11 things to know about the World Cup in Qatar

The world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, will be the center of attention over the next four weeks, but this time it looks the most controversial.

From bribery accusations in the bidding process, to appalling working conditions and despicable human rights laws, this marks a new low in the already-basement ethical standards FIFA has set over the years.

A lot of great football has been played since 20th November and the winner will be decided on 18th December, but everything that happens off the pitch, or that is not allowed to happen off the pitch, is just as important. It will grab a lot of headlines.

There are 11 players on the pitch. Here are 11 things you should know about this tournament.

FIFA World Cup in winter

With Qatar winning the right to host the tournament, their summer was deemed too hot and the football world was racking their brains to hold the tournament through November and December.

The European league calendar is usually thriving at this time of year, but instead it will come to a halt by Christmas at the earliest.

Qatar is still quite hot at the moment, so all eight stadiums used will be fully air-conditioned for the first time at the World Cup.

workers’ rights

This competition would not have been possible without the workers who built the stadium. They are sadly forced to deal with many violations, from illegal recruitment practices to discrimination based on nationality to inhumane living and working conditions.

A subsidiary of French construction company Vinci was indicted on November 9 for forced labor and other violations of migrant workers’ rights. The company has denied the allegations and is appealing.

Workers work at Lusail Stadium, one of the 2022 World Cup stadiums, in Lusail, Qatar, Friday, December 20, 2019. It was present when Qatar won his FIFA vote in 2010. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A staggering number of at least 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been recruited since gaining admission more than a decade ago, according to The Guardian’s analysis. died in Qatar. The number is even higher if you include data from several other countries that sent large numbers of them, such as the Philippines and Kenya.

human rights

There are also many fans who go to Qatar with some apprehension or boycott it outright because of the country’s laws affecting the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman caused an uproar on November 8 when he described homosexuality as “emotional damage” in an interview with a German television channel.

team stand up

Ten national football associations, all from Europe, have written to FIFA to ensure better workers’ rights in Qatar.

Denmark were required to wear training shirts with the message ‘Human rights for all’ during the tournament, but were disqualified because they were not allowed to display political messages on their shirts. , was rejected by FIFA. However, the Danes wear a ‘toned-down’ jersey where the national badge is barely visible.

Denmark celebrates after scoring a goal in their World Cup 2022, Group F, qualifying football match at a park in Copenhagen, Tuesday, 7 September 2021 (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

The Dutch World Cup team is set to meet with a group of migrant workers in Qatar, and head coach Louis van Gaal said: “First of all, we are going to Qatar to become world champions, but Of course, we’re looking beyond soccer.

women’s rights in iran

The Iranian team has enough to worry about on the pitch in their group against England, Wales and the United States, but how they stand against the abuse of women in their home country will certainly draw attention. will collect.

Following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September, there have been protests across Iran and around the world, and an Iranian court recently handed down its first death sentence linked to the protests.

The national team’s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, recently said players are free to participate in protests while playing in a tournament, as long as they are done within the rules of the tournament.

Qatar celebrity rejection

BTS’s Jung Kook, The Black Eyed Peas, and Shakira (who also performed in 2010) were among those who agreed to join the opening ceremony act, but were denied the opportunity in Qatar for abhorrent human rights reasons. There are several celebrities who have turned down the offer. standard.

Dua Lipa recently took to Instagram Stories to squash rumors that she was performing, calling out Qatar in the process.

“I will be rooting for England from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it delivers on all the human rights promises it made when it won the World Cup,” she said. said in an IG story.

Rod Stewart turned down a million dollar offer to perform in Qatar almost 15 months ago. Because he felt strongly about the same issue.

designated alcohol zone

In Qatar, a Muslim-majority emirate, it is a crime to drink or get drunk in public places, so the country allocates specific areas where the sale of alcohol is allowed.

There are also designated areas where intoxicated people can calm down.

Qatar organizers on Monday ordered Budweiser to move beer stands at eight of the World Cup venues to less conspicuous locations.

Who is your favourite?

Now let’s see what’s happening on the pitch. Brazil is a favorite to win the tournament, currently No. 1 in the world, and has won her five titles, the most in the men’s World Cup. European nations won everything.

They are followed by Argentina and defending champions France in terms of betting odds.

the last hurray

They are arguably the two best players in over a decade, with Argentina’s Lionel Messi now 35 and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo turning 38 in three months, see these two icons of the game It is highly likely that this will be the last time.

While Argentina enter as one of the favorites, Portugal could face a tricky group alongside Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea.

Other greats of the past decade, including France’s Karim Benzema, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, Wales’ Gareth Bale, and the Uruguayan duo of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, have all finished on football’s biggest stage. may appear in

no stars

This is not a video game where injuries can be eliminated. Unfortunately, some big names will miss the biggest stage in the world.

Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who helped France lift the trophy in 2018, will be sidelined this time. England’s Reece James was set to be named as Qatar’s world-famous player but was ruled out due to a knee injury. Senegal have selected starman Sadio Mane for their squad, but he faces a race against time to adapt to every game.

Germany’s Timo Werner and Marco Reus, Portugal’s Diogo Yota and Holland’s Georgino Wijnaldum will also miss due to injury.

Global superstars such as Egypt’s Mohammed Salah and Norway’s Erling Haaland will be excluded from the tournament as their respective countries failed to qualify. Also remember that European champions Italy shockingly failed to qualify for this tournament.

Canada!

In case you haven’t heard of it, Canada has qualified for the men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years. They didn’t even sneak in through the backdoor and finished top of qualifying groups like Mexico. This is a team that consistently makes it to the round of 16. Canada of the United States also scored the most goals while allowing the fewest on the entire course. of their campaign.

Using file from Associated Press