Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Lands In Controversy

Bishwonath Shrestha Hemba  

The FIFA World Cup 2022 to be hosted by Qatar will reportedly cost an astronomical figure of $220 billion which is more than its GDP. It is set to be the most expensive edition of the historic tournament. It is 20 times more than the cost of the previous football World Cup held in Russia appears almost minuscule at $11.6 billion.

The biggest football party gets underway in Qatar on November 20 as the 2022 FIFA World Cup begins with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador. An estimated number of one million spectators are expected to arrive in Qatar for the World Cup. While the glamour and dazzle of the World Cup have fans excited, there is also a fair share of controversy rolling around.

Organising such a large and popular event necessitates a significant investment, particularly in the development and enhancement of world-class infrastructure. Qatar has spent $220b in building new roads, public transport systems, hospitals, hotels, stadiums, and other sporting facilities since being given the right to host the quadrennial event in 2010. A total of $48 billion is spent on air-conditioned stadiums, $77 billion for amenities for fans and teams,$50 billion to improve its transportation infrastructure, and $45 billion on the development of Lusail City. However, it must be taken into account that the costs associated with air-conditioned stadiums in Qatar are only in the order of $48 billion while the bulk of the spending is infrastructure costs that are part of the broader Qatar 2030 plan. These include the construction of an innovation centre with hotels, a sophisticated metro network, stadiums, and airports.

As a result of such a large-scale event, it is no surprise that Qatar could potentially reap numerous benefits that spread far beyond the realm of the sporting industry. Nonetheless, the newly built infrastructure will boost the country’s long-term competitiveness. "The economy is forecast to expand by 3% over the medium term, aided by sustained investments tied to hosting the football world cup", according to the World Bank Statistics. The tournament's contribution goes beyond immediate economic effects, and the intangible nature of these benefits should be taken into consideration when considering its legacy.

Qatar's preparations for the 2022 World Cup have been fraught with controversy. Qatari corruption allegations have dominated the news, with many believing that their hosting of the World Cup was linked to FIFA and other political authorities being bribed.

The World Cup in Qatar has come under international criticism not only for its high cost but above all for human rights violations and social oppression. In a report, Amnesty International criticised the failure of Qatari authorities to investigate the deaths of thousands of migrant workers over the past decade. According to Amnesty International, official statistics show that a total of 15,021 nationals of other countries died in Qatar between 2010 and 2019.

Football is a stage to express and show fair play and sportsmanship which brings people of different races, ages, genders, and backgrounds together. Sports mega-events like FIFA World Cup have always been interesting to us because of the excitement they create: they capture the popular imagination and provide a platform for individual and collective feats of skill and dedication. But at its core, it has become a multi-billion dollar global business and much of the practice and business of sport is rotten and does not conform to the ethical and moral ideals that it was founded on.

As a result of such a large-scale event, it is no surprise that Qatar could potentially reap numerous benefits that spread far beyond the realm of the sporting industry. Nonetheless, the newly built infrastructure will boost the country’s long-term competitiveness. "The economy is forecast to expand by 3% over the medium term, aided by sustained investments tied to hosting the football world cup", according to the World Bank Statistics. The tournament's contribution goes beyond immediate economic effects, and the intangible nature of these benefits should be taken into consideration when considering its legacy.

Qatar's preparations for the 2022 World Cup have been fraught with controversy. Qatari corruption allegations have dominated the news, with many believing that their hosting of the World Cup was linked to FIFA and other political authorities being bribed.

The World Cup in Qatar has come under international criticism not only for its high cost but above all for human rights violations and social oppression. In a report, Amnesty International criticised the failure of Qatari authorities to investigate the deaths of thousands of migrant workers over the past decade. According to Amnesty International, official statistics show that a total of 15,021 nationals of other countries died in Qatar between 2010 and 2019.

Football is a stage to express and show fair play and sportsmanship which brings people of different races, ages, genders, and backgrounds together. Sports mega-events like FIFA World Cup have always been interesting to us because of the excitement they create: they capture the popular imagination and provide a platform for individual and collective feats of skill and dedication. 

(The author is a BBA Student at Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya, Sallaghari)