World Cup “Qatarstrophe”?
Many countries felt shocked and cheated when FIFA chose Qatar to host the 2022 football World Cup. But it could usher in a new era for the sport and the region.
“It’s time we realized that they don’t just play dominos in the Orient.” In 12 years’ time, the soccer World Cup will take place in the desert nation of Qatar, a country that has never participated in a World Cup. The German tabloid Bild called it a “Qatarstrophe”. It was a scandal for everyone who sees football as a game for Europe and its former colonies. But the event could give a boost to the whole region, and usher in a new era for the sport. Muslim clerics are even prepared to relax the country’s strict rules during the tournament.
