In a historic conclusion to two years of frenzied lobbying, world football chief Sepp Blatter revealed the surprise winners following a secret ballot of 22 FIFA executive committee members in Zurich.
The announcement means the World Cup will be staged in two countries which have never hosted the event before following the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
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Qatar puts Middle East football on world map, says official
DOHA: Qatar, the tiny energy-rich Gulf Arab country that was picked on Thursday to host the 2022 World Cup, has placed Middle East football "on the world map," the head of its Olympic Committee said.
Thousands of people converged on the corniche and other public areas in Doha in an outburst of joy after the announcement in Zurich that Qatar would play host to football's showpiece event, a first for an Arab or Muslim country.
"Qatar places the Middle East (football) on the world map," Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the country's Al-Jazeera television.
Shortly before the announcement, Sheikh Saud had said "we won the challenge to compete with the big countries."
In winning, the Qataris saw off bids by the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia.
Boos, jeers as Australia misses out on 2022 World Cup
Cheers and singing rang around the foreshore before the announcement, with confidence high, but there were tears and looks of devastation as the bid went to Qatar.
"Soccer is dead to me," Jeremy Tom, 26, told AFP. "What a rort (scam). Who goes to Qatar to watch the world game? It's a joke."
"I can't believe it," Sydney mother Angela Souris said, wiping back tears.
"We had such a strong bid."
The live site was deserted minutes after the decision was unveiled, as downcast fans trudged home.
Former Socceroos captain Paul Wade said the decision came as a shock because Australia's bid was superior to its rivals.
"Well we are sore losers," he said.
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