There has never been a buildup to the World Cup quite like this one. Occurring 6 months later than usual with a myriad of controversies, the host nation Qatar has put the sport of football in the news like never before. With the preparation and events leading up to this World Cup, it has been problematic since the day Qatar won the bid. This poses a few moral dilemmas. How does one watch the World Cup without indirectly supporting the nation’s policies and corruption? How do the players and staff cope with the ethical distractions? What happens to these social issues after the World Cup?
The World Cup Prelude
The 2022 World Cup host nation was announced in 2012 (along with Russia hosting the 2018 cup, FIFA is killing it). Since the day of the announcement, there was speculation Qatar bribed FIFA officials to win the bid. This was recently confirmed by ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter. If a nation is corrupt enough to buy a World Cup under the table, I’m sure they have safe practices for their migrant workers building the stadium, right? The construction and preparation to host went exactly how you’d expect with workers spending long hours in extreme heat. Many lost their lives in the process, where Qatar has reportedly downplayed death and injury counts. The country also has strict political policies that include the outlawing of homosexual behavior, not to mention the blatant gender inequality throughout the nation. There has been inconsistent attention on the social impact of a Qatari World Cup, but it feels as though the dialogue increased in the month or two leading up to the event.
Beyond the World Cup coinciding with the holiday season instead of the usual summer schedule, the weeks leading up to the cup’s first game on Sunday were… stressful. Players injured in the final weeks of domestic play were forced out of the tournament while speculation loomed over the host’s treatment of the guests attending all over the world. Accommodation options were limited, so Qatar set up pods for guests to rent and it looks like Fyre Festival 2.0. With Qatar’s strict alcohol policy, the world pondered whether or not alcohol would be available. Qatar initially announced there would be alcohol zones, only for them to ban alcohol 48 hours before the first match. The tournament has been a shitshow from day one, and the weeks leading up to the first kick seemed to have been the worst.
Watching the Tournament
While not easy to ignore, the focus has naturally shifted to the games rather than the surrounding events. Fans are showing passion for their countries while we’ve already seen big upsets by Saudi Arabia and Japan over Argentina and Germany (respectively) and an entertaining game between USA and Wales. A true silver lining in the competition - Qatar looked TERRIBLE in the opening match of the tournament and will very unlikely progress through their group. It feels a tad petty to root against them, but Qatar’s awful showing on the pitch would serve as poetic justice for their corrupt political leaders. They’ll be lucky to get a single point and that karma should be relished.
For supporters of the other 31 countries, this is an event that rarely happens. Teams like Wales and Canada are playing in only their second World Cup, while countries like Argentina, Poland, and Portugal may only have one more opportunity to watch generational talents. Others may never have an opportunity again in their lives to attend a World Cup again. Whatever the case; whether you’re a fan in Qatar or on your couch at home, it’s possible to condemn the ethical issues with the tournament while continuing to support your nation and enjoy our beautiful game.
The World Cup is also an opportunity to stand up for what’s right and use the world platform to send a message. The Iranian National Team (along with many of its fans) did not sing their national anthem as a protest to the atrocities currently developing in their home. On the flip side, the World Cup provides an opportunity for people in countries like Iran to briefly escape from their reality, even if short-lived.
The Aftermath
Another silver lining to the World Cup - Qatar has made itself look like a fool on a global scale with housing, last minute alcohol changes, societal concerns, and the rhetoric surrounding this cup. A socially unjust nation will likely never host a World Cup again, and FIFA was exposed in the process (as if they hadn’t already done enough wrong). Fans (almost) unanimously agree the World Cup in Qatar is corrupt and it won’t be forgotten.
What do we do differently next time? Firstly, many of the issues weren’t heavily talked about until shortly before the tournament began, despite it being known for a decade. It likely wouldn’t change the location of the World Cup, but vocalizing these issues sooner rather than later brings awareness to an issue that can threaten FIFA’s popularity. Also continue to back your nation’s players and staff - many have publicly criticized the ethics of the tournament while minimizing the distractions. After all, they are athletes with an opportunity to participate in the world’s biggest sporting event. It is unrealistic to “boycott” an event only hosted once every 4 years, especially with the short window of an athletic career. The next best thing they can do is shed light towards the immoral event.
Do your best to watch the tournament while fighting for political reform. Countries like Iran and Qatar, although drastically different circumstances, need global support for their working-class citizens. Continuing to stay informed about social issues while either donating or helping provide resources to those in need will help immensely. I am ecstatic for the next month of football but will not forget the circumstances surrounding the event - the best thing we can do as a society is to continually stay active and vocal in ensuring this never happens again.