The FIFA world cup is arguably the biggest football tournament in the world. It is held every four years and is played by countries from across the world. In April 2010, the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, endorsed the idea of having an Arab nation host the world cup. And on December 2, 2010, Qatar was awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 FIFA world cup. 

In preparation for this world event, the state of Qatar had since then begun several stadium constructions. But behind these images of plans for an astounding tournament and the celebration of the first Arabian world cup host, serious human rights concerns remain, particularly in relation to the treatment of the migrant workers who live and work in Qatar under the effective control of their employer (the Kafala system). 

A growing number of critics accuse its leaders and private construction firms of contributing to the systemic exploitation of migrant workers, some of whom have died in unexplained circumstances while building vast football stadiums in the blazing heat. And while Qatar says it has made significant labor improvements to protect a migrant workforce of about 2 million, however, the World Cup is shining a light on migrant deaths, severe working conditions and human rights challenges in the region.

The Guardian had earlier reported that 6,500 migrant workers have died in the country since Qatar won its bid to host the World Cup in 2010, most of whom were involved in low-wage, dangerous labor, often undertaken in extreme heat. In 2016, an Amnesty International report found that migrant workers were living in squalid conditions, going months without pay, being denied exit visas and having their passports confiscated, and had been deceived about the type of work on offer before going to Qatar.

Asides these human rights violation allegations, this World Cup is also one of the many manifestations of corruption that has plagued FIFA for years. Assertions that Qatar won the World Cup dishonestly began less than a year after its allocation by a FIFA committee. For instance, there have been allegations of $1.5 million paid by Qatar to African officials to vote for the tournament, and more than $5 million given to various officials for them to cast their vote in the nation’s favour.

While the Qatari government have posited that only 35 work related deaths have been recorded and that they have improved the working conditions of these immigrants as well as implement a new minimum wage, one would wonder if it is these reports that are laced with lies or it’s just the Qatari government that is being economical with the truth. Would a world cup built on the deaths and trampled rights of thousands be worth watching?

I would like to close with these strong words from a former Manchester United striker “King” Eric Cantona:

“To be honest, I don’t really care about the next World Cup, which is not a real World Cup for me. In the last decades, you had a lot of events like the Olympic Games or World Cups in countries that are emerging – like in Russia or China. But Qatar, it’s not a football country. I’m not against the idea of hosting a World Cup in a country where there is a possibility to develop and promote football, like in South Africa or the United States in the 90’s. But in Qatar, the truth is that there is no such potential. There is nothing. It’s only about money I think. It’s only about money and the way they treated the people who built the stadiums, it’s horrible. Thousands of people have died and yet we will celebrate this World Cup. Personally, I will not watch it.”

In the meantime, 15 countries have now qualified for the tournament as the protracted countdown for Qatar 2022 rolls on.