By Don Riddell, CNN
It’s never going to be a classic World Cup.
Innovative in the Middle East and played for the first time during the European winter, it would look and feel different.
Qatar has been described by some as hosting the most debatable World Cup tournament, with complaints ranging from alleged corruption in the bidding procedure to insensitivity to human rights.
It is certainly right to highlight the deaths and situations suffered by migrant staff for this tournament to take place, as well as the rights of LGBTQ people and women, some Qataris might wonder why their country has been the subject of such intense denunciation when countries with dubious human rights. Records, or laws that limit the freedoms of some members of society, have also hosted the main sporting occasions of recent years.
The last World Cup held in Russia, for example, banned selling same-sex relationships or suggesting that non-heterosexual orientations are “normal. “
But the global is confusing and full of contradictions, and a major sporting occasion is not limited to the politics of a country. It’s also about their culture and their people, their hopes and dreams.
Over the past four weeks, this small Gulf state has effectively become a global village. Fans of the 32 teams, as well as enthusiasts from many other countries, combined the game through the jaw in a way that had never been imaginable in the afterlife. tournaments, which were spread over much larger geographical areas.
At times, it was hard to tell who was cheering as processions of jubilant enthusiasts followed the drummers through Souq Waqif, a market in central Doha, just for the joy of the shared experience.
“The atmosphere here in Qatar is like a Moroccan wedding,” one follower told CNN at the height of the festivities. “When everyone enjoys music and sings, it’s like a big party. “
Morocco’s thrilling run to the semi-finals was a watershed moment for the sport, the first time a team outside of Europe and South America had reached the final week of the tournament’s 92-year history.
But even before the Atlas Lions’ emotional victory over Portugal, it was already Africa’s biggest success at the World Cup, as was for Asia, where three groups – Japan, South Korea and Australia – qualified for the knockout stages for the first time in history. In 2005, FIFA’s global governance framework ratified Australia’s switch from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation.
There have been matches that will be remembered for years.
Saudi Arabia scored an unrivalled result by beating Argentina in their first match, while Iran managed to shine, despite protests and violence in their home country with admirable performances against Wales and the United States.
It is a tournament in which the underdogs challenged the order of the old world and earned universal respect for it.
Moroccan fan Boubker Benna told CNN that he came up with the message of this World Cup self-determination.
“You would possibly be a loser,” he said, “but if you do your job, you can achieve wonderful things. That’s what [Morocco coach] Walid Regragui is trying to prove. And this is what Morocco is trying to demonstrate.
It’s not uncommon to see African enthusiasts supporting other groups on their continent, but it’s surprising to witness the shared joy in Qatar, where CNN spoke to enthusiasts from Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian territories, all applauding. Morocco in the last stages.
“If France plays, you will only find other Frenchmen supporting their team, never England or Germany. And I don’t know why,” said Moroccan fan Adam Marzoug.
He continued: “That’s why it’s special for Arab, Muslim and African countries. That’s what makes us strong in each and every tournament, it’s just the beginning.
His friend, Oumaima Amallah, added: “Despite all the political and ancient problems, Muslims, Arabs and Africans love each other and are like brothers and sisters and everyone is satisfied with us, as if they are satisfied with their own nation. “
It is almost poetic that Morocco overthrew two of its former colonizers, Spain and Portugal, and faced a third, France. But any settling of accounts is done with courtesy, with respect.
Fans who spoke to CNN would still congratulate Qatar on the World Cup and express their gratitude and gratitude for bringing it to the region.
And although there was a surprise, even an uproar in some media, when they got rid of Budweiser vending machines from the halls of the stadium on the eve of the tournament, did anyone miss the alcohol?
Certainly, many we spoke to, adding former player-turned-broadcaster Ally McCoist, agreed that, as a result, the atmosphere among the crowd was much more pleasant.
We have noticed that the security forces of the workers in the stadiums respectfully ask shirtless Argentine enthusiasts to cover up, gesticulating humbly with the palms of their hands closed on their chests. Local customs were followed and cultures were exchanged. The sea of humanity that flowed from the stadium to the metro station passed by a number of musicians and dancers.
What might have been described as a cultural surprise looks more like a cultural exchange here in Qatar.
“We have to be open-minded,” said Moroccan fan David Hamriri, an engineer who has been racing in Europe lately. “I’m very rich, culturally, because I’m open-minded.
“We have emotions,” he continued, “We have a lot of conflicts in the world. But when you love football, you do it. We pass the economic crisis and return to the origin. A price of humanity, shared between the West and Eastern Society. I think it’s incredible.
The enthusiasts CNN spoke to left Qatar with memories of their experiences.
England fan Theo Ogden, who attended all 64 matches of the tournament, told CNN: “People said you couldn’t receive him in the desert, and they proved them wrong.
“They have been very kind. You probably won’t find a fan here who says he had a hard time, and that’s because he’s very hospitable. I don’t think we communicate about it enough. “
Ogden may have only attempted his feat at this World Cup, where each and every stadium is just a meter or taxi away.
The land mass of the 2026 World Cup will be at least 2,000 times larger in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Qatar took it upon themselves to turn the world’s most popular game into something much smaller, and much bigger for them.
From effects in the box to delighting in the box. Qatar 2022 memorable.
But we should point out that there were members of the soccer network who refused to travel here, LGBTQ enthusiasts who felt it was not safe for them to help their groups because of the laws of the Gulf States. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and is punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
LGBTQ rights were a factor that would not disappear from the tournament, as there were also reports of security officials asking others to take off their rainbow-colored clothing, a symbol of LGBTQ pride.
FIFA’s resolution to threaten sanctions against any player wearing a “OneLove” armband, which features a hub containing other colors to announce inclusion, has created a rift between the sport’s governing framework and the seven European nations whose captains had planned to wear it.
Two migrant employees are believed to have died at the World Cup: John Njue Kibue, 24, from Kenya, who allegedly fell while on duty at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium and another employee who died at the compound used in Saudi Arabia during organizing stages.
And it is difficult to determine how many migrant staff members have died as a result of paintings made in projects related to the tournament.
Football was captivating, yes, the atmosphere during those 4 weeks intoxicating, but for some this tournament had a burden and we will have to not have it.
El-CNN-Wire™
KRDO NewsChannel thirteen is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.
Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can view our Community Guidelines by clicking here
If you’d like to share a story idea, submit it here.
Terms of Use| Privacy Policy | | Community Guidelines Careers at KRDO | FCC | Applications
KRDO FCC public archive| KRDO FCC Applications
| Don’t sell my information
| The rules of the contest