The World Cup in the Unlikeliest of Places
Just around the corner looms the world’s second biggest sporting event after the Olympics. Outside the United States, it wouldn’t be hard to argue the World Cup is even bigger.
Which makes for this year’s location choice a true headscratcher. In the words of former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, the choice of Qatar is a “mistake.” The country is dominated by a flat, low lying desert. No Mistake by the Lake (apologies to Cleveland) this one, as the Cup is going to be the driest and hottest in its history. At least they moved it from the summer, when it was initially supposed to be played, in an average of 105 degree heat.
On top of all this, the infrastructure was in no shape to host such an event, leading to a massive building effort on the backs of an army of migrant workers, since the subject of many stories regarding their mistreatment.
I’ve never had an opportunity to take in a World Cup, but by most accounts it’s not clear which warrants the most serious attention by the fans: the games or the festivities and partying. This will be an issue in a country which severely limits locations for drinking.
As with the recent Olympics in regards to China and Russia, Qatar is using the platform to create goodwill and gloss over human rights violations. This international approach to burnish, called sportswashing can only be accomplished with a willing accomplice, and FIFA steps up in this role regularly. The international governing body of soccer has a long documented history of corruption, a major reason why Russia hosted the last World Cup.
Perhaps it’s coincidence, but the present FIFA president, Gianni Infantino recently moved his primary residence to Qatar. Gifts can come in all sizes…
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