FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: A cup of grandeur, ambition and opulence

The world’s second most watched sporting event is here and for soccer fans, this only promises to be another grand extravaganza adding to the fun, frolic and frenzy. FIFA 2022 will kick off on the 20th of November in the State of Qatar and the excitement is already reaching dizzying heights. So, what makes this world cup different from the earlier years and why has it been shrouded in seething controversies?

To start off, this is the first time that a soccer World Cup is being hosted in the Middle East region. That also makes it the first-ever winter FIFA world cup to be held in the months of November and December, given the region’s harsh desert landscape and sweltering heat in the summers. Importantly, that a global spectacle of this scale is being hosted by a country with a population just shy of 3 million (almost that of Jamaica) and whose size roughly equals that of Connecticut, is another headline-grabber – making FIFA 2022 perhaps the most compact world cup in the tournament’s 92-year history. It's also the first live soccer world cup in the post-Covid world, bringing the energy, intensity and passion back into the stadiums.

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Next, the showpiece is nothing short of an architectural marvel with innovatively designed stadiums boasting of retractable roofs, energy-efficient cooling technology, a revolutionary connected ball and fully demountable, modular structures to name a few. The designs of the eight stadiums which will host a total of 64 matches reflect the culture, heritage, flora and fauna of the Gulf state (and the region at large), that include traditional boats (Dhow), hand-crafted bowls, traditional headpiece worn by the Arabic men (Gahfiya), fanar lanterns, and the traditional bayt al sha'ar tents that were used by nomadic people. (Perhaps designers of newly inaugurated T2 ‘Garden Terminal’ of Bengaluru International airport took some cues from this?) Beyond all the magnum opus, it’s also the veracity and pace at which these stadiums have been constructed that deserves a round of applause. I got a glimpse of this while I was in Doha in 2015 when the remodelling of Khalifa International stadium was in full swing and the chatter about mega preparations reaching sky-high. From almost zero sporting infrastructure at the time of winning the bid in 2010, to putting up a grandiose display of hotels, highways, stadiums, metro stations, recreation zones and training centres, in a span of 12 years is undoubtedly a remarkable feat.

That the sustainability and eco-conscious principles find their way into almost every event – be it a family wedding or a music fest, is not a big deal. But the way in which they have been conceptualized and the scale at which they have been implemented, bears some attention. In particular, the reusability and repurposing of the infrastructure stands out. For example, stadium 974 with a 40,000-seating capacity is constructed from upcycled and repurposed shipping containers, can be completely demountable and reassembled elsewhere. The stadium will be demounted on completion of the world cup and used in a waterfront development project. Likewise, the Lusail stadium – the centrepiece of the event, will be transformed into a multi-purpose community hub that will house schools, shops, cafes, health clinics and entertainment arena. The fact that half the seats in some of the stadiums will be donated to football development projects in the emerging countries, is noteworthy too.

Now comes the not-so-soccer moment – the alcohol-free viewing of the games – a first of its kind. With alcohol sale prohibited in the Arab countries, the organizers have restricted the sale of alcoholic beverages at hospitality boxes and licensed venues outside the stadium perimeter. Clearly this is a big turn-off, both for the fans and the brands sponsoring the event. (Budweiser, one of FIFA’s partners pays around $75 million to FIFA for its sponsorship rights). While the English and the Germans are credited to introducing the spirit of beer to the game of football back in the 1900s, the Qataris may stand to discredit themselves for illegitimating the relationship between the cup of life and the mug of beer!

Beyond all the glitzy campaigns and media blitzkrieg, there is more to the FIFA 2022 world cup and a lot riding for the Gulf Peninsula state. For one, it has been shrouded in controversies around human rights abuse especially the exploitation of its massive migrant workers (who make up 90% of its population), oppression of women, and ill-treatment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ community. The world cup, in a way is an attempt to divert global attention away from this – so called ‘sportswashing’ and earn some goodwill. Two, it reflects Qatar’s ambition to exert its influence on a global map in addition to projecting itself as the challenger to its larger neighbour – UAE.

Three, and perhaps the most important, is its deliberate and persistent effort to diversify its economy beyond oil & gas, and emerge as a new hub for tourism, sports and entertainment. This also supports the larger plan under the Qatar National Vision 2030. Four, it now openly wants to use the super-wealthy nation tag and the hefty petro-dollars to arm-twist and control the sporting world. Qatar Sports Investments, a state-backed fund owns the biggest club in France – Paris Saint-Germain, holds a stake in Portuguese team SC Braga and wait, 19 of the top 20 football clubs in Europe have significant financial backing from the Arabian Peninsula. And then they have a David Beckham – as the brand ambassador for 10 years, with a price tag of $277 million.

So yes, we have a lot going on even before the official action has begun. But you bet, it’s only gonna get bigger. The $300 billion splurge, after all comes with a grand plan and ambition. For the die-hard fans and the 32 teams, it’ll still be La Copa de la Vida!