This Sunday, the FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicks off. For 11 years, there have been many ongoing controversies over the awarding of the tournament to Qatar. The first significant controversy was over the bidding process due to allegations of corruption. The second major controversy is over the treatment of migrant workers building stadiums and other infrastructure in Qatar. Thirdly, there are well-documented human rights abuses toward women and the LGBT community in Qatar. Finally, there are concerns over the temperature in Qatar during matches, despite the tournament being held in the winter and Qatar not living up to the environmental promises listed in their bid.

Any discussion of the World Cup has to begin with how Qatar won the bidding process. FIFA organized the bidding so the 2018 and 2022 World Cups would be awarded simultaneously. Russia won the right to host in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. A recent article in The Guardian notes that while no official chain of corruption has been proven and the Qatari bid team denies all claims of wrongdoing, the stench of malfeasance is pungent. What is known is that 16 of the 22 FIFA Executive Committee members, the men who run football, have been involved in some form of corruption. The most serious allegations are that representatives of the Qatari bid funneled money to FIFA ExCo members in return for a yes vote for Qatar. These allegations led to the downfall of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and a general sense among those who follow the sport that the bidding process was unfair and that one of the other nations’ bidding, such as the U.S, would have been more suitable.

Not long after Qatar won the right to host the tournament, there were numerous reports documenting the substandard working conditions of those building the infrastructure, including stadiums, transportation, and hotels. Many of these workers came from south Asian countries, such as India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Chief among the complaints made by the workers was Qatar’s use of the Kafala system. The Kafala system allowed the Qatari government to permit construction companies to sponsor foreign laborers to work and live in the country. According to a recent Council on Foreign Relations report, migrant workers were exploited on many levels. Under the Kafala systems, workers had their passports confiscated and were restricted from moving between jobs. There have also been confirmed reports of workers not receiving their full salary and of unsafe working conditions. According to an article written by the Atlantic Council in 2016, the International Labour Organization, which is part of the UN, sent a delegation to Qatar. The goal was to try and gain more provisions for workers, such as freedom of movement between jobs and better working conditions. These efforts yielded limited success. In a report by The Guardian from last year, more than 6,500 workers died while working in Qatar. However, the actual number is presumed to be much higher.

On top of the already serious issues involving corruption and the mistreatment of migrant workers is Qatar’s general state of human rights. As in many other Middle Eastern countries, women are not allowed fundamental rights. Women in Qatar must obtain permission from a male relative, such as a father or husband, to study abroad, get married, and even in some cases, be able to work. Until 2020 women who wanted to drive had to obtain their guardian’s permission. According to a report by the organization Human Rights Watch, women in Qatar have little recourse in escaping from a dysfunctional marriage. Women in Qatar have stated that it is nearly impossible to get a divorce from an abusive partner or gain custody of children.

Another significant human rights issue is the treatment and discrimination of the LGBT community in Qatar. Under the Qatari penal code, same-sex relations are punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment. In the same Human Rights Watch report, there are incidents of the Qatari police randomly arresting members of the LGBT community and subjecting them to mistreatment in detention facilities. There are numerous reports of the Qatari police forcing confessions out of detainees and reports of physical abuse. Despite the government in 2020 saying that it will allow fans to display rainbow flags, there is a lingering sense that the Qatari authorities are not welcoming of the LGBT community during the World Cup.

The final issue I will highlight are the general concerns surrounding the tournament itself. FIFA had to move this World Cup to the winter because the Qatari summers are too oppressive in which to play football. However, this knock-on effect has forced the European leagues, such as the English Premier League, to pause during November & December. This caused more matches to be played in a tighter window of time, resulting in more players sustaining injuries in the run-up to the tournament. And there are other issues regarding the availability and cost of lodging in Qatar. The organizers have made several cruise ships available for housing. However, there are already numerous reports about a lack of rooms for budget-minded travelers. Finally, there have been concerns about policing in Qatar, particularly in a country where football isn’t mainstream and where there is unfamiliarity with traditional football culture, i.e., singing and drinking. This will be a world cup, unlike any in recent memory, with issues that will continue to exist long after the final whistle.