Quatar 2023 football world championship
 

Like it or not, the football event is coming, and its close. Many controversies around it included. Why not having a football thread and starting a bit early and look at the country that hosts the championship and finds itself so often at the focus of Western criticism?

Myself, I hold no opinion on Quatar itself, becasue I never was there and I know pritcially nothing about it. The Wetsenr blasé atottude twards it is obvious, and I do nto give anything for it, because being blasé towards anyone not wnatign to be like us Wetserners is so much common now that I cannot take it serious anymore - not with that desastrous state our own household is in and the many issues and problems we not only cannot solve, but create ourselves.

Has anyone here ever been in Quatar for longer time, lived there? Care to share your views of it?

I start with this - apparently first of several - essays I read today in FOCUS. The autor does not hide his surprise, and this article is the reason why I had the idea for this thread. Can anyone comment on it from own experience?
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German media are ranting about the "World Cup of Shame" and sharply attacking the host Qatar. But are the accusations justified in this form? Is everything really so bleak in the emirate? FOCUS online traveled to the desert state to see for itself.

As I approach Doha, I am overcome with doubt. Will I ever get out of here in one piece? Or will the police intercept me? For a wrong word, a wrong move? Caning? Prison?

Actually, I am well prepared. I have carefully filled out all the entry forms, have been vaccinated against Corona, and know the emergency number for the German embassy. During the last five and a half hours in the Qatar Airways plane, I have listened to a few Koran verses and drunk tomato juice. A film about God was playing on the screen in my front seat: Diego Armando Maradona.

The Argentine was and remains the best kicker in the universe. Even if Lionel Messi will try to get a little closer to him again in the coming weeks.

As a reporter in the World Cup country Qatar: Many doubts in the luggage

The flags of the World Cup participants in Qatar's capital Doha. The German flag is at the front because the team qualified first.
Göran Schattauer / FOL The flags of the World Cup participants in Qatar's capital Doha. The German flag is at the front because the team was the first to qualify.

On November 20, the World Cup begins in Qatar. A state smaller than Schleswig-Holstein. One of the richest countries in the world. A mystery for millions of Germans. Beautiful and yet inscrutable. Also for me.

Shortly before the start of the biggest sporting event in 2022, I travel to the desert state on the Persian Gulf. After everything I have read and heard about Qatar recently, nothing good awaits me.

Human rights violations, exploitation of guest workers, oppression of women, discrimination against homosexuals, draconian punishments for breaking the law, massively restricted freedom of the press - such buzzwords dominate reporting about the Arab-Muslim country. There is talk of a "World Cup of Shame". Minister of the Interior Faeser (SPD) even thinks that the Emirate should never have been awarded the contract.

Serious accusations against the Emirate: How justified are they?

But how justified are the accusations, some of them serious, which place Qatar in the vicinity of an unjust state? Are all the negative things really what Qatar is all about? Or is the situation different once you are there and encounter the country without prejudice?

To find out, I travel through Qatar for several days. I explore the capital Doha and drive deep into the interior, into the desert. I meet Qatari businessmen, talk to German entrepreneurs and listen to ordinary people on the street. Of course, I also interview guest workers from India or Nepal, who toil in the sweltering heat to polish everything to a shine for the big tournament.

I will report on my experiences in several articles that will appear on FOCUS online over the next few days.
The World Cup host surprises me - and in a positive way!

After the first impressions I can already say: The World Cup host has surprised me - and positively! Despite undeniable problems that exist in the country, despite some peculiarities that seem strange and perhaps even disturbing to us "Westerners".

Rarely have I met such hospitable, such open-hearted people. They all welcome me warmly and cordially. With gestures, with words.

The cab driver, the waiters, hotel employees, vendors, employees of authorities, government employees, the ushers in the subway, even policemen - every one of them shows me that I am welcome in Qatar. As a journalist, I can move around and research freely; the only taboos are security and military installations, just as in any country in the world.

"Germany is wonderful. We love the Germans"

I feel: people here treat each other very respectfully. They accept other cultures, other religions, other ways of life.

"Germany is wonderful. We love the Germans" - I hear these sentences from many Qataris. They drive BWM, Audi, VW, Mercedes, Porsche. They buy gingerbread in the supermarket. Those who can afford it have architects, window makers and lighting installers flown in from Germany. Hundreds of Germans work and live here. They are doing well. They are enthusiastic.

Of course people in Qatar follow the German media, of course they are disappointed. They feel they have been treated unfairly. Recognition? Appreciation? Not at all. Only recently, the Emir of Qatar complained that his country was facing an "unprecedented campaign," that "slander" was being spread and that "double standards" were being applied.

"Attitude of the West towards Qatar is presumptuous"

Many Germans, some of whom have lived in the prosperous Gulf state for years and are very successful as businessmen or employees of large companies, have a similar view.

"The West's attitude toward Qatar is presumptuous and arrogant," a manager from Hesse tells me. Many Qatar critics in Germany, she says, regard their own values as the measure of all things. "It doesn't even occur to them that there could be other models of society besides Western democracy in which people are happy."

Qatar is an absolute monarchy. At its head is Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. He took over the reigns from his father in 2013. The emir, now 42, aligned his country, which has neither political parties nor a parliament, in a pro-Western direction and established democratic structures. The emir is very popular in his homeland.

The desert state of Qatar: Once destitute - now immensely rich

Just 80 or 90 years ago, the small desert state of Qatar was destitute. People lived on pearls, which they extracted from the sea and sold under great hardship. When the first barrels of crude oil were extracted in the west of the country in 1939 and later huge gas reserves were discovered, a new era dawned, the era of prosperity. Qatar worked its way inexorably to the top of the world's richest countries.

The ruling family around Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani set Qatar on a breathtaking growth course that ultimately benefited everyone - the powerful corporations as well as the country's nearly three million citizens. Only about 10 percent of them were born here; most have immigrated from all over the world or come here to work for a certain period of time.

Qatar has a first-class infrastructure and an exemplary healthcare system; it is one of the safest countries in the world. In addition, the government pumps billions of dollars into education, art, culture and sports. While it takes 14 years to build a single airport in Germany, Qatar is pounding a new, ultra-modern city out of the sand in that time.

"There are many things that we Germans can only marvel at"

"We Germans can only marvel at many things that are being built here at an insane pace," a top restaurateur who has been working here since 2018 tells me. Instead, he says, attempts are made to denigrate the country wherever possible, often by people who have never been here. He has stopped reading the reports. "I think everyone should look at themselves first and try to solve their own problems instead of just bashing others."

He goes on to say, "We can talk about human rights, we can talk about guest workers, we can talk about the gay and lesbian scene, but above everything, one thing has to be very clear: Respect!" But that's exactly what he says is missing in the German media and among some politicians.

With each new day in Qatar, my fears that the state might punish me for some infraction diminish.

I accidentally photograph a building that, according to the government, may not be filmed - a security guard shouts "No Photos," enlightens me and wishes me a nice day.
I interview guest workers on the open street who are toiling in the sweltering heat and have them describe their situation to me - no one forbids me to do so, although surveillance cameras are hanging everywhere and people in charge are walking around.
Like many others, I cross the street at a red light - surrounding police officers do not react. And on the highway my driver drives much faster than allowed - without consequences.
In the subway I don't wear a Corona mask, which is strictly forbidden - no watchdog intervenes. In Germany, I would probably have been thrown off the train and had to pay a fine.
Because my cell phone battery is empty, I can't show the Covid warning app "Etheraz" in a museum, which was absolutely mandatory until October 31 and with which the Qatari health authorities track my location in real time - the female employees wave me through.

"There are plenty of gays and lesbians in Qatar".

How does all this fit in with the reports of draconian punishments for even - from our perspective - the smallest of offenses? I'm beginning to get the feeling that the Qatari government appears stricter to the outside world than it really is.

A Syrian who has lived in Doha for 13 years and works as a tour guide confirms this: "Some things are not allowed in public, for example drinking alcohol or physical contact among homosexuals. What people did in private, he says, is of no concern to the state. "There are plenty of gays and lesbians in Qatar," he says. "But they don't wear that on the outside. It's their private business. And as long as they don't hold hands on the street, no one bothers."

Admittedly, that's little comfort to homosexuals. They cannot live and show their love freely, they have to hide. Otherwise, they face harsh punishments. In Qatar, the Sharia, the legal system of Islam, applies. This includes the death penalty, which has not been carried out in the country for a long time.

Strict regulations also apply to alcohol. Foreigners living in Qatar are allowed to buy beer, wine and liquor in selected stores if they have first obtained a license from the state. This costs around 40 euros in the first year and gradually increases to 110 euros in the fourth year.

On the way from the store to the home (only drinking is allowed there), the alcohol must be "protected from public view," according to Qatari authorities. It is also strictly forbidden to give alcohol to others, especially locals. They can only get alcohol in restaurants and hotels. Although the prices are steep - a half liter of Budweiser beer can easily cost 16 euros - in principle, the bars and pubs are no different than ours.
Men in traditional robes drink gin and tonic

At first glance, it seems strange to see men in traditional white robes and headscarves sitting at a table and sipping gin and tonic. But so what? That, too, is Qatar!

And anyone who thinks that the women here are all covered from head to toe should take a trip to the Marriott or Kempinski at night. There, dark-haired beauties in high heels and skimpy dresses let it rip like in New York, London or Berlin. They dance, party and pose for their Instagram followers, taking a few puffs from shiny gold shishas in between.

The women in Qatar. Many German media and organizations such as Human Rights Watch portray them primarily as victims who are dominated by men and have hardly any chance to develop freely. Allegedly, they are not even allowed to leave the house without a man accompanying them. Moreover, they would have to dress "demurely."

Even emancipated women wear floor-length dresses

Talking to locals, I learn that Qatari women wear their abaya, the traditional black dress, voluntarily and gladly. It is part of their culture. They have grown up with it. In addition, the "cover" protects them from unwanted glances from foreign men.

Self-confident, emancipated women also wear the floor-length dresses and cover their hair. This has nothing to do with submissiveness, they say. It is their "free decision. Whether that applies to everyone, I can't say. In any case, there is no compulsion to wear the veil here, as there is in Iran. Only women who work in government offices should wear abayas - as a sign of their cultural identity. And if it is not customary in Qatar to show naked skin on the street, it has something to do with respect for society, I am told.

I experience how considerately women are treated

Even though there are always reports about women being exploited and sexually abused as domestic help or nannies, even though women are not equal to men in many areas: Several times I experience how courteously and considerately women are treated in Qatar. Two examples:

When a woman goes to a government office, a staff member immediately approaches her and makes sure that her request is dealt with promptly. It is unthinkable in Qatar for a woman to have to take a number and wait forever, as is the case in German offices.

A German businessman pushes away his wife's call because he has a customer on the line. An absolute no-go for a Qatari! "My wife would be so offended that I would have to sleep on the sofa for two weeks," reports a local.

Women drive cars, study, have top jobs in government agencies

Long after dark, I still see mothers in the playground with their children or sitting together over tea and dates. Others go jogging - all alone - in the park. Girls play soccer under floodlights. Maybe they'll make the national team someday. Yes, Qatar also has a national women's team.

Women here drive cars, study, go to work, and occupy management positions in state agencies. Incidentally, they earn just as much as men in the same job; this is regulated by law. Qatar was the first country in the Gulf to grant women active and passive voting rights. You read very little about this in our media.

Of course, it is difficult for "Westerners" to understand that men are allowed to marry several women, which is still the case in Qatar today. It does not correspond to our values. But do we therefore have the right to condemn such things? "No, you don't," the guide, who is from Syria, teaches me. "Everyone should respect each other's values and traditions, not rise above them."

I change perspective - and that's a good thing

I'm happy to be here. I think it's important to switch perspectives and hear what people on the other side think. That way I can better understand why they act the way they do. Of course there are things that could be better. But is that different here in Germany? In the USA, France, Great Britain?

I experience Qatar as clean, safe and peaceful, tolerant and cosmopolitan. Next to the mosque, a Starbucks. Next to mirrored skyscrapers, a herd of camels. Next to ancient market stalls under a blazing hot sun, icy air-conditioned shopping malls. Tradition and modernity, East and West - here everything comes together, here everyone comes together. At the World Cup more than ever.

In the subway, I spot Schweini [Sebastian Schweinsteiger, Skybird] with the World Cup trophy.

The Qataris are looking forward to fans and players. National flags are flying everywhere in Doha. Oversized banners of top stars like Neymar, Harry Kane , Luka Modrić, Luis Suarez hang from the glittering towers in the West Bay business and shopping district.

I spot Schweini on the subway. On the huge photo he is holding up the trophy in 2014. The luxury perfumery "Al-Jazeera" has even released a fragrance that pays tribute to the successes of the German World Cup team. "Germany" is written on the bottle, 60 milliliters, lemony note. Under the black, red and gold flag flying at the World Cup countdown clock on Doha's Corniche is a sign with the word "Welcome."

That's Qatar. Qatar as I have experienced it.
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https://www.focus.de/sport/fussball/...174125408.html

Not interested in this tournament for the first time and yes, it is because of who the hosts are.

The simple truth is....money talks the loudest.

Definitely not interested.
Slave workers, deaths, nope.
Next time, Russia? Fifa is a corrupt pig circus.

I'm really only interested this time around due to Canada finally getting in. It has been a long time for us, 1986 :oops:

But agree, these big tournaments, the Olympics, etc, have become shat-shows.... Money, money and more money.

As the little man on the street there isn't much I can do about it and three of my favorite teams are in the tournament-Denmark, Germany and Holland.

I'm going to watch the games-well knowing FIFA sucks.

I have send an idea of how future World Cup, Europe Cup and Olympic should be decided to both FIFA and IOC

Markus

I'm not really interested in soccer anyway and have always preferred rugby and American football (which, I admit, is rather unusual for a German), but the Qatar World Cup really sets a new low in many ways. Qatar basically bought the World Cup, bribed dozens, if not hundreds of officials, spied on the other applicants and threatened, blackmailed officials so that no one would dare to take the World Cup away from them.

They are a backward country, literally killing workers and ripping of the survivors (not paying them for months, for example).
Not going to watch any of the games - it's the NFL season anyway.

And how do you guys comment on the author expressing quite opposing views by his visit in Quatar? Can you counter his claims, experiences, impressions?

Can we be so certain indeed that the mainstream medias' politically correct and always hypermoralistic view of Quatar indeed is representative for how it is there?

I neither attack your view, nor defend Quatar, as I said in the beginning; I do not know anything about Quatar (beside the endlessly repeated stories in the mainstream media), and thus have never formed anythign like a "opinion" on it. The media describe Quatar as "bad". But many people knowing it - and not only the Quataris themselves - describe it much more positively, thats the only pattern that I have identified. And for a Muslim country it is, despite the autocratic political system and Shariah law, surprisingly progressive.


BTW, on the football and the German team, my interest is almost nil. But that is almost completely due to the German team, the politics about and around it, and the corrupt business of FIFA.

I cannot counter his impressions, I've never been to Qatar (but I have met Qatari ex-pats, who basically say that life in Qatar is great if you are among the few rich, but awful if you are not).


The entire report sounds staged. Not by the reporter, but rather by the Qataris, a bit like the 1936 Olympics, he only saw what he was supposed to see, and he only tells what he was supposed to tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqHUBNldsKA

Here you go Sky.....Namewee's just come back from there. He gives lots of information to digest. His comments come thick and fast......the subtitles are quick.....but he's a funny bugger, who's been in trouble with strict religious authorities so he's being very careful with what he says. :)

The girls in his music video were imported from overseas....not local girls.

^ Just FYI, I watched it.


Here is another critical reporter's report, printed in FOCUS:
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Jochen Breyer, ZDF's anchorman during the World Cup in Qatar, is not taking it easy. The 39-year-old sports journalist traveled to the controversial Gulf state twice before the tournament for a primetime documentary. A critical interview about soccer and its business models.

ZDF journalist Jochen Breyer traveled through Qatar before the start of the World Cup to get an idea of what life is like in the small Gulf state. His film "Geheimsache Qatar" will be shown on Tuesday, November 8, at 8:15 p.m., on ZDF. In the interview, Breyer talks about indoor amusement parks with roller coasters and Venetian gondolas, as well as the reason why we are as much to blame for a World Cup in Qatar as the Qatari rulers themselves.

teleschau: In the film, you deal with the country itself and the controversial awarding of the World Cup. At the same time, you are the ZDF anchorman for the World Cup matches. Does that fit together?

Jochen Breyer: That's exactly why I wanted to make this film. Because the World Cup in Qatar is the most difficult event I've hosted as a journalist so far. I didn't want to do this job without having been in the country myself first and having gathered my own impressions.

teleschau: When you say "most difficult event" - what is the dilemma?

Breyer: During the World Cup, we want to get people excited about the sport in Qatar, because ultimately it's about sport. Nevertheless, there is much more at stake: Qatar wants to use the event as an advertising show. As the broadcaster, it will be up to us, among others, to put all this into perspective. That's why it was so important for me to go there and see for myself what this tournament could be like. And I also wanted to understand how Qatar managed to get this World Cup.

teleschau: How great is the danger of transferring positive feelings on the ground - beautiful stadiums, great games - to the host, that is, the country of Qatar?

Breyer: You are referring to what is known as "sportswashing": major sporting events that whitewash authoritarian regimes. That this is exactly what Qatar is aiming for is something I felt myself on my filming trips. We couldn't just shoot what we wanted there, but only what we were allowed to. The authorities wanted to present us with a glossed-over picture. And we always had an escort by our side to control us.

teleschau: What were you allowed to see?

Breyer: For example, the stadiums, which are really impressive. I have seen many stadiums, but these are among the most beautiful and spectacular. Of course, money didn't play a role either - and neither did sustainability, by the way. Then we were taken up to a skyscraper, from where we had a crazy view over Doha with its skyline. We were shown beautiful facades. But we were not supposed to see what lies behind the facade.

teleschau: So there were things you were not allowed to film ...

Breyer: We would have liked to take a look at Qatari life. And we would have liked to speak openly with those responsible. We had asked the head of the World Cup organization. We also had an interview confirmed, but that fell through at the last minute. What we did manage to do was to visit a Qatari family once. Even if it was a former soccer star of the country and Qatari World Cup ambassador.

teleschau: Had you tried to shed light on the working conditions on the World Cup construction sites?

Breyer: We didn't try to do that because I had the feeling that other media had already reported on this comprehensively and very well. We were interested in looking at the private side of things. That's why we asked if we could watch soccer with our host family. That went ahead on our second visit - and it was very revealing.

teleschau: In what way?

Breyer: We watch the game in a kind of separate living room to which only men have access. Tea is drunk there and shisha is smoked. You are served by employees who are always on call to hand you food or drinks. My host said: If he wants, they will still be there tomorrow morning. An irritating feeling.

teleschau: What was the most depressing moment for you during your reportage?

Breyer: It was when I talked about human rights with Khalid Salman Al-Muhannadi, the World Cup ambassador, whom we were allowed to visit. Also how the staff there were treated, people from the Philippines, was disturbing. They were treated badly. There has been a lot of talk about the exploitation of construction workers. Domestic workers are doing even worse because their work is hidden. This exploitation must be really terrible, says Amnesty International. You could get an idea of that by looking at their work there.

teleschau: When exactly were you in Qatar?

Breyer: In June and then again recently. We wanted to schedule our first visit at a time when the World Cup would normally have taken place. I can only say: June had up to 50 degrees, it would have been madness. I was in Death Valley once, it was nothing compared to that. In Qatar, the entire life takes place indoors during the summer months. Often in huge shopping malls that look like covered cities - including amusement parks with roller coasters and Venetian gondolas in which you cross the malls on canals. Qataris spend entire weekends in such complexes. Outside, we met absolutely no one in June. Not even on the beach for a swim.

teleschau: Did you have the feeling that you were in an unjust state?

Breyer: We definitely had the feeling that we were in a surveillance state. There are cameras on every corner and in every street. We were traveling in a newly built neighborhood in Doha with 25,000 inhabitants - and 10,000 cameras. When we unpacked our TV camera there, it didn't take 60 seconds before a security guard was there to check our filming permit and papers.

teleschau: Do you think that happens to people filming with your cell phone?

Breyer: I don't know. We had a professional camera with us, of course, so we were more conspicuous. Qatar is used to having total control over the inhabitants. Always and everywhere. So of course we wondered how it would be at the World Cup. After all, it means a loss of control for the Qataris. At its peak, half a million people will be visiting Doha. The state will try to monitor it all. But how will they react when fans walk around the city topless, when they drink beer, or when two gay men kiss on the street?

teleschau: Do you know how many fans will come?

Breyer: One and a half million fans are expected. The tickets are almost sold out.

teleschau: That doesn't necessarily sound like a boycott ...

Breyer: I can understand everyone who is boycotting the World Cup, but also those who want to go there. After all, it always gives you something to see things with your own eyes. In any case, it's too short-sighted to just point fingers at Qatar. The reasons why they wanted the World Cup are understandable. It's about geostrategy, about sportswashing, and about feeling vulnerable as a small and very rich country. There are powerful neighbors, and you need a lot of alliances, prestige and safeguards.

teleschau: And you get all that by investing massively in other European countries?

Breyer: Exactly, the Qataris own Paris St. Germain or are top sponsors of FC Bayern Munich. They have acquired the rights to some European leagues via a TV station and broadcast them in the Arab world. That, too, creates influence. Qatar's goal was to create as many dependencies as possible. They have succeeded in doing that. But only because there were many in soccer, and especially in FIFA, who went along with it. Paris St. Germain allowed itself to be bought. FC Bayern and the European soccer leagues let themselves be paid dearly, through sponsorship contracts and TV rights deals. In this respect, it is not enough to say that the bad guys are only in Qatar!

teleschau: All these dependencies mean that Qatar can only be criticized to a limited extent, right?

Breyer: That's exactly how it is. You only have to look at how the officials of FC Bayern talk about Qatar. Unlike those of other clubs - because they are contractual partners of the state-owned airline. FIFA is also sponsored to a considerable extent by Qatari companies.

teleschau: Investigative research on the last World Cup awards suggests that at least since the 2006 summer fairy tale, many or all World Cups have been "bought." Is that also your impression?

Breyer: There is at least credible evidence that the World Cup was not awarded cleanly to Germany. And the one to Russia - I don't believe that the vote was fair from a purely sporting point of view either.

teleschau: You also visited Sepp Blatter for your film. He was FIFA president when the World Cup was awarded to Qatar. What did you hope to gain from the visit?

Breyer: Above all, I wanted to know why the 2010 bid was approved in the first place. Because everyone knew that no World Cup could take place at 50 degrees Celsius. Even FIFA's review committee itself stated that in its report.

teleschau: And what did Sepp Blatter say in reply?

Breyer: He said they allowed the bid because they didn't think they could win. And then they started to work ...

teleschau: Do you believe that major sporting events can change anything in totalitarian countries?

Breyer: I have my doubts about that. Have Russia or China changed after the World Cup or the Olympic Games? In the short term, the human rights situation may improve. That is, when the spotlight of the world is on a country. My first Olympics were in Beijing in 2008, when the focus was on Tibet and repression. Has anything improved since then? That doesn't mean it will be the same with Qatar. Even human rights organizations say that the legal situation of migrant workers has improved. The question is whether that will remain the case when the world no longer looks so critically at Qatar.
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^ If I remember it I'm going to watch this documentary on ZDF. Only disadvantage is that UT doesn't work with DVB T2(Via Satellite or cable)

I got a lot more with UT than without.

Markus

Front Office Sports has calculated the financial costs for the championship in Quatar. It costs more than all previous tournaments together.

In billion dollars:
https://i.postimg.cc/50kxPDZ9/Unbenannt.png

Madness. That is insane.

Adds more proof this is all about money and little else.

Even Human rights are forbidden

https://talksport.com/football/12430...up-qatar-2022/

Markus

It does, but it didn't need any more proof anyway.

I know it will never happen but I'd love to see half a dozen prominent teams decide against competing.

Mr Klopp have an interesting input

https://keepup.com.au/news/players-n...-protest-klopp

Markus

Subjective perosnal impressions for foreigner sin Quatar, as printed in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung:
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Qatar - the land of foreigners

85 percent of Qatar's inhabitants are foreigners. They work not only in construction, but also as influencers, managers, security guards or fitness trainers. What do they think about their temporary home? A day in Doha.

In the morning, "If someone likes you, they'll recommend you right away."

Paul Ghanem stands in the kitchen of his apartment. "You want eggs?" he asks, before slamming a dozen into a frying pan. It's 9 a.m., outside, the sun blazes down on empty streets. For Ghanem, it's already his second breakfast. At 4:30 a.m., he has already eaten cornflakes in the darkness before driving to work. The Lebanese wears a black T-shirt and a black beard and works as a fitness trainer in Doha, the capital of Qatar. He teaches cross-fit classes and has his clients run across indoor tartan tracks. "They call me captain," he says.

Qatar seems like a cruise ship: built for the few, run by the many - hundreds of thousands of employees and workers. In hardly any other country in the world is the proportion of foreigners as high as here: 85 percent. 2.4 million guest workers keep the tiny emirate running. While most Qataris are still asleep, buses filled with workers are on the road on the dead-straight highways. Work has been going on for hours at the construction sites.

Ghanem has been awake since 4 a.m. and has given several classes. Now he has an hour's break before meeting his customers. Until a few months ago, he was a personal trainer in Lebanon. But there is an economic crisis in his home country. "There is no future. The government is corrupt, and the banks steal your money. Everyone wants to leave, and those who have made it don't return."

Ghanem really just wanted to visit a friend when he first came to Doha in late 2021. "I didn't know much about Qatar, only that it was very rich because of all the oil and gas." One week turned into many months: Ghanem quickly found a job, started working and found an apartment with two other Lebanese. Qatar has become his temporary home. He hopes to lead a normal life here. "Now I can finally focus on myself."

Arriving in Qatar was not easy. "You can't imagine how cold it can get here in November," he says. "Still, I had to go to outdoor training every morning at 5 a.m." The 27-year-old has since gotten used to life in Doha. "Qatar is a strange country," he says. "Qataris are very rich, I see that with my clients. They get everything from the state. At the same time, many things move slowly because the civil servants here don't work."

All foreigners who come to Qatar to work need a sponsor. This person gets them a work permit. It's the same for Ghanem. "Of course, I am dependent. But if I do it skillfully, I get to know a lot of people thanks to my sponsor." He speaks Arabic - that's an advantage.

In Lusail's Sports City, a new neighborhood, Ghanem trains a dozen men. They all come from the same influential family. "If one likes you, he recommends you right away," he says.

How long Ghanem plans to stay in Qatar, he doesn't know. He earns twice as much as in Lebanon, "but life is expensive." He pays $1,000 a month for his room. He takes an Uber cab to work because he can't afford a car yet. He hardly ever goes out. "When I party here, I can't put money aside."

When Ghanem does go out anyway, he meets up with other Lebanese. "We wear our crucifixes under our T-shirts then, dance and drink gin with Seven-Up." They would often talk about home and rave about Beirut. "Sometimes one of my friends complains that he is treated badly, as a second-class foreigner." Ghanem usually goes home early because he has to get up early again the next morning.

At noon: "It's still better than at home"

Joe Kibet unlocks the door to the common room. "Here we can talk undisturbed." It's noon, and the 29-year-old is on break. He sits down on a sofa in the middle of the windowless room and loosens the belt buckle of his uniform. Every now and then, he glances at his cell phone, which rests next to him on the armrest. At 5 a.m., his shift as a security guard began. He still has five hours to go.

Kibet's name is different; he wishes to remain anonymous. The Kenyan is one of the foreigners at the bottom of Qatar's hierarchy. There is a kind of caste system in the Gulf emirate. At the top - after the Emir and the few locals - are Western foreigners who earn the most. The lowest social group is made up of cleaning women, construction workers and security guards. They come from Bangladesh, Nepal or East Africa. They are people like Kibet.

Kibet's name is different; he wishes to remain anonymous. The Kenyan belongs to the foreigners who are at the bottom of Qatar's hierarchy. There is a kind of caste system in the Gulf emirate. At the top - after the Emir and the few locals - are Western foreigners who earn the most. The lowest social group is made up of cleaning women, construction workers and security guards. They come from Bangladesh, Nepal or East Africa. They are people like Kibet.

Kibet works in a luxury residential tower and is responsible for security. He patrols the building and smiles at the residents. "There are worse jobs," he says. "The people who live here are nice to me." Kibet came to Qatar in 2019, previously renting motor scooters in his hometown of Mombasa. "When my business partner died, I had to look for something else to support my family." In Doha, Kibet earns $600 a month. At home, it was 300.

Every day, Kibet works twelve hours. Afterwards, he takes a two-hour bus back to Labor City, where he shares a room with five Kenyans. The accommodation is clean, but he has no privacy. "You live here just to work, nothing else," he says. "At least I don't have to pay rent. Others charge for a bunk bed in a dirty room, too."

Labour-City is a housing estate for migrant workers on the southern edge of Doha. The camp is considered a showcase project and has Internet, recreation rooms and its own health clinic. Next to the site, the Qataris have built a cricket stadium and a shopping mall. There are cheap clothes stores, cell phone stores and Indian or Pakistani restaurants. The construction of the housing estate was Qatar's response to criticism of working conditions in the country.

Some things have improved, Kibet says. "Before, sometimes we didn't get our wages at all or had to wait a long time." Since the government introduced an electronic payment system, that no longer happens. Besides, he says, he's lucky as a security guard. "Other workers are not doing so well. Especially the men on the construction sites are suffering." The extreme heat is getting to them.

Protests against working conditions have consequences, says Kibet: "The government has the instigators deported immediately." That hits the migrant workers hard. Not only do they lose their jobs, but they have also spent money for nothing. Many of them paid local agencies a lot of money to come to Qatar. Although this is now illegal, it is still practiced. Kibet says he paid the equivalent of $1,000. That's not so much, he says. "For the Bangals, it costs five times that."

Afternoon: "There are 70 nationalities working in my business"

The setting sun bathes the facades of the white single-family houses in glistening light. Housemaids in uniforms walk dogs. "People back home always think I live like a king here," says Marco Stoll, unlocking the door to his row house. "But they don't. We lead a normal middle-class life."

Stoll, 52, has lived in the emirate for ten years. He doesn't want to give his real name. His employer forbids him to talk to journalists about his job. Stoll is a hotel manager responsible for a major project.

"When I first came here in 2000, there was nothing here," he says, taking a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. "There were just two five-star hotels. If you wanted to drink alcohol somewhere else, the best place to go was the British Embassy." There are now more than 20 luxury hotels in Doha.

Life is pleasant in Qatar, Stoll says. His two children attend a good school, the country is safe, and health care is excellent. He also likes the international atmosphere: "In my business, I work with people from 70 nations," he says. "In Switzerland, that would be impossible." Stoll always wanted to go out into the world. After hotel management school, he first moved to the Gulf, later to Asia, before returning to Qatar.

In the meantime, Stoll has even made local friends. Most of the time, they prefer to keep to themselves, but every now and then he is invited to dinner. Sometimes the Qataris set up huge tents in the desert and take cooks with them. "I then sit with the men, and my wife either stays at home or just chats with the women."

Previously, Stoll lived in Dubai. "Qatar is 15 years behind," he says. "However, I don't think Qatar will ever become like Dubai." Many Qataris are skeptical about opening up their country, he says. "Some of them think the World Cup is anything but great. They think the event is a waste of money and don't want all the fuss."

It has become dark outside in the meantime. Stoll pours more wine. He is happy to have visitors. There is not much to do in Doha, he says. "I can't take the children to the same museum every weekend. But the work is interesting. In contrast to Europe, large projects are implemented quickly in Qatar. "In my hotel, I have 800 employees, 8 restaurants, a surfing facility and a water park. Such an operation would not be profitable at all in Switzerland."

He earns well, Stoll says, but as a foreigner he has no social security. "And like everyone else, I'm dependent on my employer. If my contract ends, then I have to leave."

Just where to go? Stoll's children were born in Dubai. They have always lived abroad and don't speak German. Recently, he said, he received a job offer from Switzerland. "I seriously thought about it and then said to myself, 'You're 52, if you go home now, you'll stay there until you die.' Is that what you want? No."

Evening: "Always on the move"

On Thursday nights, "La Bodega Negra" is always packed. Waiters balance bottles of wine and tacos past diners, the lights dim. Catherine Stewart sits with a friend on a sofa at the end of the room and orders a margarita. The 30-year-old Brit grew up in Dubai and has lived in Qatar for nine years. Every now and then, she stands up to greet someone. "Doha is not very big," she says. "You meet the same people over and over again."

Stewart works as a fitness coach, model, influencer and imports designer clothes. From her apartment on the man-made island "The Pearl," she's minutes from the ocean. There she goes sailing or water skiing. If you are skilled, you can earn good money in Doha. "In London, I would fall into bed exhausted after twelve hours of work in a tiny, overpriced room," she says. "In Doha, I can manage my time."

For young people like Stewart, Qatar is an attractive country. She has quickly made friends from all over the world and can party with them. "Before the pandemic, there was something going on every night. I was often invited to events."

What Stewart lacks, however, is a relationship. She would like to have children. "But the dating scene is terrible," she says. "You either meet Arab men, who are often quite macho. Or foreigners who don't want to put down roots here, so they don't get involved in anything serious."

Seventy-five percent of Qatar's population is men, but they've come to work, not to settle down. Stewart knows how hard life is for migrant workers. Her father worked in construction in the Gulf for many years. She is also critical of the role of women. As a model, she advertises traditional dresses. In the process, she met Qatari female friends. "When we travel together, they act like Western women," she says, "but as soon as they get back, they adapt again."

By now it's 10 p.m. Stewart orders the bill and moves on to a nightclub. There, a DJ spins electronic music. A musician beats a glowing drum to the beat.

Behind the dancing crowd, West Bay's towers can be seen glowing in the darkness outside. Meanwhile, Stewart is thinking about leaving Qatar. She is a bit bored and needs a new challenge. Where she wants to go, she doesn't know. "Maybe to America."
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The Royal family in Denmark will together with the officials boykot the tournament.

The Prime minister has said it's important to keep Politics and sport separated-If the soccer team decide to stay home the government respect this-If they chose to go-we respect this.

If I remember correctly she said this while the qualification was still running.

Markus

I doubt any countries teams will boycott what is wealthiest world cup so far.

Money ALWAYS dictates.