Soccer Extreme : Former Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane said Thursday he was "upset" that Spain and Portugal's joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup had failed but was "very pleased" with the choice of Qatar to host the tournament in 2022.The French footballer of Algerian origin, who acted as an ambassador for Qatar's bid, said holding the football tournament in the Gulf state was a sign that "the Arab world is emerging".
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"In the case of Spain the decision upset me a bit," he added in comments to Spanish media in Zurich where the choice of host nations for the tournaments were announced. FIFA selected Russia as the host for the 2018 World Cup.
Zidane, a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, retired from football after the 2006 World Cup in which he was sent off in the final won by Italy.