We are now just days away from the beginning of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, and while fans naturally have excitement over football’s biggest prize, the FIFA tournament will arrived with a chorus of criticism.
The first World Cup to take place in the middle of a European season, FIFA have received widespread outrage at their decision to host a the competition in a country that currently has a more-than-questionable human rights record.
Many footballers, musicians and celebrities have spoken out again the tournament, with Lionesses’ star Beth Mead and Germany boss Hansi Flick being more than blunt in their assessment, while the likes of David Beckham, Graeme Souness and legendary former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger have praised the decision.
Whichever way you look at it, it will be a tournament like no other we’ve experienced.
. DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 14: People gather at the Corniche Waterfront ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on November 14, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 14: People gather at the Corniche Waterfront ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on November 14, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Photo: Ryan Pierse
. Beth Mead - Arsenal and England
"It's not something I will be backing or promoting. It's disappointing in the sense that there's no respect on a lot of levels, even though it's a game of football. Although I'm cheering for the boys who are going to play football there, from the minute it was announced I thought it wasn't the best idea." Photo: Alex Burstow
. Hansi Flick - Germany manager
"The question whether to carry out the Championships in Qatar should have been answered way earlier - with no." Photo: Jörg Halisch
. Sepp Blatter - Former FIFA president
“For me it is clear: Qatar is a mistake. The choice was bad." Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI
. Tim Sparv - former Finland captain
“The World Cup should be an inclusive World Cup. Everybody should feel welcome. Everybody should feel safe and that’s just not the case. The trend is dangerous. It’s not a healthy direction that we’re heading towards." Photo: FRIEDEMANN VOGEL
5. Lotte Wubben-Moy - Arsenal and England
“I will be supporting the men’s team, but I won’t be watching. It’s hard to talk about but at the end of the day, we’re one team here at England and we know that they have an opportunity to play at a World Cup and it’s hard to look beyond that really.” Photo: Alex Burstow
6. Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool manager
“It’s a tournament, it's there, and we all let it happen and it's fine because 12 years ago nobody did anything then. We cannot change it now." Photo: Mike Hewitt
7. Dua Lipa - Musician
“There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar. I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform. I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.” Photo: Don Arnold
8. Minky Worden - Human Rights Watch
“We should never again have a World Cup that fails to respect basic human rights and has none of the expected assurances and protections.” Photo: Alex Wong