Qatar World Cup Soccer: How Different?

Qatar World Cup Soccer: How Different?

Leaving aside the many major controversies that have plagued world football, such as cases of human rights violations, a series of corruption allegations, and the issue of workers' deaths, a small country in the Gulf, Qatar, has finally reached the end of the World Cup 2022 project.

To organize this great festival of world football in his country, Qatar upset some of the established traditions of world football, even though he has poured billions of dollars like water for that.

Qatar World Cup 2022 is going to be unique and special in many ways and it is making history, which may or may not be repeated in World Cup football for a long time.

What are the features of the Qatar World Cup?

1. Middle East's first World Cup

World Cup 2022 is the first World Cup to be hosted by Middle East Asia.

Also, this is the second project to be held in the Asian region. Earlier, Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the 2002 World Cup.

Qatar beat the US, South Korea, Japan and Australia to win the rights to the project.

The rights to the project, won by Qatar when Sepp Blatter was FIFA president in 2010, were later embroiled in controversy after two FIFA members were accused of taking bribes to buy votes.

Blatter is believed to have lost his position because of this issue.

2. First Winter World Cup

It was a tradition to hold the World Cup every 4 years in the month of June/July.

But for the first time the World Cup is going to be held in November/December, because June/July is very hot in Qatar.

In July, the temperature in Qatar usually reaches 42 to 44 degrees Celsius.

While in November it reaches only 24 to 28 degrees.

Since the World Cup will be held in November and December, the world football calendar has become turbulent.

Europe's popular leagues have already started. And those leagues will be suspended during the World Cup.

3. Human rights violations

The lack of service facilities, wages and deaths of migrant workers brought in during the construction of the stadium became the subject of global criticism and controversy.

International human rights organization Amnesty International and other rights groups have demanded that migrant workers be compensated with US$440 million, which is equivalent to the World Cup winner.

This controversy is still ongoing.

4. Third gender controversy

In Qatar, homosexuality is considered a crime and punishable by 3 years in prison or even death.

However, no one has been sentenced to death.

In this way, the issue of whether or not sexual minorities can watch the World Cup took the form of discussion and controversy.

Although the host Qatar says that any person or class can watch the World Cup, because of the laws there, sexual minorities who want to come to watch the World Cup have expressed doubts about their safety.

Especially the organizer seems to be silent on some of their demands.

Therefore, the sexual minority groups of some countries have decided to boycott the World Cup.

Qatar fails to stop labor exploitation: Amnesty International

Is Qatar stressed about the World Cup?

5. alcohol

Drinking alcohol is prohibited in Qatar.

Drinking alcohol in public places and drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited in Qatar.

Failure to do so is punishable by up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to $850.

But for the World Cup, the organizers have taken a relaxed policy on alcohol consumption keeping in mind the spectators coming from all over the world.

During the World Cup, there will be designated 'fan zones' for supporters to sit and buy and drink alcohol, but not outside the designated area.

6. 22nd edition

The tournament to be held in Qatar is the 22nd edition of the World Cup.

The World Cup started with Uruguay in 1930, where the host nation defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final.

Since then, the World Cup has been held every 4/4 years.

But the 1942 and 1946 World Cups were canceled due to World War II.

7. A day ahead

This rarely happens.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup was officially scheduled to start on November 21.

And, the first match was scheduled to be played between Senegal and the Netherlands.

But as the host country is practicing to play the opening match, the match schedule has been shifted one day ahead saying that it will continue.

Now the first match of the World Cup will be played on November 20 and host Qatar will play against Ecuador.

8. Sanctions against Russia

Russia, the host country of the World Cup four years ago, will not be allowed to play in the World Cup in Qatar.

FIFA has banned Russia from all football activities due to its invasion of Ukraine.

The European Football Association (UFA) has also banned him from club football activities.

9. official song

The official song of the Qatar World Cup is 'Haya Haya', which means 'Better Together'.

This song is sung by Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha.

10. Female referee

This year, a new chapter is being drawn in the case of the referee.

Three female referees, Stephanie Frapart of France and Japanese referees of Rwanda, Salima Mukansanga and Yoshimi Yamashita, will make history by becoming female referees in the Men's World Cup for the first time.

11. AC in the stadium

To protect the spectators from the heat, air conditioning has been installed in Qatar's World Cup stadiums.

This is the first practice to be done in World Cup football.

Qatar has invested a lot of money for this.

12. Close to the stadium

In general, many countries have started organizing the World Cup together.

The 2002 World Cup was jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea.

The 2026 World Cup will also be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Where you have to travel to another country to watch different World Cup matches.

But the Qatar World Cup is mainly held in one city, Doha, where all the stadiums can be reached within 55 km.