World Cup 2022 diary: brave Iran fans shame Fifa at the big game in Qatar

Last Updated on November 27, 2022 by

Contents

Sunday

Sunday

No more sleep. And not an overwhelming feeling of a country waking up to World Cup fever. The task is to reflect what it is like in Doha when Qatar opens the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East with a match against Ecuador. On a two-hour walk through the city before ending at Souq Waqif, a traditional magnet for locals and tourists alike, the only signs of World Cup life are a gathering organized for Qataris (100 max) outside Millennium Plaza, a few cars drive by waving both Qatari and Palestinian flags, and two men were sitting outside a refrigerator repair shop with a TV propped up on a chair. Souq Waqif is livelier, though more people are gathered around a Korean tech booth than looking for the game. However, there is dangerous overcrowding at the Fan Festival, where too many people descend on the 40,000-capacity venue and are held in a holding area for almost an hour before being led away. An inevitable consequence, one might say, of hosting a World Cup in and around a city that offers few options for soccer fans.

Qatar: beyond the football

This is a World Cup like no other. For the past 12 years, The Guardian has been reporting on issues related to Qatar 2022, from corruption and human rights abuses to the treatment of migrant workers and discriminatory laws. The best of our journalism is collected on our dedicated homepage Qatar: Beyond the Football for those who want to delve into issues beyond the pitch.

The Guardian’s reporting goes far beyond what happens on the pitch. Support our investigative journalism today.

Monday

Monday

A day at the main media center, the football journalist’s equivalent of The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks. You may never leave. And that could be the point. It has a hair and beauty salon, gym, dry cleaning, bar, restaurants, a large work area, two virtual stadium “experiences” (basically watching games in the cinema), two press conference rooms and a bus terminal from where you can travel to all games. France head coach Didier Deschamps is besieged by requests for selfies from local journalists after the preview of the world champions’ first match against Australia. There is standing room only for Argentina’s press conference due to the appearance of Lionel Messi and there is a rush to the exits when it ends, leaving Saudi Arabia coach Hervé Renard to address a nearly deserted auditorium. The media around the world will be attentive to your every word in 24 hours.

Tuesday

Tuesday

Boat. Covering Messi in his last World Cup was already special, but the Argentina-Saudi Arabia game exceeds all expectations. On the subway to the Lusail Stadium it looks like a World Cup is finally taking place with carriages packed with loud Argentinian and Saudi fans. The atmosphere inside the World Cup final venue is exceptional and growing as Saudi Arabia produces one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition. An unforgettable moment. Then it’s off to the Fan Festival to watch France v Australia. A 500ml can of Budweiser, the only alcoholic drink available, costs 50 Qatari riyals, about £11.50.

Wednesday

Wednesday

Apartment – ​​metro – media center – bus – stadium – metro – apartment. This, more or less, is the daily work routine. Drab, yes, but you’re not missing out on much in Qatar. It’s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium tonight for Canada’s first World Cup appearance in 36 years. They should beat Belgium; they lose, for never having scored in a World Cup. It is now four World Cup games without a goal for Canada. A file. The starting signal at 10pm means returning to the apartment at 3.15am, once everything has been filed and the last metro has been taken. It could be worse: The journalist next to me in the stadium opened a bottle of Coca-Cola before kickoff that exploded everywhere, but mostly on his laptop. He died.

Thursday

Thursday

As you take in the sights on a walk along the Corniche, Doha’s seven kilometer waterfront, news breaks of a late ticket for Brazil v Serbia at the Lusail Stadium. We were given a Qatar-controlled “safe and happy migrant workers tour” look at the World Cup final venue under construction three years ago while we were here with Liverpool for the Club World Cup. It was a stadium in a desert. Now it’s a stadium next to a sprawling city of glittering towers, architecturally impressive hotels, apartment blocks, boulevards and the Place Vendôme shopping mall, a French-Vegas-style building that covers 1,150,000 square meters. Liverpool council have been slower to reconfigure Lime Street, as Richarlison can testify. Now he’s launching into World Cup stardom.

Friday

The power of the World Cup strikes like lightning. The sound of Iran’s national anthem being booed and whistled by the Iranians before the kick-off against Wales and the sight of distraught Iranian women and men afterwards is incredibly moving. It serves as yet another rebuke to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s pathetic call for everyone to “stick to football”. Security guards following orders confiscate the soccer jersey of an Iran fan that has “Mahsa Amini 22” printed on the back, the name and age of the woman whose death in police custody sparked the ongoing protests in the country . Shame about FIFA. There are reports of fanatics arrested for carrying anti-Islamic republic flags and banners with the protest slogan “Women, Life, Freedom.” Shame about Qatar. The Iran players somehow blocked out the powerful distractions to produce an emotionally charged victory.

Saturday

Apartment – ​​metro – media center – bus – stadium – metro – apartment.

#1. Lionel Messi (PSG & Argentina) (Total Soccer Goals: 798) The Argentine great turned 35 this June, but even at his age, the veteran hasn’t lost his ability to weave magic on the pitch. In his first season away from his childhood club Barcelona, ​​Messi finished with 11 goals and 15 assists in 34 total appearances.

How will the 2022 World Cup affect Qatar?

Qatar 2022 chief executive Nasser al-Khater expects the FIFA World Cup to contribute $17 billion to Qatar’s economy during the event, down from the initial estimate of $20 billion.

What will happen to Qatar’s stadiums after 2022? After the tournament, the Lusail Stadium will be transformed into a community center with schools, shops, cafeterias, sports facilities and health clinics, as part of Qatar’s commitment to sustainable development.

Will Qatar make money from the World Cup?

Proceeds from this World Cup cycle are $1 billion more than those generated by the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Do countries profit from the World Cup?

The short answer is no. Most of the countries that host a World Cup spend tens of billions on preparations, infrastructure development, hotel construction, etc. Much of that is often not recovered, at least not in terms of cash. The World Cup certainly is a source of money.

Will Qatar profit from World Cup?

Based on his analysis, he established that Qatar is expected to generate USD 6.5 billion, surpassing all previous tournaments and quadrupling the figure seen in Korea and Japan in 2002. The FIFA federation operates as custodian of the game, with all revenue distributed among Yes. on the sport.

Why is Qatar 2022 being boycotted?

Highlights of the study show the systematic abuse of labor in Qatar (more than 6,500 migrant workers have reportedly died while supporting infrastructure and construction for the tournament) and the country’s flagrant discrimination against women and LGBTQ people have led movements online to boycott the tournament. .

Why are people protesting Qatar?

Angered by the many injustices in Qatar, fans carried huge banners condemning the Gulf state’s exploitative treatment of migrant workers, abuse against the LGBTQ community and damage to the environment.

Why is Qatar criticized?

Qatar 2022’s most vocal opponents are human rights organizations that have documented the emirate’s brutal crackdown on LGBTQ people, the deadly exploitation of migrant workers and the use of slaves.

How much does it cost to go to the World Cup Qatar?

Qatar 2022 Match Tickets: 7 games, 1 ticket each, approximately $800. Accommodation – $2400.

How much does it cost to attend the World Cup in Qatar? The first game for the home team, Saudi Arabia, costs $207. Unsurprisingly, prices increase for later games. Tickets for the quarterfinals are around $400 on the secondary market. The semifinals go up to a ticket price of $700 or so, and the ticket for the World Cup finals is $2,400.

How much are the 2022 World Cup tickets to Qatar?

All tickets are sold in Qatari riyal for both Qatari residents and international fans, with prices ranging from 40 riyals ($11) to 5,850 riyals ($1,607).

How much are qatar 2022 tickets?

Category 1 – QAR 5850 ($1606); Category 2 – QAR 3650 ($1002); Category 3 tickets: QAR 2,200 ($605); Category 4 – QAR 750 ($205);

How do I get World Cup 2022 tickets in Qatar?

How to buy tickets for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final

  • Buy FIFA tickets on a first-come, first-served basis on FIFA.com.
  • Buy tickets and travel packages with Qatar Airways.

Is Korea in the World Cup?

Group H of the 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place from November 24 to December 2, 2022. The group consists of Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea. The top two teams will advance to the round of 16, while the other two teams will be eliminated.

Has South Korea won the World Cup? South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup tournament with Japan. They had never won a World Cup match before, but the South Korean team achieved their first World Cup win with a 2â win against Poland as the tournament began.

Is South Korea part of the World Cup?

AdversaryMexico
Juicetwo
Won0
drawn0
Losttwo

Who is out of World Cup 2022?

World Cup 2022: Qatar out of tournament – ​​first host nation to be eliminated after just two games.

Has South Korea qualified for the World Cup?

The 2022 Qatar World Cup will be South Korea’s 10th consecutive participation in the tournament and 11th overall. No team from Asia has played as many World Cups as the Taeguk Warriors.

What countries are in the World Cup 2022?

The 2022 World Cup will begin with 32 teams in eight groups of four:

  • Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, the Netherlands.
  • Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales.
  • Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland.
  • Group D: …
  • Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan.
  • Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia.

How many countries are going to the World Cup 2022?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is heating up. This soccer tournament, which will take place from November 20 to December 18, will bring together 32 of the best national teams from five confederations.

Who qualified for the 2022 World Cup?

World Cup groups The 2022 World Cup will begin with 32 teams in eight groups of four: Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands. Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales. Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland.

Who won Korea vs Uruguay World Cup 2022?

Uruguay began their World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against South Korea in Qatar. Diego Alonso, who started with Darwin Nunez in front over Edinson Cavani, saw his team start slowly and offer little attacking intent in the early exchanges.

Who will World Cup 2022?

The 22nd FIFA World Cup, takes place in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022. This is the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world, and the second to be held entirely in Asia after from the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan. .

Who won Korea vs Uruguay 2022?

World Cup 2022 highlights: Uruguay-South Korea battle to a goalless draw. Both Uruguay and South Korea had chances to break the tie in the closing minutes of Thursday’s game, but failed to capitalize.

Will Qatar be eliminated?

Qatar’s exit was confirmed following the Netherlands’ draw against Ecuador in the other Group A game, the first time a host nation has been eliminated after just two games in the tournament’s history.

Which team is eliminated from the 2022 World Cup? Qatar becomes the first team to be eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar became the first team to be eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Friday after the hosts of the tournament fell 3-1. against Senegal in their second group match.

How many countries will qualify for Qatar 2022?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification was the qualification process that decided the 31 teams that would join host Qatar, which received an automatic berth, in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Which countries will play in Qatar 2022?

The 32 countries qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are Qatar (host), Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Uruguay, Croatia, Denmark, Mexico, the United States, Senegal, Welsh. , Poland, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Switzerland, Ghana, Republic of Korea, Cameroon, Serbia, …

How many countries have qualified for the World Cup Qatar 2022?

Complete list of the 32 nations. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is just a couple away.

What is the new rules in Qatar 2022?

You will need to have a Hayya card to enter Qatar from November 1, 2022, even if you do not intend to attend a World Cup match. Match ticket holders can apply through the Hayya Portal to bring an additional 3 people without tickets to Qatar.

Why is Qatar 2022 being boycotted?

Highlights of the study show the systematic abuse of labor in Qatar (more than 6,500 migrant workers have reportedly died while supporting infrastructure and construction for the tournament) and the country’s flagrant discrimination against women and LGBTQ people have led movements online to boycott the tournament. .

Can I travel to Qatar in 2022?

If you arrive after November 1, you will no longer need to take a pre-departure PCR or rapid antigen test to enter Qatar. You also don’t need to pre-register with the government’s Ehteraz health app before arrival like travelers did in the past. Visitors to the World Cup will also not need a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

Will Qatar be eliminated from World Cup?

Qatar are knocked out of the World Cup after losing 3-1 to Senegal as Iran score twice in stoppage time to hand Wales a devastating 2-0 defeat. World Cup host nation Qatar has been knocked out of the tournament, less than a week after it launched the first version of the biggest soccer event in the Middle East.

Where is the 2030 World Cup?

Ukraine has joined Spain and Portugal in their bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The new partnership was confirmed by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) during a press conference in the Swiss headquarters of UEFA, the governing body of European soccer.

Who is betting on the 2030 World Cup? Portugal presented the Estádio da Luz and the Estádio Jose Alvalade XXI in Lisbon together with the Estádio do Dragão in Porto. Also jointly bidding to host the 2030 World Cup: Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile, as well as collectively: Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Where will the next 5 World Cups be held?

YearHost nation(s)Continent
2018RussiaEurope
2022QatarAsia
2026Canada Mexico United StatesNorth America

Which country will host 2026 World Cup?

Where will the final of the 2026 World Cup be held?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international men’s football championship contested by the national teams of FIFA member associations. The tournament will be co-hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Where will the World Cup be held in 2038?

Ghana. Ghana is planning an ambitious bid to host the 2038 FIFA World Cup as part of its 40-year national development plan, developed by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

Where will World Cup 2034 take place?

Five ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) have officially proposed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Where will the next 2026 World Cup be held?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be held in North America, while the current one is taking place in Qatar. The soccer tournament will take place in sixteen cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Where will the World Cup be held in 2034?

Five ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) have officially proposed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Where will the next 2 World Cups be held?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international men’s football championship contested by the national teams of FIFA member associations. The tournament will be co-hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States.