List of 2022 FIFA World Cup controversies

Part of a series on the
2022 FIFA World Cup
Hosting Bids Australia Indonesia Japan Qatar South Korea United States Broadcasting rights Venues Al-Bayt Stadium Al-Rayyan Stadium Al-Thumama Stadium Al-Wakrah Stadium Education City Stadium Khalifa International Stadium Lusail Stadium Stadium 974 map Opening ceremony
Qualification Overview Africa first round second round third round Asia first round second round third round fourth round Europe Nations League Group stage Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F Group G Group H Group I Group J second round North and Central America first round second round third round Oceania South America Inter-confederation play-offs Australia vs Peru Costa Rica vs New Zealand Seeding
Matches Group stage Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F Group G Group H Knockout stage Final
Controversies Overview Allegations of corruption and bribery "FIFA's Dirty Secrets" Garcia Report 2015 FIFA corruption case European Parliament corruption scandal Battle of Lusail Criticisms of Qatar's suitability to host Human rights issues Death of Marc Bennett Kafala system LGBT issues in Group B LGBT rights in Qatar OneLove Qatar diplomatic crisis
People Gianni Infantino Antonio Mateu Lahoz Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Grant Wahl Squads Officials
Promotional and related media Adidas Al Rihla FIFA 23 downloadable content Music FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack "Hayya Hayya (Better Together)" "Three Lions (It's Coming Home for Christmas)" "Tukoh Taka" "World Cup"
Media related to 2022 FIFA World Cup at Wikimedia Commons
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The decision of FIFA to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar sparked a number of concerns and controversies regarding both Qatar's suitability as a host country and the fairness of the FIFA World Cup bidding process.^[1][2][3] Some media outlets, sporting experts, and human rights groups have criticised Qatar's record of human rights violations;^[1][2][4][5] Qatar's limited football history; the high expected cost; the local climate;^[1] and alleged bribery in the bidding process.^[2] Not all nations competing have put focus on concerns.^[6]

Criticism of human rights in Qatar focused on the treatment of migrant workers,^[4][7][8] women,^[1][2] and position on LGBT rights,^[8] leading to allegations of sportswashing.^{[1][2][7][9][10]} Others have cited Qatar's intense climate and lack of a strong football culture, as well as evidence of bribery for hosting rights and wider FIFA corruption.^{[1][2][11][12]} Boycotts of the event were declared by several countries, clubs, and individual players,^[11][12] while former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has twice said that giving Qatar hosting rights was a "mistake".^[13][14] Match attendance figures have also come under scrutiny as reported crowd attendances have exceeded stadium capacities despite games having visible empty seats.^[15] Over the past 5 years, the government has engaged closely with the ILO (international labor organization), international trade union, NGOs, etc. The Guardian reported it all in its article published on 23 October 2022. The article included statements from workers involved in building infrastructure of the World Cup 2022. A survey among 1,000 low-wage workers found that 86% of respondents felt that the labor reforms had positively affected their lives. Now workers can negotiate for better conditions, and employers are incentivized to provide them in order to attract and retain talent.^[16] Legislation has also been introduced to the minimum wage, on protecting outdoor workers during the summer months, and on the election of migrant worker representatives within companies. Change to the kafala system has led to labor mobility.^[17] Another report by the United Nations claimed that “Qatar is changing. The new kafala system tranche of law will bring an end to kafala and put in place a modern industrial relations system” said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. This was published on October 17, 2019, before the world cup took place.^[18]

Incumbent FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the hosting of the tournament in Qatar.^[19] Others have suggested that Qatar's human rights record is better than those of Russia and China, nations which received less widespread criticism for similar issues when hosting major sporting events in the years prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.^[20] The controversies surrounding the World Cup in Qatar have been described as a cultural conflict or "Clash of Civilizations" between authoritarian Islamic regimes and secular liberal democracies.^{[1][2][4][8][9]} The Qatari tournament is widely regarded as one of the most controversial FIFA World Cups in history.^[21]