The World Cup tournament that opened on Sunday in Qatar gave the rulers of the principalities an opportunity to radiate power and wealth befitting a country that sees itself as a regional power with prestige and status.
However, the mask ball organized by Qatar did not go well, and despite the money invested in the competition, many waves of criticism were heard about the principality and its rulers, due to the way they convinced - and actually bribed - the heads of FIFA to hold the competition in Qatar.
Also, the violation of human rights was harshly criticized, as well as the exploitation of the foreign workers, who make up 77% of the 3 million residents of the country whose blood, and not just their sweat, built the facilities where the World Cup games are held.
The masquerade ball organized by Qatar did not go well.
World Cup opening ceremony,
But the Qataris succeeded in one thing.
Many of the leaders of the region came especially to participate in the opening event of the competition and to examine the impressive performance of the regional unity, at the same time as the performance spent on the grass.
It seems that the region's leaders are not easily impressed by international criticism of human rights violations or corruption.
First among them is the president of Turkey, Erdogan, an ally of Qatar, who even dispatched police and security forces to help her maintain order during the competitions.
Now he has come to cut his standing coupon next to the Qataris.
Although the Turkish team did not qualify for the World Cup, a photo from the soccer field could be useful to Erdogan, who wants to keep his seat in the presidential elections that will be held in the middle of the coming year.
For similar reasons, the Egyptian president, al-Sisi, also came to the tournament, and at the opening ceremony he even shook hands with the Turkish president - the first meeting between the two since al-Sisi seized power in a military coup in July 2013, something that received a sharp reaction in Ankara.
On the podium of dignitaries could be found King Abdullah of Jordan and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Bin Salman. Photo: AFP
On the stage of the dignitaries it was also possible to find King Abdullah of Jordan as well as the heir to the throne of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
The latter came to encourage the Saudi national team, but his arrival legitimized the principality of Qatar, which the Saudis and Egyptians saw as an enemy until recently.
It is hard to assume that the meetings and handshakes will significantly change the map of relations between Turkey and Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
But the regional reality requires today to forget and forgive the past, and above all to try and cooperate in the face of the challenges of the future.
The new winds that blew in the stadium in Doha were clouded by Iran - not the soccer team competing in the World Cup, but the rulers of the country and its Revolutionary Guards that cast a heavy and threatening shadow over the entire region.
The World Cup will be forgotten, but the Iranian threat is here to stay, and in front of it are Erdogan, al-Sisi and bin Salman, who are ready to pose for a joint photo and shake hands.
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