What You Should Not Forget About The Qatar 2022 World Cup: The Concerning Issue Behind Its Grandeur

Qatar made history by becoming the first Middle Eastern nation to host what is arguably the biggest sporting event in the world thanks to its successful World Cup bid in 2010. The World Cup will be held in the Middle East and an Arab nation for the first time ever. As a result, there were also expectations that the tournament would be remembered by local teams as a historic one.

The decision to give Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup has, however, been marred by controversy ever since it was first announced 12 years ago, including allegations of corruption and human rights breaches. Even though the event is almost done, there are still some crucial lessons to learn from this divisive international meeting.

Rumors and suspicions have long surrounded the 2010 decision by FIFA's executive to give both the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and the 2018 World Cup to Russia. In an indictment filed in 2020, prosecutors presented formal, direct accusations relating both tournaments. However, claims made by the US Department of Justice that bribes were paid to secure votes when the hosting rights for the competition were awarded have been categorically refuted by the 2022 World Cup organizers.

Qatar is also the smallest country ever to host the World Cup, a complicated international sporting event that attracts a lot of spectators and needs the necessary infrastructure to handle them. Since winning the right to host the FIFA World CupTM, Qatar has completed significant infrastructure projects, including the construction of a modern metro system with 37 station stops, a modern rail network, and numerous labor reforms. 

They were built by the country's large population of migrant laborers, who account for 90% or more of the labor force. However, a 2021 investigation by the Guardian found that since 2010, more than 6,500 migrant laborers from five countries in south Asia had died in Qatar from all causes, including heat-related deaths, workplace accidents, auto accidents, suicides, and deaths from other causes.

Concerns about violations of human rights extend beyond how migrant workers are handled. Qatar has guardianship laws that, like those in Saudi Arabia, restricting women's autonomy over some elements of their health care, including employment and education, without the approval of male family members. Adult men cannot engage in consensual sex in Qatar without breaking the law, which carries lengthy prison terms. Numerous LGBTQ people living in Qatar have spoken out about being beaten, harassed, and coerced into conversion therapy. The captains of several European teams were considering donning armbands in support of LGBTQ rights, but they changed their minds after receiving threats from FIFA during the game, they claimed.
New disruptions are also affecting sponsors and spectators. FIFA announced that there would be no alcohol sales allowed inside the stadiums just two days before the start of the competition. Although drinking is strictly prohibited in Qatar, officials previously announced that supporters could buy beer before and after games. Budweiser, which reportedly pays around $75 million each World Cup cycle to be the official beer sponsor, tweeted, "Well this is awkward". The comment was promptly removed.
But ultimately, the World Cup's unparalleled popularity will continue to be the main barrier to reforming FIFA. Ken Bensinger, the reporter who report these controversies, said, "FIFA knows that every four years, everything is forgotten, no matter how badly it behaves and no matter how disgusted people are with the organization". It's like the Catholic church: As long as you go to confession on Sunday, you can do whatever you want during the week. For FIFA, the World Cup serves this purpose.