I wish to focus on pointing out why it is important that Qatar is allowed to host the 2022 World Cup in spite of the storm of criticism. Unlike the UAE, its neighbour, Qatari society is marked by the anxieties of having to host the World Cup and becoming in the process one of the most unpopular countries in the world. This is mainly due to a seemingly unending stream of exposés — many of which are strongly Islamophobic — revealing how Qatar allegedly bought its right to host the Cup, as well as articles pointing out the abhorrent conditions under which labourers must work in the emirate.

Additionally, Qatar has lost the sympathy of many Westerners who feel that they have lost a degree of autonomy to a state, flush with wealth, flexing its corporate muscle. Qatar has purchased, and is purchasing, large shares in a number of European companies, especially in the United Kingdom, the Imperial power which formerly controlled Qatar through a protection treaty.

I am in no position to make an evaluation pertaining to the veracity of claims that Qatar has bribed the FIFA commission or that labourers are being mistreated and therefore I will omit any judgement, contrary to many others writings on the subject who have fuelled rhetoric against this small Persian Gulf emirate.

One of the main concerns about Qatar’s ability to host the Cup is the peninsula’s staggering heat during the summer months, when the competition is usually held. Two main proposals to address this issue have been put forth by the Qatari government, namely to provide air-conditioned stadiums or, otherwise, to host the Cup in the winter months. Personally, I find the second proposal more feasible given that Qatar’s weather in the winter is mild and enjoyable, so much so that the emirate enjoys a considerable influx of tourists during this period.

This proposal has been opposed by many European football teams, who find that playing in the winter season would be impractical given their training schedules. What is not, however, taken into account is that football teams in the Gulf play their major tournaments, including the Gulf Cup, during the winter months given the climate of the region.

Given that teams from the Gulf, and plenty more around the world, follow schedules very different to those of the European teams that FIFA has until now accommodated, I think it is high time that a World Cup is hosted during the winter in order to allow other teams to perform at their best.

Another concern which has prevailed in the discourse concerning Qatar’s eligibility to host the Cup is the country’s adherence to a so-called strict Islamic law. Of course, anybody who has visited the country will have remarked that Qatar has rather liberal laws that, with surprisingly little friction, can accommodate the lifestyles of non-Muslims, particularly Western non-Muslims.

Critics have been concerned that the country’s ban on the public consumption of alcohol will be an impediment to the ability of fans to enjoy the football games. Whilst I find it baffling how intoxication could enhance one’s appreciation of football — or anything at all, for the matter — I wish to point to the fact that the Qatari government has agreed to set aside fan zones where the consumption of alcohol will be permitted.

Whilst questions regarding alcohol, which is often the cause of violence at football games and also reduces one’s ability to focus on matters, including football, have become critical to the controversy surrounding Qatar’s bid, the very different concerns of Muslims at global football events have been largely ignored. Qatar is ready to accommodate the drinking of alcohol, but setting aside prayer areas at global football events outside of the Islamic world is largely unheard of.

Of course, neither of these practices are necessary components of football, as they are both culturally specific, but I find it odd that the international community would make Qatar’s bid contingent on its accommodation of the standards of a foreign culture, particularly those practices which are empirically harmful to health. I find it inappropriate that the global character of the Cup be stressed if the international football community is so keen on privileging the Western football viewing experience over that of other cultures and demanding no degree of reciprocity.

I wish to conclude this article not by pointing out another weakness of Qatar’s bid, but its primary strength: logistics. Much like their neighbours in the Emirates, Qatar has invested large amounts of capital into their aviation and terrestrial transport infrastructure. Qatar Airways has emerged as a fierce competitor to Emirates Airlines, establishing its capital, Doha, as a global entrepôt for events.

Qatar successfully hosts a range of annual conferences, including the world-renowned Doha Debates and the Doha Conference for Interfaith Dialogue. Qatar has also hosted the 2012 U.N. Climate Change Conference.

By the time Qatar hosts the Cup in 2022, the capital will be served by a modern urban transit network much like the Dubai metro, and will be connected to its Gulf Cooperation Council neighbors by an avant-garde network of high speed trains. Qatar’s exceptionally well-developed infrastructure — admittedly a work in progress with much ambition, capital, and effort — has facilitated past successes and will ensure a smooth and accessible World Cup in the future.

Much of what we know about Qatar comes from sources hostile to the peninsular state, and thus public opinion is obscured by the decidedly negative bias of European media. The only alternative, which I would highly recommend, is direct experience, and, thus, I look with optimism to the World Cup and other future events in which Qatar can welcome visitors from around the world to experience its world class infrastructure and hospitality.