Qatar (The Maroon)

When the Middle Eastern country of Qatar were named World Cup 2022 hosts on 2 December 2010 (at the same time Russia were appointed 2018 hosts), there were many raised eyebrows. In the intervening twelve years, much has been spoken and written about the merits of Qatar’s hosting rights. However, what cannot be overlooked is that there is a vast demand and love for football in the Middle East, despite the region not being a traditional football hotbed as Europe and South America are. As a result, many football fans in the area are delighted and proud that it will host its first World Cup.

As stated, Qatar is not a nation with an extensive and rich football history, so some Western exceptionalism may be coming into play. Indeed, the country was a British protectorate until it gained independence in 1971. Therefore, Qatar had no participation in the World Cup between 1930 and 1970 and then withdrew in qualifying for 1974. However, they had been planning, and the Qatar Football Association (QFA) had been set up in 1960. Alongside rivals Bahrain, Qatar were instrumental in setting up an international tournament for national teams in the Gulf: the Arabian Gulf Cup. Qatar played their first official international match against Bahrain in March 1970. However, the first edition of the Gulf Cup could have gone better for them, finishing bottom of the group. A similar disappointment followed two years later, and they again finished bottom. However, in 1974, they had a breakthrough by finishing third. They failed to qualify for the 1975 AFC Asian Cup – the first time they had entered – but they did come third again in the 1976 Gulf Cup, this time as hosts.

Qatar’s entry to the World Cup came in 1977, when they played their first qualifying match, beating Bahrain 2-0 in Doha. However, they could not qualify for Argentina 1978, which prompted a miserable run of eleven successive failures to qualify for the competition. They did qualify for the Asian Cup three times in the eighties but fell at the first hurdle of the group stage each time. They were doing better in the Gulf Cup, finishing second in both 1984 and 1990.

In 1992, Qatar’s best moment in their history until that point came in winning the 1992 Gulf Cup. This triumph was viewed as Qatar being a rising power in the region, steadily improving since the seventies. The country hoped that they might qualify for their first World Cup soon. Indeed, in August 1993, they reached their highest-ever FIFA World Ranking (at that point) of 53. 1994 proved to be another unsuccessful qualifying campaign, however. In 1998 though, they came the closest they had ever had to qualifying for the tournament, where a victory over Saudi Arabia in the final game would have sealed their place in France. However, they lost, and their dream was dashed yet again. The 2000s started relatively well with a quarter-final place in the Asian Cup in 2000, their best performance in the tournament to that point. However, two group-stage exits followed in 2004 and 2007, and again Qatar failed to qualify for the World Cup in all of 2002, 2006 and 2010. There was some minor consolation, though, winning their second Gulf Cup in 2004.

In the twelve years since being named hosts, much of what Qatar has done has been with the intention of making their World Cup as successful as possible and leaving a legacy in the Middle East. Yes, they didn’t qualify for the 2014 or 2018 editions. However, their third Gulf Cup win (2014) was followed up with their biggest-ever achievement – becoming Asian champions in 2019. Indeed, a victory over Japan (a major regional power) in the Abu Dhabi final showed how far the Qataris had come. However, many people still do not respect the country or the national team, and they enter the tournament mired in controversy over numerous issues. First of all, the tiny size of Qatar geographically has been criticised, with many doubting that they possess the infrastructure to cope with the demands of millions of people converging on them from all over the world.

Further issues that have caused great debate have come on the pitch. Moving the World Cup from June and July to November and December to avoid Qatar’s oppressive summer heat has been the subject of widespread condemnation. The football associations of many top European leagues, in particular, have been adamant that Qatar winning the hosting rights was a mistake. Indeed, they are very upset about the disruption and financial loss to their leagues, which will occur from the traditional European season being halted right in the middle of the season.

Perhaps the most significant talking points though are human rights abuses, particularly the treatment of migrant workers. Many people are outraged at the alleged numerous deaths of migrant workers that have occurred in constructing the various stadia. Further claims abound that Qatar did not treat these workers well and that the kafala system – a system implemented to monitor migrant workers in the Gulf – requires reform. There have been claims that the workers live in appalling conditions and are seen as dispensable and disposable slaves to the Qataris. Qatar claims that it has introduced progressive legislation to tackle these issues, but admits that their implementation is ‘not perfect’.

With male homosexuality still illegal and women possessing fewer rights than in the West, concerns have been raised on behalf of fans travelling to Qatar. Qatar has responded by assuring LGBTQ+ fans that they are indeed welcome to attend the tournament. Qatar has also been accused of sports-washing – using the tournament as a way to distract from their laws and alleged abuses, to improve their image and legitimise themselves as a country. Whether these factors have merit is for everyone to make their own decision about, but certainly, the issues have been hotly debated.

Of course, none of this is the fault of the national team. However, even there, controversy exists. There is much discussion about the so-called extremes that Qatar have gone to to naturalise foreign-born players. Many people outside Qatar do not view the national team as Qatari and believe the country have been trying to improve their results by naturalising foreign players. In response to many of these issues, Qatar has recently included more home-born players and cited Western exceptionalism both in culture and football tradition and history as reasoning for why many in Europe and North America desire the tournament to fail. They point to the USA’s record in interfering in other countries and say anyone who will boycott 2022 but not 2026 (which the Americans will co-host) is a hypocrite. Certainly, this is a controversial edition of the World Cup.

The national team is relatively unknown among many European football followers, but this should not lead to underestimation. Qatar are no pushovers and will target at least progression from the group. They have a chance of doing so in a section containing Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands. It will not be easy, but home advantage and their football-mad fans cheering them on could be significant, both in terms of on-pitch performances and the legacy this tournament leaves behind.

Qualified automatically as hosts

As hosts, Qatar qualified automatically. However, they have played friendlies and the FIFA Arab Cup in the last twelve months. They finished third in the latter, and many of their friendlies have been played in Europe, particularly Austria. Some highlights include a win over Ghana in August and then a draw with Chile in September, both in Vienna. They will play three CONCACAF nations in the lead-up to the tournament (Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua) before the curtain raiser versus Ecuador. Qatar will feel that now is their time.

Born in Barcelona, Sanchez is a former Barcelona youth coach who moved to Qatar in 2006 to manage Aspire Academy. He then won the AFC U-19 Championship with the Qatar under-19 team. Following more spells with the youth teams, Sanchez was appointed senior manager in the summer of 2017. 2019 was a mixed year for Sanchez and Qatar, the highlight being the aforementioned first Asian title, but being eliminated in the group as invitees for the 2019 Copa America. However, there is steady progress, as Sanchez led them to the semi-finals of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, again as invitees.

Sanchez’s team will be organised, but they also possess technically gifted players who can create and score goals. You would expect this from a squad having naturalised Brazilians and Portuguese (amongst others), but the native Qatari players are generally their best players. They will be up against the odds but will look to shock the world in a positive manner.