The World Cup, Migrant Workers and the Politics FIFA Tried to Ignore

Migrant Workers’ Rights: What Happened Behind the Stadiums

When Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup, human rights groups immediately raised concerns about its labour laws. Central to these concerns was the kafala sponsorship system. Under kafala, migrant workers could not leave their employer or the country without permission. This bound workers to employers and created conditions ripe for exploitation.

The Guardian’s investigations

In 2013, The Guardian published an investigation predicting that 4,000 migrant workers could die in the decade leading up to the World Cup. Qatar promised reforms. In September 2020, the kafala system was formally abolished and a minimum wage introduced.

However, a 2021 Guardian investigation across multiple countries estimated that approximately 6,500 migrant workers had died since Qatar won the bid. Qatar responded that:

• The figure reflects the size of its migrant workforce, around 2 million people.
• Only 10 per cent of the deaths were work‑related.

When asked publicly about non‑work‑related deaths, a Qatari official avoided the question. Amnesty International alleged that causes of death were misreported and post‑mortems were not carried out, making the true number unclear.

Equidem’s findings

Equidem interviewed workers involved in constructing World Cup infrastructure. One worker, Anish Adhikari, described:

• 14‑hour shifts
• Limited water
• Rotten food
• Workers being hidden from FIFA inspectors by being sent back to their camps

These allegations were directed at Hamad Bin Khalid Contracting Company, owned by the ruling Al Thani family. The company did not respond to Equidem’s questions.

Equidem concluded that workers operated in “captive and controllable conditions”, even after reforms were introduced. This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of Qatar’s labour strategy.

The Supreme Committee’s role

The Qatari Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, established in 2011, oversaw World Cup infrastructure. It contracted Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) to inspect sites. The Committee claims that BWI’s reports led to:

• 450 violations reported
• 270 contractors watchlisted
• 70 contractors demobilised
• 7 contractors blacklisted

Whether HBK will be added to the watchlist remains a key test of Qatar’s commitment to reform.

Politics and Football: FIFA’s Impossible Balancing Act

Ahead of the tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino urged teams to “focus on football” and avoid political battles. This was contradictory for two reasons.

Infantino’s identity politics

In defending Qatar’s hosting rights, Infantino claimed he felt “gay, African, Arab and Qatari”, before arguing Europeans had no moral authority to criticise Qatar’s human rights record. FIFA used identity politics to justify its decision, while simultaneously telling players not to engage in political expression.

The One Love armband controversy

FIFA threatened players with yellow cards for wearing One Love armbands supporting LGBT rights. A yellow card is a penalty for foul play. Using it to silence human rights advocacy was a political act in itself.

The armband did not affect gameplay. It did not influence fouls, dives or respect for referees. It simply expressed solidarity. FIFA’s decision demonstrated how political football already is.

Football’s global influence

Football is one of the world’s most powerful industries:

• FIFA earned $776 million in 2021, a non‑World Cup year.
• Premier League stars earn around $3.9 million annually, plus lucrative brand deals.

Qatar’s motivation for hosting the World Cup was partly political. As Financial Times commentator Gideon Rachman notes, Qatar sought to:

• Present itself as a modern state
• Improve regional relations
• Enhance its global image

A state does not spend $220 billion of public funds without expecting political returns.

To claim football is not political is like claiming a cake is delicious but not because it contains sugar. Football’s global reach, wealth and influence make it inherently political.

Conclusion

Despite Qatar’s reforms, thousands of workers died in the lead‑up to the World Cup, many under poor and dangerous conditions. The minimum wage and abolition of kafala came too late for many. Implementation will take years, and the true impact of reform will only become clear over decades.

The World Cup also exposed the impossibility of separating football from politics. FIFA’s attempts to silence political expression only highlighted how deeply political the sport already is. If anything, Qatar 2022 should end the debate. Football and politics are inseparable.