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17 Mar 2019

Expanding 2022 World Cup to other Gulf countries carries human & labour rights risks, warn rights groups

In 2010 the news that Qatar had succeeded in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup was greeted with dismay by human rights NGOs and activists, concerned over the country’s poor record on labour rights and civic freedoms. Concerning reports of poor working conditions on World Cup construction sites, including lax health and safety, delayed wages, recruitment fees and cramped living conditions for the migrant workforce, have since become commonplace.

In March 2019 it was announced that FIFA was considering expanding the 32 team tournament to 48 teams. This would have required Qatar to share its hosting duties with a neighbouring country in the Gulf, prompting condemnation from human rights NGOs who pointed to the risks of co-hosting the World Cup in countries with similar or worse human rights records.

A coalition of NGOs including Amnesty International, HRW, ITUC and Transparency International published an open letter urging FIFA to consider its position, particularly in light of FIFA’s Human Rights Policy and the criteria used to consider the co-hosting bids for the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA announced in May 2019 it would not expand the tournament.

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