World Cup Qatar

I’ve noticed there has been a lot of players injured or doubtful for the WC some big names too.  Part of me thinks some maybe aren’t bothered by the WC but I don’t think I’ve seen/read so many players injured before.  

I wonder how many are doubtful compared to previous WC.

I’m genuinely in two minds as to whether I want to watch any of it, and I say that as someone who normally loves the World Cup.

I imagine there are plenty of players in two minds about it as well. Not many chances to play at the World Cup in even the longest and greatest careers, but it must be galling for those travelling that it is being hosted in such a retched country.

Quoted from Poojah

I’m genuinely in two minds as to whether I want to watch any of it, and I say that as someone who normally loves the World Cup.

I imagine there are plenty of players in two minds about it as well. Not many chances to play at the World Cup in even the longest and greatest careers, but it must be galling for those travelling that it is being hosted in such a retched country.

I’m in a similar boat Poojah not really fussed it’ll end up being a poor man’s WC I’ve noticed the Saudis are trying to buy sport like Golf etc i think Barcelona play a tour over there as they have alot of money.  

Not sure I’m that bothered TBH.

I'm normally buzzing for the World Cup, but this has crept up on me without notice. Didn't even realise it was only a couple of weeks away until I just looked at the schedule.

It feels like the wrong tournament at the wrong time in the wrong country. They should never have been given it.

Not in the least bit interested in this WC... all about money.

I think a lot of people think the same Ginny this is purely about money I mean I get what FIFA are trying to do by giving countries or country a chance to host the WC but they should be giving to countries that do participate that haven’t had it for years.

All I see from the Saudi’s is them trying to buy various sports like Golf they tempted players to leave the PGA tour to play for obscene amounts of money and not all have signed up to it.  No idea how many other sports they pay for.

Whilst I haven't been fussed if England win or lose for at least ten years now I always greatly  look forward to the World Cup, but as has already been said I'm struggling to rouse any sort of excitement for this one. Simply the wrong location and time of year to hold it.

As for missing players, might be they can't be arsed with it but I think it's more due to it being slap bang in the middle of  the season and injuries.

Usually there’s loads of World Cup adverts on but I’ve hardly seen any this year. I wonder if the brands are distancing themselves from it?

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Not sure I’m that bothered TBH.

Have to agree - for the first time since 1966 I have little tnterest.  Too many  meaningless tournaments -  I am overdosed on international stuff.  

The more I think about it, the more it seems the absurdity of this World Cup has only just begun. It was awarded in 2010, which whilst only 12 years ago, is almost light years away from where we are culturally, in the western world at least, now.

Just last week we had foreign secretary James Cleverley not very cleverly advising gay fans to be a little bit less gay, or words to that effect, should they wish to travel to Qatar. In these times, making such comments about how gay people should conduct themselves on these shores would almost be a sackable offence, but I’m not sure what else can he say?

Advising fans to be themselves, only to find they end up getting locked up in their droves for up to 7 years, or even getting the death penalty should they have the audacity to be both gay and Muslim, is not an approach the government can take.

The decision to award Qatar the World Cup looked spectacularly moronic and corrupt in 2010, and it has only aged like milk since then as the values of most of the world has moved on while those in the Persian Gulf remain firmly in the Stone Age. Oh, and I’m not sure what feelings about the deaths of thousands of forced, migrant workers were in 2010, but I think it was least a little bit “uncool”.

Will I watch it? I honestly don’t know. I had similar if less strong feelings about the World Cup in Russia in 2018, only to find it quite enjoyable after they seemingly locked up all their meatheads for a month or at least paid them to keep out of the way. However successful that tournament was, the Russians have of course only showed themselves for what they truly are in the time since.

Two countries world renowned for their own unique brand of barbarism. Spin things how you like, the hosting of the World Cup in such countries has nothing about enlightenment or spreading the love of the beautiful game, it’s about money, corruption and the placating of profoundly evil and archaic regimes.

Actually, fúck it, I think I’ve convinced myself. I won’t be bothering with this shambolic circus of a tournament. The times we are living through are a reminder that there are more important things in life than football; values are possibly more important than ever right now.

Will I watch it? Probably. Am I excited for it like I usually am? Not in the slightest. Aside from the obvious political issues, money grabbing, bungs, bribes and horrid human rights record, it’s at the worst time ever. Literally nobody is happy about the timing.

What I find sad is people like Beckham, not short of a quid, allegedly has some sort of moral compass and yet he’s allowed himself to be one of the faces. Players and countries allegedly taking a stand but not quite a big enough one to pull out.

Would I be annoyed if Kane pulled out on moral ground, initially I would but when I’d eventually step back, I’d say he’d have won the World Cup by doing such a thing.

Whoever wins this World Cup, however much the media machine makes it a success, I think it’ll be tainted in some way.

If we thought Russia gaining the World Cup was a scam, a fix then this is off the scale…

Normally I plan my work and evenings around the World Cup, especially if it’s odd times. This time I haven’t given it a thought and my diary is rammed. I expect I’ll watch any England games if I’m not working but not bothered at all really. Fifa greed cup.

They have devalued the entire thing.

Not interested in the slightest, shouldn't be there, probably won't watch any of it. I think and hope they will be surprised at the lack of interest worldwide.

Quoted from gytone

Not interested in the slightest, shouldn't be there, probably won't watch any of it. I think and hope they will be surprised at the lack of interest worldwide.

You say this but sadly, many countries will take a huge interest, South American countries will and sadly, many in this country and wales will. Especially those arm chair fans, those who don’t really give a excrement but watch tournament etc.

A corrupt WC, In a corrupt Country, with VAR  on top........What could possibly go wrong. ( Puts Life savings, House ,Car on Qatar lifting the trophy) 👀

As it stands I've got no interest in it. However, I'll be honest, I know full well that later this month I'll be tuning into Paraguay v Chad or whatever at 10am on a Thursday morning.

Think I’ll do some decorating got a log burner to setup but need to open my fireplace a bit so that’s me out lol

Oh and you know it’s really corrupt if Qatar win it lol

Quoted from aldi_01

You say this but sadly, many countries will take a huge interest, South American countries will and sadly, many in this country and wales will. Especially those arm chair fans, those who don’t really give a excrement but watch tournament etc.

Yeah I get that, but most people I speak to aren't bothered,  so let's hope viewing figures are down.
Think the opening game is Qatar v Senegal, I'd rather boil my head than watch that.

Quoted from gytone

Yeah I get that, but most people I speak to aren't bothered,  so let's hope viewing figures are down.
Think the opening game is Qatar v Senegal, I'd rather boil my head than watch that.

Lol I’d rather watch the old man drop the kids off at the super bowl

Most of us will be watching if England reach the final  

Now come on PP you can’t be saying that lol but
probably as the mrs will have England on (only football team she’ll watch)

I promised that I would boycott this world cup back on a snowy train journey in 2010, I havnt changed my mind since, seeing Hypocrite Lineker at the Russia World cup draw reinforced my stance which has become stroger as the event appoaches.
I dont care who wins or takes part, Uefa, and more so the FA should have taken a stand and boycotted the event due to proven corruption, bribery and human right abuses.
I will say again, I Boycott.

My interest in the world cup has been diminishing for some time.  One of the draws back in the day was watching some of the unknown teams coming onto the big stage and playing with passion to excite us all - Roger Milla comes to mind. Nowadays, most of the players there will be players who play in the big European leagues so we will already know them in some capacity.   I also can't stand the diving and play acting that prevails driven by the win at all costs football.   Still, I might get sucked in.  

No chance I will watch it .Any players attending are only proving the kneeling and the pride stuff was after all virtue signalling .Boycott would have shown real anti discrimination support

Quoted from Poojah

The more I think about it, the more it seems the absurdity of this World Cup has only just begun. It was awarded in 2010, which whilst only 12 years ago, is almost light years away from where we are culturally, in the western world at least, now.

Just last week we had foreign secretary James Cleverley not very cleverly advising gay fans to be a little bit less gay, or words to that effect, should they wish to travel to Qatar. In these times, making such comments about how gay people should conduct themselves on these shores would almost be a sackable offence, but I’m not sure what else can he say?

Advising fans to be themselves, only to find they end up getting locked up in their droves for up to 7 years, or even getting the death penalty should they have the audacity to be both gay and Muslim, is not an approach the government can take.

The decision to award Qatar the World Cup looked spectacularly moronic and corrupt in 2010, and it has only aged like milk since then as the values of most of the world has moved on while those in the Persian Gulf remain firmly in the Stone Age. Oh, and I’m not sure what feelings about the deaths of thousands of forced, migrant workers were in 2010, but I think it was least a little bit “uncool”.

Will I watch it? I honestly don’t know. I had similar if less strong feelings about the World Cup in Russia in 2018, only to find it quite enjoyable after they seemingly locked up all their meatheads for a month or at least paid them to keep out of the way. However successful that tournament was, the Russians have of course only showed themselves for what they truly are in the time since.

Two countries world renowned for their own unique brand of barbarism. Spin things how you like, the hosting of the World Cup in such countries has nothing about enlightenment or spreading the love of the beautiful game, it’s about money, corruption and the placating of profoundly evil and archaic regimes.

Actually, fúck it, I think I’ve convinced myself. I won’t be bothering with this shambolic circus of a tournament. The times we are living through are a reminder that there are more important things in life than football; values are possibly more important than ever right now.

This, although I’ll probably watch some games. Never in a million years should the World Cup have been given to Qatar.

Remember being in Oz when they were bidding to host this, they were extremely confident of getting it and ended up being voted out in the first round. They should have got it, they have the infrastructure, they know how to host events.  

A pathetic backhanded decision, Qatar, should never, be hosting a World Cup. Im all for football going round the world, but not to a country in the middle east with no football heritage, and their appalling treatment of migrant workers and homosexuals  

I usually look forward to the world cup but not this year. Wrong time of the year in a country that' bought' it, used slave labour to build stadiums and has a poor human relations record.

So when does it finish?

Thing is, I think FIFA know it’s a mistake holding it there but the money was too good to turn down for them. Really sad when you think about it.

I’m not even arsed that England missed out or it’s not somewhere closer to home; I’ve no issue with it being held around the world but the whole point of a World Cup is generate a legacy and drive the game forward, it’ll do either in Qatar. We’ve even got FIFA basically telling people to ‘focus on the football’ meaning they clearly know teams and people aren’t happy.

Sadly, like anything though, people will still attend, it will still be watched, pubs will be full and the bandwagon will be rolling.

As I said though, whoever wins will probably feel it’s a tainted World Cup. I want England to win every tournament, even this one bel but it would leave a sour taste in the mouth.

Qatar  WC  - I thought WC was short for a s--- house - but then again

If I watch any games itll be through iptv so they won't have my 'viewing' counted I assume. But like many others have said I'm not overly fused about it anyway.

It will give me something to watch while I do the ironing

Anyone who fancies a bit of extra interest in The World Cup, don't forget the sweep I am running. Still plenty of places left.

I'm sure that just yesterday I heard or read that a group of 50 England fans were having expenses paid to report positively on games and leave only positive comments.

I’ve got more interest in the Papa Johns Trophy.

I posted some Pirlo pörn on the Glennon thread but there aren’t many commentary moments that don’t involve John Tondeur or Town which are capable of sending a shiver down the spine; this however…[url]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MbGUeu6cv2M[/url]


Pirlo. Pirlo. Pirlo. Ancora Pirlo.
Gooollllll.  Gooollllllll. Goollllll.  Grosso. Grosso.  Gooollll. Gol di Grosso. Gol di Grosso. Gol di Grosso.

Then Cannavaro strides forward as if possessed by Shaun Pearson. Totti (Nolan). Gilardino (Hoban). And Alex del Piero is left to bend home the second for the ultimate ‘falls to Arnold’ moment.


The World Cup has given me and many others so much joy and incredible memories over the years and the corrupt bastärds at FIFA and beyond are determined to destroy that.

Everyone saying they're not bothered but if England get on a run everyone will be singing Jerusalem and painting their faces like usual.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Everyone saying they're not bothered but if England get on a run everyone will be singing Jerusalem and painting their faces like usual.

Not been bothered about England personally since that wet night at Wembley when Steve McLaren got his brolly out but you're probably right, people will still be straight down the ASDA to buy flag parafanalia and saying 'it's coming home' ad infinitum.

Now we have FIFA and the Qatar dictatorship paying England fans to attend,so long as they give positive comments about the tournament, anyone agreeing to this is condoning the Qatar regimes questionable record on human rights, homophobia,and not to mention the countless workers killed building these stadiums due to non existent h&s standards, if your a worker and union member you couldn't possibly agree this world cup is legitimate.
It's disgusting that our fa has agreed to send our team out there
But then everything is for sale in this country even moral fibre apparently.
I won't be watching and hope it's going to be a spectacular failure.

Quoted from GYinScuntland

I'm sure that just yesterday I heard or read that a group of 50 England fans were having expenses paid to report positively on games and leave only positive comments.

They’ve been paying those flipping boring girl privates with the drum and a trumpet for years…

Personally I'd take a 3rd round FA Cup tie for Town if it meant England got eliminated at the Group stage . I don't think we should be playing the FA should have pulled us out its an absolute sham this tournament and I hope its a disaster.

Quoted from aldi_01

They’ve been paying those flipping boring girl privates with the drum and a trumpet for years…

It's like watching paint dry watching the England men's team, hope they get battered.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Personally I'd take a 3rd round FA Cup tie for Town if it meant England got eliminated at the Group stage . I don't think we should be playing the FA should have pulled us out its an absolute sham this tournament and I hope its a disaster.

Mate, I'm with you 100% I'm ashamed of our spineless fa and government.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Personally I'd take a 3rd round FA Cup tie for Town if it meant England got eliminated at the Group stage . I don't think we should be playing the FA should have pulled us out its an absolute sham this tournament and I hope its a disaster.

But essentially the only reason it’s not here is because our envelopes weren’t full enough…

I see the Danes have a muted kit for this tournament, their shirt maker Hummel have literally said 'we support Denmark but we don't want to be associated with this nonsense, unfortunately we have a contract to fulfil so we've scrubbed as much of our logo off it as we can legally get away with'.

I can't believe the cruelty that will be unleashed on fans attending this WC, forced to watch Southgate's 10-man defence and praying Kane gets a dodgy penalty in every group game........seriously though if any of these players, coaches and organisations believed a single word of what they've been preaching to us the past few years they'd boycott it.

It'll be very interesting to see what any high profile players do in protest whilst over there - Will Quatar be willing to arrest and prosecute someone like Ronaldo etc?  I imagine they'll be lenient as anything for a few weeks whilst the cameras are around then back to normal after the final.

Quoted from aldi_01

They’ve been paying those flipping boring girl privates with the drum and a trumpet for years…

Quoted from Poojah

I’m genuinely in two minds as to whether I want to watch any of it, and I say that as someone who normally loves the World Cup.

I imagine there are plenty of players in two minds about it as well. Not many chances to play at the World Cup in even the longest and greatest careers, but it must be galling for those travelling that it is being hosted in such a wretched country.

65 years old and for the first time in my lifetime I honestly couldn't give a excrement about the World Cup finals. Absolutely 100% should never be played there and Southgate is the most dull, boring, defensive manager we've ever had. What's there to get excited about?

I will not watch one minute of this debacle. I really hope it’s the biggest failure of all time. A disgraceful decision to hold it there

It'll be interesting to see which sponsors have no moral fibre and still have their product and signage adorning the stadia 🤔 I don't support this world Cup one bit and, although I'll be interested to watch some live football on terrestrial TV, I won't be going out of my way to book time off work and change my personal life around it as I do for every other major tournament.

Imo it's going to be a dark month for football and I really hope some of these mega stars haven't been taking one knee whilst also supporting gay rights etc just to throw it all away selling their souls in Qatar. Over to you Harry Kane and others......

I will watch it and cheer my home nation on , it’s not the players fault where it’s being played .

There's no buzz and the tournament is a couple of weeks away. I've a ticket for the final in the unlikely event we make it, was easy to get and I'm a low capper nowadays with the club.

Quoted from supertown

I will watch it and cheer my home nation on , it’s not the players fault where it’s being played .

The players, just for once could become legends and role models by saying screw this, were not prepared to play in this backward evil country, I would be so proud of them.
Instead,they will take the money and conform to the fa line of "keep politics out of sport" unfortunately, everything is politics.
Qatar makes places like Russia look like like a liberal Scandinavian utopia.
Obviously,the fans opinion doesn't matter as always, not one single person I know thinks it should be held here.

Obviously Qatar should never have got the tournament and it was blatant corruption that they did. I'm also far less interested than normal and have even arranged to do other things for a couple of the England group matches, which is pretty unheard of. However I'm sure I will get a bit into it once it starts and watch a few games.

Maybe it will have lower viewing figures in European countries than normal which may help prevent it happening again, fingers crossed.

** news flash **

It’s not about real fans anymore

Quoted from Meza

Part of me thinks some maybe aren’t bothered by the WC but I don’t think I’ve seen/read so many players injured before.  

Sad to see Paul Pogba is out. France were my pre tournament favourites but now Iam having doubts.

As for players possibly not being bothered about the world cup I don't see it for many even if it is in Qatar. For most winning the world cup is another level to anything with the club's. I think it was Xavi the ex Barcelona player that said winning the world cup with Spain surpassed anything with Barcelona and Barca represent for a fair few fans their expression of wanting Catalonian independence from Spain. Indeed the Spanish national team have not  played in the Camp Nou since 1969.

I am not as interested about it as I usually am. I will watch England games and maybe a few others.

The award of the tournament to Qatar was a disgrace and should have led to nations resigning from FIFA and the collapse of a governing body which does not and has never governed for the benefit of the game.

As for this tournament and the players, they should play the games and that is it. No pre-match and post match interviews and all the usual stuff. Turn up at the stadium, play the game, leave the stadium, end of. I fail to see what 'punishment' FIFA can possibly apply, unless they kick you out of the tournament, thus diminishing their 'product' and probably increasing the kudos of the banned team.

On a personal level, as I have said, I'll watch the games. I am making a concerted effort to boycott any companies using WC Qatar branding to try and sell their products, particularly those companies which claim to be 'the official [insert product here] of the Qatar World Cup'

Have I Got News for You last night is well worth a watch, Gary Neville was hosting and gets an absolute roasting for taking Qatari money to commentate out there. He absolutely squirmed.

Great watch primarily to see someone rightly called out for being a hypocrite and morally defunct when money is involved, but especially cos its the Salford 'buy success' sharp object Gary Neville

Quoted from MarinerWY

Have I Got News for You last night is well worth a watch, Gary Neville was hosting and gets an absolute roasting for taking Qatari money to commentate out there. He absolutely squirmed.

Great watch primarily to see someone rightly called out for being a hypocrite and morally defunct when money is involved, but especially cos its the Salford 'buy success' sharp object Gary Neville

Made me laugh to be honest, but he would have knew it was coming, he’s “marmite” Gary but he’s not thick.

The saddest thing is the world governing body preaches taking the game to new territories and forgets about inclusion when the check books come out? Try

This tournament follows,

Russia - Too many repressions to name, in fact looking at history since the 19th century it feels like it’s in their DNA, away from that a tournament awarded to a dictator.

Brazil - Now there’s another, poor human rights, corruption, severe poverty, poor healthcare etc etc…

I’m sure there’s more examples like Mexico who got it twice in 16 years?

The only way it would change is if the major countries broke away, which will never happen.

I wonder what the Qatari’s legacy pitch looked like?

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Made me laugh to be honest, but he would have knew it was coming, he’s “marmite” Gary but he’s not thick.

The saddest thing is the world governing body preaches taking the game to new territories and forgets about inclusion when the check books come out? Try

This tournament follows,

Russia - Too many repressions to name, in fact looking at history since the 19th century it feels like it’s in their DNA, away from that a tournament awarded to a dictator.

Brazil - Now there’s another, poor human rights, corruption, severe poverty, poor healthcare etc etc…

I’m sure there’s more examples like Mexico who got it twice in 16 years?

The only way it would change is if the major countries broke away, which will never happen.

I wonder what the Qatari’s legacy pitch looked like?

I remember with the Brazil one broadcasters were told directly they weren't allowed to show the shanty towns or anything that would negative about Brazil

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

I remember with the Brazil one broadcasters were told directly they weren't allowed to show the shanty towns or anything that would negative about Brazil

I've read similar but more disturbing. Of duty military police targeted and killed Brazilian street children. Sad and shocking.

Quoted from Poojah

The more I think about it, the more it seems the absurdity of this World Cup has only just begun. It was awarded in 2010, which whilst only 12 years ago, is almost light years away from where we are culturally, in the western world at least, now.

Just last week we had foreign secretary James Cleverley not very cleverly advising gay fans to be a little bit less gay, or words to that effect, should they wish to travel to Qatar. In these times, making such comments about how gay people should conduct themselves on these shores would almost be a sackable offence, but I’m not sure what else can he say?

Advising fans to be themselves, only to find they end up getting locked up in their droves for up to 7 years, or even getting the death penalty should they have the audacity to be both gay and Muslim, is not an approach the government can take.

The decision to award Qatar the World Cup looked spectacularly moronic and corrupt in 2010, and it has only aged like milk since then as the values of most of the world has moved on while those in the Persian Gulf remain firmly in the Stone Age. Oh, and I’m not sure what feelings about the deaths of thousands of forced, migrant workers were in 2010, but I think it was least a little bit “uncool”.

Will I watch it? I honestly don’t know. I had similar if less strong feelings about the World Cup in Russia in 2018, only to find it quite enjoyable after they seemingly locked up all their meatheads for a month or at least paid them to keep out of the way. However successful that tournament was, the Russians have of course only showed themselves for what they truly are in the time since.

Two countries world renowned for their own unique brand of barbarism. Spin things how you like, the hosting of the World Cup in such countries has nothing about enlightenment or spreading the love of the beautiful game, it’s about money, corruption and the placating of profoundly evil and archaic regimes.

Actually, fúck it, I think I’ve convinced myself. I won’t be bothering with this shambolic circus of a tournament. The times we are living through are a reminder that there are more important things in life than football; values are possibly more important than ever right now.

This. I'm past all that "I respect that others may choose to watch" as well. Anyone giving this farce or its sponsors the time of day is part of the problem, having a moan about the turd sandwich and scoffing it anyway. Guess what will get served next time.

Mexico had it twice in 16 years as there was an earthquake in 1986's original pick, Colombia. Not sure there will have been anything dodgy with that.  

We can talk all we want, the simple fact is our envelopes weren’t as full.

It’s so sad really because the World Cup is amazing but I’m really not excited.

Of course tgat not just because of corruption but the fact we’re mid season and it’s winter when it happens…

Quoted from aldi_01

the World Cup is amazing  

If you haven't already Aldi check the current world soccer magazine edition. All about the world cup squad lists , tactical analysis and  interviews with differing journalists worldwide on their  respective teams chances in the world cup. Excellent guide to the tournament.

Quoted from Rick12

If you haven't already Aldi check the current world soccer magazine edition. All about the world cup squad lists , tactical analysis and  interviews with differing journalists worldwide on their  respective teams chances in the world cup. Excellent guide to the tournament.

Someone sent me a link to this, need to check it out…

Quoted from mirrorballman

This. I'm past all that "I respect that others may choose to watch" as well. Anyone giving this farce or its sponsors the time of day is part of the problem, having a moan about the turd sandwich and scoffing it anyway. Guess what will get served next time.

It's a right excrement show and no mistake but blaming innocent football fans who might tune in is taking it a step too far in my opinion.

The population of Qatar is similar to that of Greater Manchester so that tells everyone a bit about how this global tournament was awarded.

The next one is in the Canada, USA (again) & Mexico (again) which I kind of see but I only think the USA got involved because they kicked up f**k when it went to Qatar.

Wont be watching it at all for many of the reasons stated above .. Oh and the negative way that they play  3 to the side and one back  and then to the keeper . I am glad i played when you went out to score goals , Hopefully more than the other side did.

Quoted from GYinScuntland

It's a right excrement show and no mistake but blaming innocent football fans who might tune in is taking it a step too far in my opinion.

Not really, it's the apathy that means things won't change. If everybody refused to watch because of the atrocities, and sponsors suffered a dent to their reputation as a result of supporting these atrocities, then the money would dry up and FIFA would never again consider hosting it in a country like this.

But that won't happen. People will watch, make a faint hearted complaint that it's wrong, and carry on buying Big Macs, Coca Cola, Nike trainers and whatever else unnecessary junk is sold by an official world cup partner. Then in 12 years time when it's in Saudi Arabia or North Korea, people will make the same complaints and act like there's nothing they can do about it.

The football fans who tune in are the ones that are allowing this to happen. I won't watch a single second of it, and as much as I want England to win, I wouldn't watch the final if we made it that far. Thousands of people dying so that a game of football can take place in a horrible country is not ok, and I will not be a part of the sport washing and allowing them to vindicate that corrupt choice.

Quoted from pen penfras

Not really, it's the apathy that means things won't change.

Every country worldwide has its problems Pen penfras albeit some much more acute than others . But I do feel as you've loosely said with positive action things can and do change :

"Qatar has made more progress with respect to human rights in the last four years than it has in the last four decades because it is hosting the World Cup.”

— U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe

Quoted from Rick12

Every country worldwide has its problems Pen penfras albeit some much more acute than others . But I do feel as you've loosely said with positive action things can and do change :

"Qatar has made more progress with respect to human rights in the last four years than it has in the last four decades because it is hosting the World Cup.”

— U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe

Unfortunately, it's still a couple of centuries behind...

Quoted from MarinerWY

Have I Got News for You last night is well worth a watch, Gary Neville was hosting and gets an absolute roasting for taking Qatari money to commentate out there. He absolutely squirmed.

Great watch primarily to see someone rightly called out for being a hypocrite and morally defunct when money is involved, but especially cos its the Salford 'buy success' sharp object Gary Neville

Problem is with people like Neville, they don't care.  Hislop did well to call him out but he will go anyway, put up with a bit of stick on social media but he deal with it because he is thick skinned.  He had to be to play for Man U.  Then he will count the money with a smile on his face.