Migrant Labor and the Legacy of Qatar 2022

Description

The goal of this paper is to highlight how the 2022 World Cup in Qatar exposed international systems of migrant labor and how the upcoming 2026 World Cup presents an opportunity to address issues of human rights and labor reform. The 2022 tournament drew international attention not only for its unprecedented location in the Middle East but also for the exploitative working conditions faced by the predominantly South Asian migrant workforce that built Qatar’s infrastructure. The lens of analysis through which human rights organizations and media analyzed the Qatar World Cup must remain equally critical as the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare to host the World Cup in 2026. This paper’s analysis of human rights reports and global media coverage shows that FIFA’s governance allows host countries to operate with minimal accountability when building and hosting a World Cup. Therefore, the impact of Qatar 2022 highlights how mega sporting events operate under the influence of capitalism and international labor practices, and questions whether future World Cups can reflect the inclusive and global values that FIFA professes to uphold.

Team

Members

Student: Trevor Burns

Supervisor: Ralph A. Litzinger