Hyundai opens FIFA Museum in Qatar as part of ‘Goal of the Century’ campaign

MANILA: Hyundai Motor Company yesterday opened the FIFA Museum presented by Hyundai at the FIFA Fan Festival in Doha, Qatar as part of its FIFA World Cup 2022 “Goal of the Century” campaign. The FIFA Museum's special exhibition, which opened with the theme “Goals Create History,” remembers the greatest moments and goals in FIFA World Cup history.

The FIFA Museum was established by Hyundai using the rammed earth construction method, which enables the building's facade to revert to nature without producing waste as it decomposes. For the building and exhibition, Hyundai worked in partnership with the design firms UK-based architectural consulting group Grimshaw and Germany-based design agency Uniplan. The use of recyclable materials in the interior emphasized the “Goal of the Century” initiative's commitment to environmental responsibility. The exterior also represents the combining of football field goal posts into one, symbolizing teamwork and unity in pursuit of the “Goal of the Century.”

The Jules Rimet Cup, the original FIFA World Cup Trophy between 1930 and 1970, is now on display at the regular viewing section throughout the entire duration of the exhibition.  Aside from the famous “Rainbow of Shirts” display featuring the uniforms of all 32 qualified national teams, there are also special exhibits honoring each FIFA World Cup since 1930, each of which showcases authentic items and the stories behind them. There are also screenings of the eight-minute film “The Final.”  The exhibition also features Team Century's signed campaign jerseys as well as signages that illustrate each member's interpretation of their greatest “Goal.”

Hyundai Motor India, Middle East, and Africa Strategic Region Executive Vice President Unsoo Kim and former Korean national football team captain and Team Century member Jisung Park graced the museum's opening ceremony along with FIFA Museum Managing Director Marco Fazzone and three official FIFA Museum Ambassadors, Italy's 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta, Uruguay’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner Diego Forland, and Switzerland’s goalkeeper legend Pascal Zuberbuhler.

“We are delighted and very excited to welcome football fans from all around the world in our exhibition in Doha during the FIFA World Cup 2022 to be able to connect, engage and share the magic of football together. Thanks to Hyundai, once again we celebrate football heritage and culture together with the world for the third time in the past four years in the host country during a major World Cup tournament. It will be another big milestone for the FIFA Museum and we can´t wait to open our doors as part of the FIFA Fan Festival,” Fazzone stated.

“Sustainability is another goal Hyundai and FIFA envision together,” Kim said. “Through football’s power of unity, we believe our world can come together under the theme of sustainability, to drive changes for a better tomorrow.”

Hyundai also unveiled “The Greatest Goal” by Italian contemporary artist Lorenzo Quinn. Hyundai collaborated with Quinn to produce this work of art that was inspired by the shared aspiration of football fans for a sustainable world. The sculpture's official unveiling was graced by Quinn and Kim, along with global football charity Common Goal Co-Founder Jurgen Griesbeck and Team Century members, including Denmark national team member and surgeon Nadia Nadim, former Oman national football team player Ali Al-Habsi, and Boston Dynamics' Spot quadruped robot.

The enormous sculpture, which measures 7.7 meters high by 18.25 meters wide and is about three times the size of soccer goalposts, resembles a gigantic frame that is encapsulated by two hands holding onto one another. It represents the objective of the “Goal of the Century” initiative, which is to create “A united world for sustainability.”

Quinn used recycled steel mesh to create “The Greatest Goal,” which has more than 70,000 weld points. A recycled steel globe covered in living layers of foliage is the centerpiece of the sculpture. The globe's placement right on the goal line symbolizes Hyundai's commitment to achieving its ultimate “goal,” which is to bring people together to create a sustainable future. In order to showcase this concept, Team Century members, along with Kim and Griesbeck, worked together to finish the artwork by each adding a layer of foliage to the globe.

It was important to Hyundai and Quinn that the country hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022 gets involved in the sculpture's creation. Local Qatari fishermen hand-weave the sculpture using traditional techniques, and a recycled linen-based net was used to finish it off. This process combined traditional and contemporary sculpture techniques and served as the perfect metaphor for establishing a united world for sustainability.

“We may not yet be where we need to be, but in pledging to change we are taking a step closer to scoring the world’s greatest goal of making a difference together. The most important thing in achieving a united world for sustainability is harmony with our environment and everything that surrounds us. Humankind needs to work hand-in-hand to achieve one goal of sustainability, and this narrative is in line with the meaning of this sculpture,” Quinn stated.

A campaign video to celebrate the finale of the “Goal of the Century” will also be aired as an advertisement in-between FIFA World Cup 2022 matches. The video, which is narrated by Team Century captain Steven Gerrard, conveys an uplifting message that if everyone unites towards one goal, a sustainable world can be achieved. The video also features Team Century members BTS and Spot, along with the Hyundai Ioniq all-electric vehicle lineup to create a big wave of “Goal of the Century.”

Hyundai launched the Goal of the Century (GOTC) World Cup campaign in April with the help of Team Century, a group of ambassadors who support various environmental and social sustainability initiatives throughout 2022. Since then, the company has participated in various events, hosting the “Hyundai Goal of the Century Pledge” event and collaborating with BTS to release the World Cup Campaign Song, “Yet to Come (Hyundai Ver. ).” Additionally, Hyundai will provide 616 fleet vehicles for the FIFA World Cup 2022. There will be 446 passenger vehicles in the fleet, 226 of which are hybrid electric and battery electric models.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Company

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