The True Cost of Qatar 2022
What’s been spent and what’s been lost?
It’s nearly here.
We’re on the cusp of one of the most controversial world cups of all time — yes, sadly Qatar’s not even the most dubious of circumstances.
More than a logistical nightmare, a financial headache, or a smoking gun of long-standing FIFA corruption, Qatar’s massive infrastructure overhaul has been clouded by outrageously blatant human rights abuses.
Ever since December 2, 2010 when Qatar won its bid to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup, it just made zero sense. Prior to this gargantuan building project, the biggest in World Cup history, Qatar had just one stadium.
Over the twelve years leading up to Nov. 20th’s kick-off, the tiny oil-rich country of 3 million has reportedly spent around $229 billion dollars building eight state-of-the art stadiums, new roads and rail lines, expanding its airport, and finding accommodation for 1.2 million expected visitors.
That’s more than 16 times what Russia claims it spent on the 2018 World Cup ($14.2 billion). In contrast, Qatar shelled out $500 million a week for years to meet the 2022 deadline.
Why so expensive? Let me re-iterate once again just how little sense it makes to host the World Cup here.
