Qatar Probably Won’t Serve Alcohol At 2022 World Cup, Is Definitely Going To Be The Worst Host Ever
11 years ago

America is slowly falling in love with soccer, so it stings a little that the corrupt assholes at FIFA opted to put the 2022 World Cup in the scorching desert of Qatar rather than the United States, a country where grass grows naturally.

The plan to have Qatar host backfired almost instantly, and has become a PR nightmare for FIFA. Allegations of corruption sprouted immediately, with evidence that Qatari officials paid millions of dollars to secure its bid. Conditions for soccer and human life in Qatar are deplorable. Up to 4,000 people are predicted to die building the soccer stadiums in the God-forsaken country–where temperatures reach 114 degrees during the afternoon hours of summer.

Last week, news broke that thousands of North Korean slave laborers are working on construction sites in Qatar. From the Independent:

A spokesperson from Qatar’s ministry of labour and social affairs said it takes all issues around worker payment extremely seriously, stating that there are 2,800 North Korean guest workers registered in the emirate, and
it has had “no recorded complaints” about their pay or treatment.

On top of all of this nonsense, Qatar adheres to “sharia law.” If for some dreadful reason you choose to attend the 2022 World Cup, your chances of enjoying a beer at the event are currently slated at “slim to none.”

Qatari Sports Minister (whatever that is) Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali recently spoke to the Associated Press to alleviate some concerns surrounding the 2022 World Cup. His answers did no such thing.

Asked whether the country will permit alcohol sales during the tournament, something FIFA forced Brazil to do this summer, Al Ali said a whole lot of nothing:

From the Associated Press:

Al Ali said “creative” solutions can be found to allow alcohol sales to visiting World Cup fans. For now, alcohol is only sold in selected Doha hotels and visitors must show their passports to enter these bars. Residents with a license to shop there can also buy alcohol in a government-run store. But World Cup organizer FIFA has a sponsorship deal with a brewer and it leaned on Brazil, the last tournament host, to allow beer sales in its 2014 World Cup stadiums. Asked specifically about alcohol in 2022 stadiums, the minister offered no guarantee.

He said Qatar doesn’t want to create “this impression, illusion that we don’t care about our tradition and our ethical values … We are studying all these issues. We can adapt, we can be creative to have people coming and enjoying the games without losing the essence of our culture and respecting the preference of the people coming here. I think there is a lot we can do.”

Qatar isn’t exactly planning on welcoming gay people to its country with open arms, either.

Asked how gay people will be welcomed in 2022, al-Ali replied: “It’s exactly like the alcohol question.”

How anyone thought this country would play a better host to the World Cup than New York, D.C., Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Seattle, Portland or Los Angeles is beyond me. Hopefully, they’ll move it. Otherwise, the 2022 World Cup is going to blow. Hard.

[via Associated Press]

Image via Twitter

      1. GermanFratStar

        It’s actually a much more complicated situation that can’t be fixed with just the push of a button. You need to simultaneously turn two keys first to truly solve it.

        11 years ago at 1:21 pm
    1. Golden

      They don’t complain because the North Korean workers know the punishment is eternal hard labor for them and their entire family.

      11 years ago at 9:00 pm
      1. Texas Tux and Oil

        Leave it to an aggie to take a literal approach, pretty sure we all know it sucks panda balls over there.

        11 years ago at 9:29 pm
    2. DrunkWithFunk21

      They dont complain cause hell is better than North Korea. This is vacation

      11 years ago at 9:25 pm
    2. FratThatAssUp

      I think you forgot the word “lot”…or maybe “shit ton” .. or something along those lines. But yeah, mighty WHISKEY decision none the less…

      11 years ago at 6:50 pm
      4. PhallicJohnson

        I knew you’d BEER sooner or later…. (I’m laughing at this one out loud even though I’m the one who wrote it.)

        11 years ago at 9:44 am
  5. Broties n Boatshoes

    I seriously thought Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali was a name you made up until I Googled it.

    11 years ago at 4:46 pm
  6. Mr. Fourth Quarter

    And keep in mind this is the country that beat out the U.S. for being the 2022 host

    11 years ago at 4:52 pm
    1. Texas Tux and Oil

      We don’t acknowledge soccer so therefore do not acknowledge defeat, Qatar hasn’t even won a Super Bowl.

      11 years ago at 5:04 pm
      2. DylanChapman_UCF

        Has Qatar accomplished anything besides being another shit stain country in the Middle East?

        11 years ago at 1:43 pm
  7. Quartermaster_TFM

    With soccer fans how they are this could help or make things way worse.

    11 years ago at 4:53 pm
  8. RaginBush84

    Making up for the lack of alcohol consumption by doubling our drinking in the US TFM

    11 years ago at 5:03 pm
  9. PornChair

    Well if there’s one thing those burqas are good for, it’s sneaking in alcohol

    11 years ago at 5:29 pm
  10. ZeteNJ

    I wouldn’t get too worked up. Qatar also probably won’t end up hosting the 2022 World Cup. FIFA denies it, but they’ve already approached the U.S. to be an, “emergency back up,” because, surprise surprise, we’re the only country on Earth that could host on relatively short notice and not have to build a single thing.

    11 years ago at 6:17 pm
    1. Hoosier Fratter

      Australia is also in line. Obviously no one could do it better than us, but im sure the aussies would do a fine job

      11 years ago at 10:01 pm
      1. Sailgating

        I’ve always had respect for the Aussies. They had our backs in WWII and they know how knock back a brew. It’s too bad FIFA can’t see that hosting a giant worldwide event is better in a place that allows freedom.

        11 years ago at 11:19 pm