The Official GRcade FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Thread: Someone check on Ronaldo, Argies win WC on pens

[Preezy]

I will however throw all my morals out the window to see Ronaldo cry.

A truly righteous cause

[speedboatchase]

I lived in Qatar for seven years and my parents-in-law still live out there. I can't express how much of a Fyre Fest-style disaster this might be.

To set the scene, a few numbers: About 10% of the population of Qatar is Qatari. Of those 200k, 96% of those who work do so in the public sector in what are largely fake jobs in which seniority is granted to specific tribes (Al-Thanis, Al Nuamis always) The average Qatari household income (which is likely majority just one male) is £17,000+ PER MONTH. No private businesses can be set up without I believe it's 50% or 51% Qatari ownership.

The result is a country ruled by people who are underworked, overpaid and not really devoted to entrepreneurship. It's a very sterile place and extremely controlled. The locals and local media have a general chip on the shoulder re: the West - they love the West's cars, fashion, cities, apps etc but they are very conservative and see any 'Western hypocrisy' as justification for continuing as they always have. The idea that this nation can welcome and control 1.5 million worldwide visitors is impossible. Aside from the lack of infrastructure and accommodation (hence no visits for non-ticket holders, portacabins springing up and cruise ships), their minimum effort 'reforms' indicate they want this have this status symbol event without meaningful change.

This will lead to a catch-22 situation every time a visiting fan pulls out their phone. Qataris aren't ready to experience football fan culture, drunken fans, partying etc, and they are used to getting their way and being indulged by the govt. In the same way the abuse or mocking of gay fans could go viral in the West, clips of gay or just regular Israeli fans could go viral in Arabic media in a way that enflames conservative voices. It simply cannot work and will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

[Tomous]

I lived in Qatar for seven years and my parents-in-law still live out there. I can't express how much of a Fyre Fest-style disaster this might be.

To set the scene, a few numbers: About 10% of the population of Qatar is Qatari. Of those 200k, 96% of those who work do so in the public sector in what are largely fake jobs in which seniority is granted to specific tribes (Al-Thanis, Al Nuamis always) The average Qatari household income (which is likely majority just one male) is £17,000+ PER MONTH. No private businesses can be set up without I believe it's 50% or 51% Qatari ownership.

The result is a country ruled by people who are underworked, overpaid and not really devoted to entrepreneurship. It's a very sterile place and extremely controlled. The locals and local media have a general chip on the shoulder re: the West - they love the West's cars, fashion, cities, apps etc but they are very conservative and see any 'Western hypocrisy' as justification for continuing as they always have. The idea that this nation can welcome and control 1.5 million worldwide visitors is impossible. Aside from the lack of infrastructure and accommodation (hence no visits for non-ticket holders, portacabins springing up and cruise ships), their minimum effort 'reforms' indicate they want this have this status symbol event without meaningful change.

This will lead to a catch-22 situation every time a visiting fan pulls out their phone. Qataris aren't ready to experience football fan culture, drunken fans, partying etc, and they are used to getting their way and being indulged by the govt. In the same way the abuse or mocking of gay fans could go viral in the West, clips of gay or just regular Israeli fans could go viral in Arabic media in a way that enflames conservative voices. It simply cannot work and will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Thanks for sharing, some food for thought on what we're about to see.

[Grumpy David]

Really interesting post Speedboatchase! I think accommodation is so lacking that people plan to fly in from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and what accommodation that is available in Qatar is unbelievably expensive.

I'm not particularly interested in football but I'll be watching the England games at home.

This out door air conditioning artifical cloud idea was one of the technologies used to make it viable to host a world cup in the traditional months, but it never actually came about because it was so obviously the stuff of Sci-Fi:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31608062

[Preezy]

Anyone seen the BBC's trailer for the World Cup? Really weird tone, as if the World Cup in general is this negative cloud that comes in and disrupts our lives for the worse



Who comes up with these things?

[Imrahil]

I genuinely would have thought that was a Day Today style parody, but it's actually real.

[Tomous]

That is such a weird advert

[Moggy]

I lived in Qatar for seven years and my parents-in-law still live out there. I can't express how much of a Fyre Fest-style disaster this might be.

I popped into this thread to post a video I just saw and Fyre Fest really does sum it up.

twitter.com/wc22updates/status/1592492531585286144

I don't know why it says "sensitive content", there's nothing gross in there - other than the gooseberry fool accommodation.

[BTB]

Imagine that "room" in 30+ degrees

[Preezy]

Imagine that "room" in 30+ degrees

I actually think is one of the times you can probably say fair enough - the desert (sand not pudding) tribes of the Arabian peninsular have lived in tents for thousands of years with no issue. Hell, I myself have camped out in the Qatari desert (again, sand not pudding) loads of times and the heat wasn't ever that big of an issue, and that was in the summer months.

There's plenty to criticise about all this, but I don't think this is one of them. The thing that struck me with that video was more "how the strawberry float would you find your tent?"

Like if you agree x

[Moggy]

Imagine that "room" in 30+ degrees

I actually think is one of the times you can probably say fair enough - the desert (sand not pudding) tribes of the Arabian peninsular have lived in tents for thousands of years with no issue. Hell, I myself have camped out in the Qatari desert (again, sand not pudding) loads of times and the heat wasn't ever that big of an issue, and that was in the summer months.

There's plenty to criticise about all this, but I don't think this is one of them. The thing that struck me with that video was more "how the strawberry float would you find your tent?"

Like if you agree x

Those tents are £200 a night.

[Preezy]

Well that's just ridiculous

[Albert]

The fact it looks like you have to share a loo means it's an immediate no go from me.

Imagine the state of them after a boozy day of soccer

[Moggy]

twitter.com/kititout1/status/1592801365134561280

strawberry float this World Cup.

[Preezy]

Tifo are doing a fantastic series of videos on how the World Cup ended up in Qatar, with a long history of how things ended up the way they have.
First 3 parts below:

[Balladeer]

I voted for the wrong option, and now instead of it being two in favour of 'strawberry float this World Cup' it's neck and neck.

Let me change my vote.

[BTB]

Imagine that "room" in 30+ degrees

I actually think is one of the times you can probably say fair enough - the desert (sand not pudding) tribes of the Arabian peninsular have lived in tents for thousands of years with no issue. Hell, I myself have camped out in the Qatari desert (again, sand not pudding) loads of times and the heat wasn't ever that big of an issue, and that was in the summer months.

There's plenty to criticise about all this, but I don't think this is one of them. The thing that struck me with that video was more "how the strawberry float would you find your tent?"

Like if you agree x

Fair enough, just reminded me of camping at a festival in Spain and as soon as the sun hit the tents they became unbearable

[Dual]

The fact it looks like you have to share a loo means it's an immediate no go from me.

Imagine the state of them after a boozy day of soccer

There won't be many boozy days at this World Cup so no need to worry about that.

[Dowbocop]

The fact it looks like you have to share a loo means it's an immediate no go from me.

Imagine the state of them after a boozy day of soccer

There won't be many boozy days at this World Cup so no need to worry about that.

BEER gooseberry fool PATROL! OPEN THE CURTAIN!

[Herdanos]

It's a horrible moral situation to be in.

International football (i.e. watching England) has been a much larger part of my footballing life than following any club, so major tournaments have always been important to me. For context, the first time I ever got on a plane was the summer of 2008 - when I went traveling free of the fear of missing England in a tournament. Following the national team also forms a significant part of my relationship with my Dad; most of our conversations end up being about the England men's team's progress.

To skip the tournament feels like I'd be willingly skipping a piece of history that I'd otherwise attentively observe.

I'll be actively avoiding any brands / products officially associated with the tournament, and I'll not be watching most of the matches (I'd have otherwise tried to see every game), but I'll be watching the England games and the final. I'll feel a bit shitty doing so, I expect.

Watch now as we'll win the thing. All my life, I've wanted to see us win something, and it'll be this - the tournament no one wanted to go to, the one that'll have the asterisk next to it in the history books, and it'll be our finest hour. And we'll do it playing dreadful football in a dreadful kit too!