No matter whether Brazil or Argentina or anyone else lifts the trophy next month, Qatar has already won the World Cup.
Despite intense criticism over the past ten years for human rights abuses, corruption and bribery, the Gulf's petro-monarchy has emerged stronger than ever.
As Politico reports, the World Cup has helped accelerate Qatar's growth through the construction of high-end stadiums, glitzy shopping malls, five-star hotels and a world-class airport and allowed it to exert geopolitical and sporting influence.
And, regardless of the human rights backlash, the tournament has many of the West's political elite on its side.
For example, Emmanuel Macron invited the world to go easy on Qatar, saying that "sport should not be politicised."
This controversial World Cup will welcome many senior Western officials. These include US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, and Britain's James Cleverley.
Politico recalls that Qatar has long come under fire for its brutal use of migrant workers, its stance on the rights of the LGBTI community and possible state surveillance of fans. Externally, it was hit by a long-running blockade by its Gulf neighbours, led by Saudi Arabia and tacitly supported by then US president Donald Trump.
Diplomatic dexterity
But Qatar has overcome both critics and foes thanks to its diplomatic dexterity and the leverage generated by its vast hydrocarbon resources.
"Qatar decided it was going to learn to drive in the fast lane of a motorway," Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport and geopolitical economics at the Skema Business School in Paris, said of the World Cup bid. "But Qatar had the money to learn to drive."
Changes
Some of the criticism sparked changes.
The kafala system, a sponsorship-based employment mechanism first introduced by the British in Bahrain in the 1930s, was ended by law in Qatar in 2020. In theory, this allows Qatari workers to change jobs without having to obtain their employer's permission. At the same time, Doha also legislated an increase in the minimum wage to 1,000 rials per month - or about 264 euros.
Critical watchdogs, however, point out that Qatar's "toxic" labor problems - which have resulted in the abuse and deaths of many migrant workers from South Asia - did not end with the abolition of kafala .
"I think there's a big compelling argument to say that the system facilitates slavery or forced labor," said Nicholas McGeehan, founding director of FairSquare Research and Projects, whose work has focused extensively on human rights in the Gulf.
Figures
Estimates vary , as the Qatari government does not share official figures on migrant worker deaths, but hundreds of Nepalis have died in the Gulf country from heart attacks, workplace accidents and suicides since 2010, according to government statistics.
However, there is some support for Qatar's reforms. Marc Tarabella, a Belgian Socialist MEP who is vice chairman of the Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the Arabian Peninsula and also co-chairman of the Sports Group, told POLITICO that thanks to the World Cup, Qatar has become "a good example to follow for other countries in the neighborhood."
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi, who is not affiliated with the World Cup host team, was careful enough to tell POLITICO that he is "very proud" that his country is hosting the World Cup and not "trying to hide" in the shadows.
"We do everything 100 percent right? Probably not. Are we perfect? No. But we are fixing things," he said. "The World Cup has done a fantastic job for Qatar: infrastructure, arrangements. A lot of things have changed. Huge things."
Public transport
While Qatar - a country where the car is king - touts the public transport developments hastened by the World Cup, only some of the stadiums are connected to the shiny new metro system.
A last-minute twist on beer by Qatari hosts, now banned in and around tournament stadiums, has caused more concern among human rights groups, given previous assurances about alcohol consumption provided by Qatar.
But what happens when the circus leaves town?
Politico highlights that Qatar has shown remarkable geopolitical dexterity in maintaining the competing interests with which its fortunes are tied. It hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East, and also shares access with Iran to the gas field from which it produced its astronomical wealth.
Because of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, "Qatar will remain extremely topical in terms of energy dynamics, especially as natural gas begins to come on stream," said Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow for the Middle East at Rice University's Baker Institute at Rice University. "I think they will continue to play a role in regional diplomacy, especially vis-à-vis Iran if there is no progress in the nuclear negotiations." Doha was a key diplomatic player when the US withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, Ulrichsen added.
One of Qatar's most successful exports, media conglomerate beIN Media Group, known for its international sports arm but also owner of Hollywood's Miramax movie studios, has been approached by several US and Saudi investors interested in buying a stake in the company. The state is considering how to position itself on the international stage after the World Cup is over and gone.
At the same time, a person familiar with the talks said the American investors are interested in buying a stake in PSG, which is wholly owned by Qatar Sports Investments. QSI acquired a 22% stake in Portugal's SC Braga last month, which was the investment fund's first step into multi-club ownership and a further sign of QSI and beIN's increased importance to Qatar after the World Cup.
"I don't think they will abandon sport to be a component of the nation's strategy," said Mahfoud Amara, an associate professor of sports management at Qatar University.
Qatar will host the Asian Football Cup in 2023 and the Asian Multi-sport Games in 2030. Currently, officials are also in preliminary discussions about a bid for another gem event: the 2036 Summer Olympics.
Source: Economikos Tachydromos
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