Qatar is the first nation from the Middle East to host the World Cup. It is the first time the quadrennial tournament will be played in the winter months to avoid the Arabian Gulf’s searing summer temperatures.
Qatar will be the smallest country ever to host the World Cup. It also will be the first to allow fans to watch multiple games in the same day.
It will be the first to have controversial human rights violations, accusations of slave labor built stadiums and no alcohol as well.
Small stage
A satellite mapping tool showed evidence that the total tournament footprint will be less than half the size of London with travel times between stadiums ranging from five minutes to an hour.
Asia has staged the World Cup once, in Japan and South Korea in 2022, but world federation FIFA has never stepped out into one of the most troubled geopolitical regions on the planet.
Qatar is a sovereign Arab state in Western Asia on the Qatar Peninsula of the larger Arabian Peninsula. Qatar is an absolute monarchy ruled by the Al Thani family and the country was known for pearl hunting and sea trade before the discovery of oil. Qatar has the third largest natural gas reserve in the world and is one of the richest countries per capita.
Since FIFA awarded the tournament to Qatar in 2010, the country has taken some steps to overhaul the country’s employment practices.
But In February 2021, Human Rights Watch wrote to Qatari authorities informing them that some workers building the stadiums have not been paid for up to five months and others for more than two months. Ongoing Human Rights Watch research reveals that wage abuse remains a systemic failure by many employers in Qatar.
Migrant workers have been essential in preparing Qatar to host more than 1.2 million visitors during the games and opening-day tickets will cost a minimum of $302. In March 2021, Qatar responded by setting a minimum wage of $275 a month and the Qatari Labor Ministry would pay “all delayed salaries and benefits” to those affected.
Population
2,508,182 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups
Non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Religions
Muslim 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Industries
Liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement and commercial ship repair
Qatar Airlines was ranked the best airline in the world in two different surveys in 2022.
The Human Freedom Index is an annual report that evaluates the state of human freedom in 165 countries and territories around the world.
12 categories of the Human Freedom Index:
Rule of law
Security and safety
Movement
Religion
Association, assembly, and civil society
Expression and information
Identity and relationships
Size of government
Legal system and property rights
Access to sound money
Freedom to trade internationally
Regulation
Qatar sexual orientation laws
Qatar’s penal code criminalizes sodomy, punishing same-sex relations with imprisonment for one to three years. Individuals convicted of zina (sex outside of marriage) can be sentenced to prison. In addition to imprisonment, Muslims can be sentenced to flogging (if unmarried) or the death penalty (if married).
The first game will be shown on TV early Sunday morning on the West coast.
Schedule of games
Sources: The Associated Press, Worldpoppulationreview, CIA World Fact Book, FIFA