The 2022 Qatar World Cup opens a new chapter of soccer in the Middle East, however, not only is it the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, it is also one of the most controversial of all time. Corruption scandals have come to light, and labor injuries and deaths have captured the attention of the international community. Why does the World Cup mean so much to Qatar? Why the controversy? Let's take a closer look at the current situation in Qatar and reveal the behind-the-scenes story of the World Cup.
Qada, a small country nestled in the Persian Gulf, has been ruled by the Al-Thani family since its independence in 1971. Oil and gas are the main pillars of its economy, with a GDP per capita of $61,276 in 2021, one of the highest in the world.
In October 2022, the population of Kada has just surpassed 3 million, a figure that is less than the combined population of all previous World Cup host countries. However, this 3 million is the result of an explosive population growth over the last 20 years, from just 120,000 in 1971 at the time of independence to just 590,000 in 2000, a growth rate that is largely due to the naturalization of a large number of immigrants. This growth rate is largely due to the naturalization of a large number of migrant workers.
Currently, Katha has an extremely unique demographic structure, with nearly 90% migrant workers, of which 700,000 are Indian migrants and 400,000 each are Nepalese and Bangladeshi migrants, and these communities outnumber even the Katha people. The preparations for the World Cup have brought the issue of migrant labor to the forefront.
Al Jazeera, the Kada media, now has a huge international presence.
So what does the World Cup really mean for Qatar? This question would be solved if one could gain insight into the strategy of this small country to move into the international arena.
Since Emir Hamed came to power in 1995, Al-Qa'ada has gradually expanded its regional and international influence. The launch of Al Jazeera and its coverage of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the United States made it famous as a media outlet with great foreign influence in the Arab world. In addition, Al-Qa'ada has built an international profile through humanitarian aid, such as assistance to refugees from the Syrian civil war and the Gaza Corridor.
In the international political arena, Qatar adopts a flexible foreign policy and maintains close relations with the United States and Iran, two countries that have long been at loggerheads. Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and has a close relationship with Iran, jointly developing the world's largest natural gas field. Qatar has acted as a mediator at the international level, such as in 2014, when peace talks between the United States and the Taliban were held in Qatar.
However, Qada's position in the Persian Gulf region is under pressure, particularly in the context of long-standing tensions with Saudi Arabia.The 2017 Qada diplomatic crisis saw Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, and Yemen declare a break in diplomatic relations, blockade of air and sea lanes, and blockade of Al Jazeera, citing Qada's support for terrorist organizations.
Emir of Qada Tamim bin Hamed Al-Thani meets with US President Donald Trump in 2017. (Photo/Wikipedia)
On the economic front, Kardah is interested in changing the single source of the economy, and in 2008, the Kardah government released the Kardah National Vision 2030 report, which proposes to gradually reduce the dependence of Kardah's economy on oil and gas. Tourism has become the main direction of development, and the World Cup is the perfect opportunity to promote tourism in Kardah.
In recent years, Qatar's huge investment in European soccer giants has become the talk of the town.In 2010, the Qatar Foundation sponsored the Barcelona jerseys.From 2013-2017, Qatar Airways became the first commercial sponsor of the Barcelona jerseys.In 2012, the Qatar Sovereign Fund bought Paris Saint-Germain, a French Ligue 1 team, outright.In 2017, the team introduced Brazilian star Neymar to the club for an astronomical price of €222 million, the highest transfer fee in soccer history. euros to bring in Brazilian star Neymar, setting a record for the highest transfer fee in the history of soccer.In 2018, the team brought in Kylian Mbappe for another €180 million transfer fee, making it the next highest transfer fee record.
