Four years after the coronation of France, soccer invests Qatar to crown its new king during the first World Cup organized in the Arab world, crossed by controversies on human rights, the climate impact or discrimination.
Sunday for the kickoff of this month of soccer, the small gas emirate had undoubtedly dreamed of the best scenario. In front of the 60,000 spectators at the Al Bayt stadium, 50 km north of Doha, the Qataris were easily dominated by Ecuador (2-0).
Less than two hours before this unbalanced meeting marked by the double of the South American striker Enner Valencia, the emir sheikh Tamim ben Hamad Al-Thani was present for the opening ceremony.
“How beautiful it is for people to put aside what separates them to preserve their diversity and what unites them at the same time,” said the emir with a smile.
Several Heads of State and Government were present, in the forefront of which the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed ben Salmane, the King of Jordan, or even the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
France was represented by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, while President Emmanuel Macron announced his presence for the semi-final or the final only in the event of qualification of the Blues.
All day long, from the Corniche in Doha to the city of Al Khor where the match was played, tens of thousands of supporters, Qataris and Ecuadorians, but also Mexicans wearing their traditional sombreros, or Argentinians, animated the host country with their colors and songs.
In the city center, the “fan zone”, which will vibrate during the 64 matches, had to close its doors to no longer let fans in, the capacity of 40,000 people having been reached.
Benzema not replaced
For 12 years, Qatar has been preparing to be able to welcome 32 selections and hundreds of thousands of fans who will land in this emirate as large as Cyprus or the greater Paris region.
During this tournament played in eight stadiums – seven of which came out of the desert for the occasion – the usual round ball giants should still compete for the trophy, until the final on December 18: Brazil, Argentina, France or even England, Germany and Spain.
France can dream of imitating Italy (1934 and 1938) and Pelé’s Brazil (1958 and 1962), the only countries to have retained their title.
However, it will be without the best player in the world: fresh Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema withdrew on Saturday evening, injured in a thigh, leaving the Blues already orphaned by Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté. The Madrid native will not be replaced in the group.
Will South Americans benefit? For 20 years and the victory of Brazil (2002), the Europeans have shared the titles (Italy 2006, Spain 2010, Germany 2014 and France 2018).
Argentine star who leads a team undefeated for 36 games, Lionel Messi however thinks “that Brazil, France and England are a little above”.
Out of this inner circle, a final victory in the superb golden stadium of Lusail, north of Doha, would be a feat. But Croatia, a finalist four years ago, remains an outsider. We can also mention Serbia, Portugal of Cristiano Ronaldo (37 years old), Uruguay of veterans Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani (35 years old), even Senegal, despite the absence of Sadio Mané.
Especially since the situation could change because for the first time, the World Cup is not played during the boreal summer, in order to avoid unbearable heat (around 50°). FIFA postponed this meeting in the middle of the club season.
If everyone should therefore be physically well in the rhythm, the countries enter the competition without breaking in.
“Pure Eyes”
The exploits of the footballers should not however be enough to extinguish the controversies on all the extra-sporting subjects which have set this World Cup ablaze for months, even years.
Human rights of the workers who built the sumptuous enclosures, environment, with an announced neutral carbon footprint but which its detractors describe as “aberration”, and discrimination of people, in particular LGBTQ +: this 22nd edition is one of the most controversial of the story.
The authorities of the small gas emirate are regularly criticized by NGOs for their treatment of migrant workers, particularly in the construction, security and domestic work sectors. Accusations vigorously rejected by the authorities who emphasize having reformed labor laws.
In terms of environmental footprint, the construction of stadiums and the air transport of supporters from all over the world are in question. But the stadiums planted in the desert cooled by air conditioning at the hottest hours also shocked.
The treatment of LGBTQ+ people is another concern in a conservative country where homosexuality and sex outside marriage are criminalized.
The authorities have assured that they will be welcomed without discrimination, but the about-face on Friday on the sale of alcohol finally banned around the stadiums makes some fear other reversals.
Infantino and the “hypocrites”
“If that means that everything is re-discussable, what about the safety of LGBT supporters, the possibility of supporting your team while standing at the stadium, the possibility of kissing in the street? asks Ronan Evain, general manager of the Football Supporters Europe association.
After months of silence, FIFA President Gianni Infantino replied in an offensive mode on Saturday: “Giving moral lessons – always in the same direction – is simply hypocrisy”, he said. he reprimanded, finding these criticisms “deeply unfair”.
“For what we Europeans have done for the past 3,000 years, we should apologize for the next 3,000 years before giving moral lessons to others,” he proclaimed.
Infantino had previously asked everyone to “focus on football”. Not sure if he is heard.
Germany or Denmark have repeated that their captains, Manuel Neuer and Simon Kjaer, would wear the colorful “One Love” armband in favor of inclusion and against discrimination, and not those unsheathed by FIFA, carriers of more consensual.