The World Cup will kick off in Qatar in 1,000 days. The world event has been accompanied by controversy since it was awarded in 2010. However, those responsible are already more than satisfied.
Berlin (dpa) - Big names work. In a chic gray suit, David Beckham grins at the camera, the former English world star proudly presents the red jersey with the words "See you in 2022", meaning "We'll see you in 2022".
Hassan Al-Thawadi, the head of the organization of the World Cup in Qatar, which was accompanied by fierce controversy, stands next to it with a smile. What Beckham thinks is good cannot be bad.
At least since the scandalous awarding of the final tournament to the small emirate, which has never been noticed by football enthusiasts, the hosts and the world association FIFA have been trying hard to admit the world event with brilliant images, strong headlines and big names for years apply. Next Tuesday (February 25th) there are still 1000 days until kickoff on November 21st, 2022.
"I have been here many times and see the change, the development," said Beckham during his visit to Qatar shortly before the turn of the year. The 44-year-old praises the "family environment". "I think that's something you really want as a player and fan at a World Cup." The tournament will be "pretty incredible". FIFA's Internet advertising text is somewhat reminiscent of the words of Franz Beckenbauer, who once stated that he had "not seen a single slave" during his visits to Qatar.
The deaths and the sometimes inhumane conditions for guest workers on construction sites dominated the reports about the beginning of the World Cup preparation for months. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and international trade union federations vocally criticized the situation, and every shock message about accidents from the Emirate also called on politicians in Germany who were calling for a new award.
The organizers repeatedly pointed out that they want to improve things, especially with the much-quoted power of football. Since then, numerous reforms have been announced and adopted that read well. The exploitative Kafala system is said to be history now. However, "The poor implementation of previous reforms" has, according to the latest Amnesty annual report, in practice led to migrants not being "protected from abuse and exploitation in 2019".
The world association also warned again and again - and now seems satisfied. "I've been organizing major soccer tournaments for 20 years," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the test run at the Club World Cup at the end of 2019. "And I have to say that the progress made in Qatar is unprecedented." Everything would be ready two years before kick-off. Infantino is certain "that it will be a fantastic event and I believe that a World Cup in Qatar, in the Middle East, has the potential to change the way the rest of the world perceives the region".
Organizationally, the thousands of fans who are already planning their trip to the Persian Gulf can actually prepare for an outstanding World Cup. The emirate has invested billions in armament for 2022. The eight stadiums that have already been completed are state-of-the-art and can be reached quickly by public transport. If you want and get tickets, you can easily watch several World Cup games in one day.
At least at the Club World Cup, alcohol was also served in the Islamic-conservative country, but only in the fan zones, not in the stadiums. The sale of alcoholic beverages is not strictly prohibited in Qatar, but is strictly regulated. The emirate is extremely backward in other areas of society, such as equality for women. "Laws continue to discriminate against LGBTI people," Amnesty writes. LGBTI is the abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersexual. That hardly fits the supposedly cosmopolitan football that is supposed to build bridges.
The awarding of the 2022 World Cup together with the 2018 final tournament to Russia is also considered a scandal regardless of this. Several members of the then FIFA Executive Committee have been indicted and convicted over the years. It seemed the wedding of FIFA's self-service shop under Joseph S. Blatter, which was said not to have been for Qatar. The Emirate had started with the worst technical rating. Franz Beckenbauer, then at the DFB, never published who he gave his vote to.
Back then it was still planned to host the World Cup in the summer months, as always. FIFA only relocated the tournament after several discussions - for the benefit of the fans. The weather now offers optimal conditions: In November and December - the final rises on December 18 - the desert emirate has pleasant temperatures. In Germany, the games fall in the middle of the contemplative pre-Christmas period.
It will be decisive on site how the mood of the traveling fans develops. Cheerful parties on the street with loud fan chants are foreign to the country, and games in the domestic league tend to be more reserved.
At the Club World Cup, the supporters of the Brazilian Flamengo team transformed the brand new subway into a celebration zone, kindly watched by Qatarians. Ultimately, however, the celebrations are likely to be limited to just a few places, if only because Doha is a city that is completely geared towards car traffic. There are only a few lively streets and squares, such as Suk Wakif, the old bazaar with narrow streets, shops and restaurants.
World association FIFA
FIFA World Cup 2022
stadiums
Website of the organizing committee