Qatar hailed the decision to award it the 2022 World Cup on Thursday as a victory over misconceptions about the country's bid.
The Gulf state was initially seen as an exotic outsider, regarded as too small and hot to stage the tournament.
It will now become the smallest country to host the World Cup after convincing FIFA that its plans to build carbon-neutral air-conditioned stadiums to combat the searing summer heat are viable.
Thanking FIFA for their "bold vision", bid committee chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani said: "We started off being written off, the unconventional bid, the bid that nobody saw coming, that nobody thought had a chance to win."
"As you can recall, there were several tournaments with similar climates to Qatar but because of the misconceptions, it was difficult to combat those, to prove ourselves on the world stage," he said.
"One of the most important was Qatar cannot do it because Qatar is too hot."
Asked about terrorism and security, with the questioner citing an attack in Uganda on the day of this year's World Cup final, he drew applause by responding: "It's worth pointing out that Uganda is not in the Middle East."
"It's very important to have faith as FIFA did when they went to South Africa in 2010 and it's important to get beyond these perceptions."
He said that another misconception was that women in the Middle East were not allowed to play football, adding that Qatar was setting up a professional women's championship.
"The perception that women are oppressed is another wrong perception," he said.
"We will deliver with passion and make sure this is a milestone in the history of the Middle East and a milestone for FIFA.
He added: "This is a statement of trust, of loyalty to the game."
"On behalf of millions of people in the Middle East, thank you for believing in us, thank you for having such bold vision. I can promise we will not let you down."
"Most importantly (for the people of the Middle East), rather than watching a World Cup overseas across thousands of miles, its finally at their door....finally being recognised by FIFA as an integral part by FIFA of the footballing world.
"To FIFA, thank you for acknowledging this is the right time for the Middle East, we have a date with history," he said.