FIFA President Gianni Infantino (2nd right) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud during the Group A match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.
Amin Mohammad Jamali | Getty ImagesSports | beautiful pictures
The World Cup 2022 opens on Sunday covered in accusations of human rights violations and last-minute controversy surrounding the host country Qatar.
A million fans from around the world will flock to the small but rich Gulf nation to watch stars from 32 countries face off against each other over the next four weeks in the men’s soccer tournament, the major sporting event. second in the world after the Olympics.
The time of year and location — this is the first World Cup to take place in the Middle East — means the event has long promised to be unlike any before, but Friday news that alcohol sales will be banned from the stadium The belt highlights the cultural clash of the conservative emirate hosting a global party.
World Cup teams and activists have also voiced concern for citizens and visiting fans after years of building the tournament this year was dominated by criticism of Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and LGBTQ people.
The small, energetic nation’s ruling family and FIFA organizers will hope those problems go away once the action begins. In a bizarre press conference ahead of the tournament, Gianni Infantino, the head of world football’s governing body, accused the host country’s critics of hypocrisy.
Qatar takes on Ecuador at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday in the opening game, with the United States playing its first game against Wales at 2 p.m. ET Monday.
“It’s hard to describe for me,” United States Men’s Team goalkeeper Matt Turner told NBC News. “It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Turner, who also plays for Arsenal, which leads the Premier League.
Although the United States is not expected to take home the trophy, Americans have flocked to Qatar — after local US residents bought the highest number of the 3 million tickets sold.
Dayton Kendrick, a Houston, Texas native living in Doha, said of the USA team: “I think we’re going to do our best. “That would be a force to take into account.”
The United States failed to qualify for the most recent World Cup but now boasts a young, exciting squad who primarily play for big teams across Europe. It will also face England and Iran in Group B over the next two weeks before the knockout stage of the tournament begins. He is one of the favorites along with Brazil, France and Argentina.
Kendrick is one of many expats who have chosen Qatar as their home in recent years as the country transforms into a modern hub that plays an important role on the international stage. Qataris number about 350,000, although the conservative Muslim nation totals about 3 million from 90 countries.
