The Unique Timing and Controversial Backdrop Shape the World Cup’s Unforgettable Arrival
As Lionel Messi and the Argentine squad touched down in Qatar this week, the excitement was palpable, with the weight of the £220bn infrastructure project — built on the controversial practices of “modern slavery” — lingering in the background. Despite this, the players couldn’t help but feel the rush of anticipation. For Messi, and many others, it’s “another chance” to claim victory and achieve immortality. The same sentiment echoed in the England camp, where the 14 players experiencing the World Cup for the first time were awestruck by the magnitude of the event: “It’s the World Cup!”
This year’s World Cup is unlike any before it, with the disruption of the usual football calendar giving it an odd sense of immediacy and yet a long-lasting weight. While it feels as though the tournament has suddenly arrived, the truth is that it has been in the making for over a decade. The 2022 World Cup is not only unique because of its November start but also because of the political, social, and environmental controversy surrounding its host nation.
