BBC Radio 4's 'How to Win the World Cup' explores how Qatar secured football's premier tournament in 2010, defying expectations for the tiny Gulf state. Investigative journalist David Conn traces the controversial bid from an infamous lunch at the Elysee Palace through the present day, examining the 2022 World Cup hosting decision that raised eyebrows across global football.

Qatar's bid seemed improbable given the nation had no suitable stadiums and faced extreme summer temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius. The solution required building seven new stadiums and massive infrastructure at enormous expense, shifting the tournament to November for milder conditions. Conn's investigation reveals the human rights concerns that emerged over the past decade.

The program questions what Qatar sought from hosting the world's biggest sporting event, probing the intersection of sport and power in the modern era. Conn, author of 'The Fall of the House of FIFA,' examines how this unlikely host nation transformed itself into a World Cup venue through unprecedented construction and financial commitment.

This investigation matters because it exposes how major sporting decisions are made and their lasting consequences. The story reveals uncomfortable truths about FIFA's bidding process and the price of hosting football's biggest prize, showing how sport reflects broader geopolitical ambitions rather than pure athletic competition.