High stakes for Qatar as World Cup starts

Published On: November 20, 2022 04:30 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Nov 20: The World Cup 2022 is all set to kick off in Qatar on Sunday in a high-stakes event for the tiny nation which has faced a barrage of criticism and staked its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament. According to Reuters, it will be the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East and most expensive ever in history.

The opening ceremony of the football extravaganza will be held in a tent-shaped stadium at 1440 GMT (21:25 NST), before the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

Controversial World Cup set to get underway, reported the BBC.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Fifa World Cup in Qatar will finally get under way on Sunday after 12 years of questions, criticisms and conjecture.

The build-up to the first tournament to be held in a Muslim country in the Middle East has been overshadowed by a number of controversies, reported BBC, adding, “Fifa has asked all 32 competing nations to focus on the football.

According to Reuters, the tournament marks a culmination of Qatar's soft power push on the global stage and a show of strength after emerging from a 3-1/2 year boycott by Saudi Arabia and three Arab allies, including Egypt, that ended in 2021.

Onstage, South Korean singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS will perform a new official tournament song called Dreamers alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.

Qatar and FIFA hope the spotlight will turn to action on the pitch after facing mounting criticism over foreign workers' rights, LGBT rights and social restrictions, added Reuters. Organisers have denied allegations of bribery for hosting rights.

Alcohol has been banned at stadiums. Organisers say all are welcome while warning against pubic displays of affection.

According to Reuters, wealthy gas producer Qatar is the smallest nation to host football’s biggest global event, organised at a cost of $220 billion. Crowd control will be key with some 1.2 million visitors expected - more than a third of Qatar's population, added the news agency.

“Many of the labourers who toiled to prepare tournament infrastructure will watch from the sidelines, priced out of the stadiums. Doha has been slammed for its treatment of migrant workers but points to labour reforms against exploitation.”

With a limited number of hotels in Qatar, fans will also fly in on daily shuttle flights from cities like Dubai, as Qatar shares the World Cup economic boon with neighbours, Reuters summed up.