FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 is one of the most talked about football tournaments of the time, even more than World Cup 2018 which precedes it. For the first time, the grandeur of FIFA, a multi-billion dollar "non profit" association, will be matched by its host: one of the most developed and richest Arab states, Qatar. The third largest oil and natural gas reserves, growing industries, and globally expanding media networks like Al Jazeera have made Qatar a major player in global economy and politics, earning it a reputation of having the most advanced human development in the Arab world and the highest per-capita income on Earth. The unparalleled reputation of FIFA accompanied by the exuberant Arabic spirit has the power to create one of the best World Cup experiences for more than 3.2 billion viewers from all over the world. But on the contrary, the alliance continues committing human atrocities, labor abuses and human rights violation of the migrant workers that has put both of their reputations up for question.

Few years ago, Amnesty International reported the appalling treatment faced by the migrant workers engaged in renovating the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha and the other landscaping surrounding the sports facilities for the World Cup. Despite several warnings from multiple human rights agencies and International organizations after that, it has continued exploiting the poor immigrant workers who are mainly from rural parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The continuing indifference of both the government of Qatar and FIFA on this issue has raised many questions on whether this is an isolated incident or has the country been committing violations like these for a while.

According to the International Labor Organization, many employees in Qatar are stranded without pay and passports. In addition, the accommodation provided to them, housing 10 to 12 workers per small room with unhygienic and poor kitchen and sanitary facilities, does not even meet the minimum standard requirements.The workers are mostly paid much lower wage than promised before they arrive in the country, and in some cases not paid at all for months to force them to continue working and stop them from changing employers or going back home.

"For players and fans, a World Cup stadium is a place of dreams. For some of the workers who spoke to us, it can feel like a living nightmare." -Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty. (source: Amnesty International website)

Another interview conducted by Amnesty International in 2015 revealed that the workers are forced to live in squalid accommodation, pay huge recruitment fees(from $500 to $4300 or more) to get the job , and have had wages withheld and passports confiscated. They are not just forced and abused, but they're even threatened by the authorities If they complain about their conditions or seek help.

Putting the lives of migrant workers who silently endure so much abuse of their autonomy, dignity and labor for their families back home and don't even get paid properly in contrast with the top-flight footballers who are to fill the stadium soon and earn millions truly shows the ugly side of the game and the institutional abuse that are committed by the superpowers like FIFA and Qatar. This level of abuse needs more international spotlight and action to end Qatar's inhumane sponsorship system.

Qatar's sponsorship law, under the inhumane and dangerous Kafala System, allows the sponsors to have the unilateral power to cancel workers' residency permits, deny workers' ability to change employers, report a worker as "absconded" to police authorities, and deny permission to leave the country.As a result, sponsors may restrict workers' movements and workers may be afraid to report abuses or claim their rights, which contribute to their forced labor situation.

According to Time Magazine, due to the terrible working conditions in Qatar, a Nepali world cup worker dies every other day.

So, there's no doubt that Khalifa International Stadium will turn out to be majestic. But it cannot be forgotten that the foundation of the stadium stands on many labor and human rights violations, human atrocities and the bloods of the poor migrant workers. The World Cup will go on in all its glory; and again, the crooked associations like FIFA and rich countries like Qatar will get away with anything because of their influence and power.