The World Cup’s Forgotten Team

[Jalapeñomel]

As the men’s WC is approaching, some good articles on how problematic the process has been in Qatar:

The World Cup’s Forgotten Team
Hundreds of thousands of Nepalis were part of an army of migrant workers who remade Qatar for its World Cup moment. But in chasing desperately needed paychecks abroad, many pay a heavy price.

www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/sports/soccer/world-cup-migrant-workers.html

Families of migrant workers who died in Qatar are waiting for answers

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/18/qatar-world-cup-migrant-workers/

'Our dreams never came true.' These men helped build Qatar's World Cup, now they are struggling to survive

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/11/17/football/qatar-2022-world-cup-migrant-workers-human-rights-spt-intl/index.html

[erbear]

This WC is problematic in so many ways. This is why you don’t accept bribes, FIFA.

[mrsukyankee]

Most of my friends are boycotting watching for so many reasons. It's a complete shitshow and should never have happened. I hope there is so much blowback from this. And that sponsors start questioning whether this is a good idea (especially with what's happening with the Budweiser sponsorship).

[basilosaurus]

Nov 19, 2022 3:16:14 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Most of my friends are boycotting watching for so many reasons. It's a complete shitshow and should never have happened. I hope there is so much blowback from this. And that sponsors start questioning whether this is a good idea (especially with what's happening with the Budweiser sponsorship).

Once again, most of the games will happen middle of the night for me, so it's kind of a moot point, but few of the locations where I watched 4 years ago are going to be staying open into the wee smalls to air the games. I'm guessing it's less due to boycott and more fallout from pandemic closures. Also that neither of the 2 countries I'm in qualified. 

I flew through Doha a couple months ago on their national airline, and there was a definite advertising push. I'm wondering if they've already seen lack of revenue and fear worse as we approach the dates. The airport surely didn't suffer from lack of business. I've never seen such a busy airport (at 3am!). Heathrow was nothing in comparison. Mainstreet Disney on xmas day level busy.

Also, none of this has prevented strangers from coming up to me to ask who I support. Apparently ":shrug: not watching" is the wrong answer. "USA! We're #1!" is correct. So, um, go USA? You've got chatty Malaysians on your side!

[taratru]

Here in Dubai, it's already out of control. Tons of tourists, every space that can showing the games, advertising everywhere- Starbucks cups are soccer.

But, only a handful of people died according to the press, so it is all fine.
Of course, no one here in Dubai dies in construction or in any kind of issue stemming from the modern day slavery either.

That sound is my eyes rolling out of my head. Or the authorities coming to deport me. 🤷‍♀️

[isabel]

Nov 18, 2022 20:58:53 GMT -5 erbear said:

This WC is problematic in so many ways. This is why you don’t accept bribes, FIFA.

I’m so angry about this. I just posted in the Club Q shooting thread about it before seeing this thread.

It just sends such a dehumanizing message that a federation like this would allow a country like Qatar to buy an event like this.