Heavily criticized for the conditions of expatriates engaged in projects linked to the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is endeavoring to reshape its image. Since March 21, the country has been hosting its second “Workers’ Cup,” a tournament exclusively reserved for migrants. The final match is scheduled for April 25.
During the week, these migrant workers labor on various projects, but on weekends, they transform into footballers, participating in the Workers’ Cup held in Qatar. The tournament, organized by a private company called Qsports in collaboration with the Qatar Football League (Qatar Stars League) and the organizing committee of the 2022 World Cup, has garnered participation from migrant workers across different sectors such as electricity, plumbing, and construction.
“This tournament is strictly reserved for workers,” stated Adil Ahmed, the director of Qsports. He mentioned that out of the 120 companies invited to present teams, only 24 were selected to participate. The participating players hail from diverse nationalities, including Indians, Nepalese, Ghanaians, among others.
According to Paul Mwangi, an employee from Kenya working for the Gulfqatar Contracting Company, the tournament serves as an opportunity for participants to forge new friendships and learn from each other.
Qatar has faced accusations of tolerating working conditions akin to slavery on its 2022 World Cup construction sites, leading to criticism from human rights advocates. The tournament serves as a response to these criticisms, with Qatar aiming to showcase its care and appreciation for the workers who contribute to building the stadiums and infrastructures for the World Cup.
“We take care of these workers because they are the ones who will build the stadiums and infrastructures for the World Cup,” remarked Nasser Kuwari, a public relations manager for a company operating in Qatar.
Tags: Workers’ Cup, migrant world cup, mistreatment, Migrants World Cup 2022, Qatari workers, workers
