The Legacy of the 2022 World Cup

The 2022 World Cup final was a spectacle of excitement and drama, a memory that will forever be etched in the annals of football history. It was the night Lionel Messi achieved his ultimate goal, guiding Argentina to victory and solidifying his status as a legend. For many fans, it was the perfect ending to a tournament that captured the hearts of over a billion people worldwide.

However, this fairytale ending overshadowed a tournament plagued by controversy, highlighting a darker side to Qatar’s hosting. Concerns over worker rights and the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community overshadowed the beautiful game.

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The Human Cost

Prior to the tournament, accusations of worker exploitation and a lack of transparency by the Qatari authorities regarding the deaths of migrant workers surfaced. Human rights groups, like Amnesty International, raised grave concerns, citing a 2021 report that documented “thousands” of deaths linked to unsafe working conditions.

Qatar’s government, however, defended their efforts, claiming reforms were underway and that the World Cup had accelerated progress towards a better working environment.

While some improvements were acknowledged, including greater freedom for workers to change jobs, Amnesty International highlighted that wage theft and restrictions on job transfers continued to persist. The organization urged that the sacrifices made by workers who made the World Cup possible should not be forgotten.

The Other Side of the Coin

For many Qatari residents, the World Cup was a celebration of national pride, a moment that will forever be etched in their memories. They spoke of the joy of welcoming tourists, experiencing cultural exchange, and witnessing the unifying power of football.

However, the tournament also sparked criticism from some locals who felt their country was being unfairly targeted by those who failed to acknowledge the progress made by Qatar in other areas.

While the legacy of the World Cup will continue to be debated, it has undoubtedly opened new doors for football in the region. With Saudi Arabia vying to host the 2034 World Cup, the future of the sport in the Middle East looks bright, but concerns over human rights protections and the potential exploitation of workers remain.

It officially opened on May 19, 2017, and can hold 48,000 fans after being expanded for the World Cup.
<img src=”http://backup.infofootball.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/the-legacy-of-the-2022-world-cup_172351621056467.webp” alt=”The Al Rayyan Stadium will be built on the site of the existing Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan just outside Doha.
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Photo of children playing soccer in Qatar, taken by Reem Al-Haddad as part of the GOALS 2022 project last year.
The Khalifa International Stadium was the first of the Qatar 2022 World Cup venues to be completed.
The Al Bayt Stadium will be built in the city of Al Khor to the north of Doha and have a capacity of 60,000.
The Lusail Iconic Stadium just outside Doha is slated to host the opening and closing matches of the 2022 World Cup. It's also at the center of the Lusail City project which will eventually be home to more than 200,000 people, according to Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
Situated a short distance outside Doha, the Al-Wakrah Stadium was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and will have a capacity of 40,000. It will also host games up until the World Cup quarterfinals.
An artist's impression of the exterior of the Al Bayt Stadium.

Initially opened in 1976, the stadium is situated close to Doha's impressive Aspire Zone and has undergone two reconstructions, first in 2005 and then in 2017.
The 40,000-seat Al Thumama Stadium will host matches up to the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. The venue's design represents the gahfiya, a traditional woven cap worn by males across the Arab world.
An artist's rendering of the Al Wakrah stadium in Qatar.
The Qatar Foundation Stadium in Doha's Education City will have an initial capacity of 40,000.
The stadium design, which depicts a giant tent structure, honors Qatar's past and present, according to Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
But that will be reduced to 20,000 after the tournament, with half the seats removed and donated to build stadiums in developing countries.
An artists' impression of the Al Rayyan Stadium which will host matches up until the quarterfinal stage of the tournament.