2022 World Cup Controversy

As of now, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is to be held in Qatar and during the typical time frame of early summer. However, new complications have risen up as to when the tournament should be held and even as to where. Many claim that the decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was biased and corrupt, but that may not be attestable and therefore I only want to examine what changes or decisions can be made now to make the tournament a success.

            First, many feel that there is a threat to the safety of the players and the fans that would attend the World Cup in Qatar and think that the area is not in a state that is secure enough for such an event. This seems like a viable concern, considering the possible threats that occurred during the recent Olympics held in Russia. Also, the desert heat of the Qatari summer would not provide healthy or safe conditions for players, and despite the previously promised air-cooled stadiums, FIFA representatives now claim that the summer would not be a good time for the tournament to be held in Qatar. This problem leads to the next area of concern; when the World Cup should be held should it be in Qatar.

            As the typical June time slot for the World Cup seems to be out, November or January are the options that FIFA has provided for alternates. Although these winter schedules seem to be out of the summer heat, they bring up new complications for club teams and the rest of the world. The club season is reaching its midpoint during the winter months, and taking a pause to send their top players on international duty doesn’t seem to please these teams or players. It is well known that many players who contest in the World Cup come back with injuries or in need of large amounts of time to recover. Normally, this happens in the summer, the offseason, giving these players time to rest before their club seasons start. This would not be ideal for the middle of the season when players are reaching top forms. Also, the entire schedule for many leagues would be set off for a substantial amount of time to accommodate the tournament. Also, a January time frame for the World Cup would potentially conflict with the 2022 Winter Olympics which are assumed to begin in February. These two competitions could compete for sponsors and network time, which is a bad situation for all parties involved.

            Overall, there seem to be many things wrong with the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. I wouldn’t be surprised, or upset by, a complete venue change to a different host country in either Europe or North America. The risk and all the questions about the tournament in Qatar don’t seem ideal for the players, teams, or fans.

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