A FIFA task force has recommended that the 2022 World Cup be set for the winter months of November and December. The 2022 World Cup is to take place in Qatar, which is known to have extraordinarily hot summers. FIFA officials met in Doha to discuss a number of alternatives to hosting the World Cup… Read More »
Mucho se ha dicho de la decisión de la FIFA de dar la sede del Mundial 2022 a Catar, un pais con pésimo record de derechos humanos, un clima que no es favorable para una competencia profesional, y una candidatura de muy alto riesgo dado que en este momento casi nada de la infraestructura necesaria… Read More »
On Monday, it was announced that Dutch football president Michael van Praag will challenge Sepp Blatter for the position of President of FIFA. Praag’s announcement comes after a years of drama and controversy within the international football body. Most controversial has been the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the subsequent vehement devotion… Read More »
La semaine dernière, Zahir Belounis était autorisé de revenir en France, le chapitre ultime d’une saga incroyable. Belounis, footballeur franco-algérien, est déménagé au Qatar en 2010 pour jouer pour l’équipe el Jaish. Quand el Jaish l’a loué à une autre équipe, le premier club a cessé ses paiements de salaire. En réponse, Belounis a intenté… Read More »
Throughout the year, post after post on this blog has detailed the trials and tribulations of the 2022 World Cup, which is currently slated to be held in the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar. From internal disputes among FIFA board members to the sweltering summer heat and the unprecedented proposed move of the World Cup… Read More »
Growing up around an Egyptian father–absolutely obsessed with football–there were certain truths that I had to accept and never question: 1. Pele is the greatest soccer player of all time, and any Argentinian fan who disagrees is blinded by bias. 2. Never trust a fan of the Algerian national team. 3. Never be optimistic about… Read More »
One of my colleagues brought up the “disaster” that Qatar’s World Cup is turning out to be. I felt that I just wanted to elaborate on why I think FIFA should truly reconsider hosting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Is this even an option at this point? According to recent reports, Sepp Blatter… Read More »
A week ago, The Independent published an update about Zahir Belounis, a French Algerian footballer who is being held in Qatar in “virtual captivity” due to the same kafala system of visa sponsorship blamed for the mistreatment of Nepali immigrant workers. Belounis played for the El Jaish club in Quatar and will not be allowed… Read More »
For the first time in its history, the FIFA World Cup is set to be held in a country in the Middle East; the 2022 tournament will be held in Qatar. The federation’s awarding the bid to Qatar was seen by many as bold and forward-thinking– as Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s president, pointed out, “It… Read More »
I found this video, produced by the Qatar bid, to be a fascinatingly constructed piece of work, transforming Zidane’s biography into an endorsement of the need for a Middle Eastern World Cup. In it, Zidane returns to his childhood home and talks about his career, and repeatedly refers to the difficulties he faced because of … Read More »