Qatar Is Set To Host The World Cup Next Month
I'm Here To Eat Crow About My Prediction That It Would Not Happen
Next month, Qatar (pronounced “Cutter” which rhymes with “Butter”) will host the 2022 World Cup. In 2014, I boldly predicted that it was “highly likely” that FIFA would move the World Cup out of Qatar. It turns out I was wrong. Below I am going to review all of the reasons why I thought that the World Cup would never happen in Qatar, and why I was wrong.
Qatar Bribed Its Way To Getting The World Cup
There is no doubt that Qatar paid millions of dollars to FIFA members to get them to vote for Qatar. In 2014, four of the major sponsors of the World Cup (Coca-Cola, adidas, Sony and Visa) publicly demanded an investigation of how Qatar got the World Cup. I thought that this would lead to the World Cup being moved.
I was wrong. Coca-Cola, adidas, and Visa all backed down, while Sony walked away. FIFA was able to find plenty of additional sponsors. The fact that the lead US investigator was fired (who had impeccable credentials), and a bogus “investigation” found no wrong doing, did not deter multinational companies from signing on.
It’s Too Hot In Qatar & Not Enough Stadiums Exist
Qatar is brutally hot, all year long. There was no way to hold the World Cup in Qatar during the summer, the traditional time when the European Soccer Leagues take off. This year, the European leagues are all suspending their play for over a month, so that the best players in the world can appear for their national teams.
Even with the move to December, I thought that Qatar did not have the soccer infrastructure to hold the World Cup. In 2014, Qatar did not have a single World Cup-ready stadium. Qatar promised that not only would they be built, but that they would be air conditioned. I boldly predicted “Air Conditioning Is Not Feasible”.
I was wrong. Qatar has built 8 air conditioned soccer stadiums. These air conditioning units can reduce the temperature on the playing field by up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. There have been some hiccups. For example, the concession stands ran out of water for spectators halfway through a recent game.
Qatar Does Not Have The Infrastructure To Host The World Cup
In 2014, Qatar did not have the infrastructure to host the World Cup. I was right about that, but I was wrong that Qatar would not spend the money to get ready in time. Qatar has spent over $220 billion building over 30,000 hotel rooms, creating a national highway system and massive other projects.
Basically, Qatar bet a huge amount of its Natural Gas boom into becoming a tourist destination. I have no idea whether that tourism will continue after the World Cup.
Massive Human Rights Abuses
There have continued to be massive human rights abuses in Qatar to construct the infrastructure at breakneck speed. It turns out that nobody from FIFA, the sponsors or the fans cared enough to make it stop. They only cared enough to pay lip service to the idea of stopping human rights abuses.
[Sarcasm alert] But I am certain that the new pleasure palaces are beautiful. [End sarcasm alert].
There is one human rights issue that is still roiling the waters for the World Cup in Qatar: its pervasive anti-LGBT stance. “Discrimination” is not a strong enough word for the dangers to LGBT people in Qatar.
The group of European soccer federations, which includes the World Cup contenders England, Germany and France, joined forces on Wednesday in announcing their intention to have their captains wear the armbands, which feature a so-called One Love design that is similar in design — but not identical — to the well-known flag that serves as a symbol of LGBTQ pride.
Instability In The Middle East
I was right that there would continue to be instability in the Middle East. Since 2014, we have seen the rise and fall of ISIS, the US abandon its military position in Afghanistan, Russian troops giving Assad the winning hand in the Syrian Civil War, a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Yemen, and, most recently, a nascent Women’s Revolution in Iran.
I was wrong that the turmoil in the Middle East would interfere with the World Cup.
BOTTOM LINE - The biggest thing that I have learned since 2014 is that the only thing that I know for certain about the future is that it has not happened yet. I have gotten out of the business of making predictions. With that, I’ll give the last word to Pink Floyd: