From Italy 1934 to Qatar 2022: the geopolitics of the World Cup
The Italy of the twenty years in 1934. The Argentina of the generals in 1978. But also the United States, the only superpower in the unipolar world that emerged from the Cold War in 1994. Or Japan and South Korea in 2002, to open what many call the “Asian century”. And again Brazil in 2014 ready for the Rio Olympics and in the poisonous queue of the first was Lula, which has just reopened after last month’s elections. Vladimir Putin’s Russia in 2018, looking for the last chance to renew relations with the West. This time, it’s up to Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to organize a soccer world cup.
In a history spanning 92 years now, the top football competition for national teams has always been a not only sporting opportunity, but also a diplomatic and geopolitical one for the host countries. The 2022 edition is no exception, the most controversial and also criticized for the numerous complaints of human rights violations perpetrated to organize an event that concentrates half of Lombardy in one large (or rather small) country 32 national teams with all the staff, sponsors and fans in tow. There are many unknowns about public order.
Not to mention that Qatar has bet a lot on football to rebuild its image and launch its soft power in the West. Just think of the acquisition of a club of the caliber of Paris Saint Germain. Instead, there have been several criticisms. Within the fabulously wealthy small state of the Arabian peninsula, which plays an extremely active role on the world stage, the rapid pace of criticism is no longer interpreted as perplexity and frustration, but as something born of jealousy and racism.
The Danish team will wear jerseys with the manufacturer’s logo “faded”, because the manufacturer Hummel “doesn’t want to be visible in tournaments that cost lives”. The Australian team produced a video expressing concern about the “suffering” of migrant workers and the inability of Qatari LGBTQ+ people to “love the person they have chosen”. Eight of the 32 teams intend to wear a form of rainbow sash in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Human rights? Qatar focuses on gas
However, Doha believes that the World Cup will still be a great publicity for Qatar. Also because, beyond the individual protests of teams or players, foreign governments know how important cooperation with the Middle Eastern country is. Qatar scored several points by welcoming outgoing embassies from Kabul after the American withdrawal and the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Qatar has continued to base its geopolitical security approach on gas. Europe and Italy itself have increasingly turned to Doha to boost energy imports after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. And it won’t be some problem at the World Cup that will blow up cooperation on the matter.
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