More than 80 years have passed since Oil Company workers organized the first football matches in Qatar, then still under the protectorate of the British Empire. They were very precarious matches in the desert because there were neither large stadiums nor large skyscrapers or practically nothing. Everything was desert. Today, almost three million people live in the Qatari emirate, whose capital is drawn by buildings that reach the clouds, and eight almost brand new stadiums will host the most important tournament of the most important sport in the world.
The Qatar World Cup is finally set this long Sunday twelve years after its controversial designation. More than a decade that has been marked by many more shadows than lights, but that the ruling Al Thani family and their subjects trust that it has been worth it and that their country is a worthy venue for an entire World Cup. It matters little that the extreme weather that Qatar presides over has forced the tournament to be moved to the months of November and December for the first time in history. Or that it has forced the reorganization of all club competitions and has been a nightmare for all leagues. Or that the election was surrounded by the long shadow of corruption. And much less that FIFA chose a country where respect for human rights is not the order of the day, where women are not treated equally or where the employment of thousands of immigrant workers in the construction work of stadiums in subhuman conditions has meant the death of many of them. Football is capable of anything and as of today it has its most complicated mission: turn off this noise and let the show take precedence.
Good proof of all this was given on Saturday by Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, who, far from putting himself in profile, adopted a most bellicose attitude when it came to defending Qatar during the press conference prior to the start of the tournament. . The leader grabbed the microphone in one of the huge rooms of the Convention Center and spoke non-stop for 65 minutes, as if the spirit of Fidel Castro had invaded him. “I have strong feelings, today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel like a woman, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel like a migrant worker,” he snapped at the audience. Infantino was very hurt by the criticism from European countries about life in Qatar. “The double standard that prevails in Europe is sad, Qatar has made a lot of progress. Europeans, and I am, should apologize before giving lessons, there is a lot of hypocrisy. How many companies make money here and care about the workers?” asked the FIFA president, who revealed dark episodes from his childhood: “I know what it is to be bullied, I had red hair and freckles and I suffered bullying”.
Infantino's speech is the right ending to a long and controversial road to this World Cup, which finally begins today with a Qatar-Ecuador match at the Al Bayt stadium (5:00 p.m. Spanish time) and which will allow football to sneak into the conversation. The match will be preceded by an opening ceremony surrounded by mystery and sponsored, of course, also by the controversy over the refusal of artists like Shakira or Rod Stewart to participate in it (Robbie Williams will). The host team, led by Félix Sánchez from Barcelona, will have to deal with the weight of history since no host has lost the opening match in the history of the World Cups and, furthermore, only South Africa in 2010 was not able to overcome the phase of groups.
The tournament will be historic for many reasons, but not all of them are negative. For the first time in history, three women will act as main referees, forming part of the 36 chosen, in a courageous decision but also likely to be described as image whitening with the signature of Qatar and FIFA.
One of the many unknowns surrounding this World Cup is the presence of fans in the stands of the stadiums given the ticket prices and the limited hotel offer. Although FIFA repeats that ticket sales are breaking records, many federations fear not having the support of their fans in the stands as in other editions. The debut of teams with the pull of Argentina, Brazil or England will serve as a measuring stick to examine the figures.
The bookmakers point to Brazil and Argentina as the big favorites, along with France, which goes to Qatar to defend the crown won in Russia four years ago. Behind them, the Spain of Luis Enrique appears. Despite his youth and inexperience, the good performance of the red in the last Eurocup allows him to rub shoulders with the best when it comes to imagining a champion. Let the ball roll at once.
