2011) and crunch matches on the way to win four Qatar Stars League titles, the level will unquestionably go up a notch on November 21, 2022, for the opening game of the FIFA World Cup. There, 60,000 people will be packed into the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, and millions watching at home, for the country’s first ever World Cup match. A match that has been 12 years in preparation.
“I don’t really know what it will feel like when we take to the field and hear the national anthem play for the opening game,” answers Abdelkarim when asked if he has thought about that moment.
“Last year when we hosted the Arab Cup and played against Algeria in the semi-finals, I remember the stadium was sold out and there was such a buzz of excitement. I just closed my eyes and tried to be in the moment. I can only imagine it will be greater than that, considering the whole world will be watching us in the World Cup.”
Considering that Qatar has been meticulously preparing for the tournament since 2010 when FIFA announced that they would be the first ever country in the region to host the World Cup, things seem to be peaking at the right time. Going into a tournament, the expectations of the host nation are always inflated, but how far does the team expect itself to go?
“In the last World Cup, Russia were the hosts, and they qualified from the Group Stage. So I believe that should be our target,” says Abdelkarim confidently. “Before, when we played in the Asian Cup, we had a young team and we honestly went into the tournament not believing we would achieve anything. But we started to grow in confidence throughout the tournament and we beat Japan in the final. We had never beaten Japan before. Now we have had success, there truly is a sense of belief that we can do our nation proud in the World Cup.”
With the World Cup still six months away, a lot can change between now and then. But, come what may, by the time it is over and the world’s football fans return to their homes, it will not be a surprise to see more than a few of them walking through the departure gates at Hamad International Airport wearing the Qatari maroon kit with the name ‘Abdelkarim’ written on the back.
Photography: Daniel Asater
Fashion and Styling: Nour Bou Ezz
Location: Hamad International Airport, Doha