In 2010, Qatar won the rights to host the World Cup. The country has held three competitions in the last 12 years, and plans to hold this year’s cup, kicking off on Nov. 20. Since Qatar’s World Cup hosting debut, however, they have faced significant criticism due to the treatment of their workers.
Qatar plans to build seven stadiums, an airport, a metro system, a series of new roads and many hotels for the World Cup finals. With this massive construction project comes a massive amount of workers. According to the BBC, 30,000 laborers have been hired to build the stadiums alone. Most of the laborers come from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the Philippines.
Ever since 2010, when the World Cup rights were given to Qatar, the treatment of the workers has been criticized. Workers have been forced to do labor in terrible conditions with hot weather and incredibly small living quarters.
“As a soccer fan, I am shocked that this is happening in preparation for such a large, world-wide sporting event,” said senior John Whelan.
A 2021 report was put out by the Human Rights Watch that foreign workers faced “illegal wage deductions,” and “months of unpaid wages for long hours of grueling work.” It is estimated that 6,500 migrant workers have died since 2010, and that in 2021 alone, 50 workers died.
Science teacher Mrs. Jen Reuge, who has attended various World Cup events with her husband, expressed extreme distaste for the conditions of the workers. She “does not plan to go to another event until the issue is solved.”
While the Qatari government must take responsibility for these deaths and injuries, they are currently working on ways to improve safety and working conditions. They have introduced a number of reforms to do just this with the hope to make the World Cup a safer, better environment.