For much of its nearly 100-year history, the World Cup has been a clash of sport and politics — though perhaps never so much as at this year’s tournament in Qatar.
Despite organizers’ best efforts to get players and fans to focus on the soccer, the current men’s World Cup has faced enduring accusations. They’ve been accused of “sportswashing” over the host’s human rights record, with spectators detained and teams threatened over rainbow flags. It has left long-time observers wondering if FIFA has lost control of its own event.
Here’s a look at the times politics and sports collided at the 2022 men’s World Cup:
A controversial host
With its tiny population, extreme heat and lack of footballing history, the choice of Qatar as this year’s World Cup host had long raised eyebrows.
Days before the tournament opened on Nov. 20, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said it was “a mistake” to choose Qatar, in part because of its small size — adding that the event should have instead gone to the U.S.
On the eve of the opening ceremony, FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivered a 57-minute tirade, demanding critics stop talking about politics and human rights, and instead enjoy the soccer. Infantino has since kept a low public profile.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaks at a press conference in Doha on Nov. 19. In his 57-minute speech, Infantino urged critics to stop talking about politics and human rights, and instead enjoy the soccer. (Matthew Childs/Reuters)
The plight of migrant workers
Exploitation of migrant workers, including those who built Qatar’s stadiums and infrastructure, has been a dark cloud over its World Cup, with some former labourers detailing slave-like conditions with low pay and little time off.
Al Thawadi previously said between 400 and 500 migrant workers died during World Cup construction projects.
A crowd of migrant workers watch France play Morocco at a fan zone inside a Doha cricket stadium on Wednesday. World Cup organizers say between 400 and 500 migrant workers died while working on construction projects for the tournament. (Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters)
Removing rainbows
World Cup organizers took extraordinary steps to try to keep rainbow flags and clothing out of stadiums, amid criticism over Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ laws. Fans had items confiscated, and some were even removed from stadiums or detained for wearing rainbow clothing.
The captains of seven European teams abandoned a plan to wear rainbow armbands during matches after FIFA threatened them with yellow cards. In a joint statement, the teams said they couldn’t risk their success at the tournament by taking a stand (two yellow cards would result in a player being sent off and banned from the team’s next game).
Before their opening match, Germany’s players posed for a team photo with their mouths covered, in reference to being gagged by FIFA over the armbands.
Germany’s players cover their mouths while posing for a team photo before their opening World Cup match against Japan in Doha on Nov. 23. (Annegret Hilse/Reuters)
Nonetheless, a rainbow did make it onto the pitch, when a protester carrying a peace flag interrupted a match between Portugal and Uruguay.
The flag is an unofficial symbol of world peace, which was created in Italy in 1961 and carries the word “PACE,” which is Italian for peace.
A pitch invader runs across the field with a peace flag during Portugal’s group stage match against Uruguay in Lusail on Nov. 28. (Abbie Parr/The Associated Press)
Protesting Iran’s regime
Iran’s flag also became a contentious motif during the country’s games. Security guards confiscated Persian pre-revolutionary flags and signs bearing messages of support for Iran’s protest movement. There were also confrontations between protesters and supporters of the Iranian regime.
A security official, right, speaks with fans who were holding up a flag advocating for women’s rights in Iran, and a shirt with the name of Mahsa Amini on it, while Iran played Wales in Doha on Nov. 25. Amini’s death in custody in September sparked massive protests across Iran. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
But some ticket-holders did manage to carry flags, T-shirts and signs into stadiums, and they held up messages referring to women’s rights and Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman whose death in Iranian custody in September sparked the country’s massive protests.
Iran’s soccer team stood silently during their national anthem, ahead of their opening match, in a sign of support for the protests back home. However, they sang the anthem at their next match.
Iran players did not sing their national anthem before their opening World Cup match against England in Doha on Nov. 21. (Hannah Mckay/Reuters)
Iran’s group stage face-off with the U.S. was shaping up as a geopolitical event, even before U.S. Soccer posted an altered version of Iran’s flag — without its Islamic Republic emblem — on social media. The U.S. Soccer Federation later said the post was a show of support for Iran’s protest movement.
The flag of the Palestinian territories has been a regular sight in the stands and on the pitch at this year’s World Cup — the first to take place in the Middle East — even though their team isn’t playing.
On Nov. 30, a man waving a Palestinian flag ran onto the pitch during Tunisia’s game against France.
And when Morocco reached the quarterfinals, it wasn’t their own flag they posed with. Instead, they celebrated with a Palestinian flag.
Morocco defender Jawad El Yamiq waves the Palestinian flag after his team beat Canada in Doha on Dec. 1. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images)
Borjan was born in an ethnic Serb region of Croatia that was part of the conflict that split the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. During the match, Borjan faced abusive chants and banners making light of his family’s escape from their hometown when it was taken by Croatian forces in 1995.
In a statement on its website, the Croatian Football Federation said FIFA’s disciplinary committee had fined it 50,000 Swiss francs ($72,600 Cdn) for its fans’ inappropriate behaviour.
Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan, left, and defender Kamal Miller react after losing a group stage match against Croatia during the 2022 World Cup in Al Rayyan on Nov. 27. Borjan was subjected to taunts by Croatian fans during the game, for which FIFA later fined Croatia’s soccer association. (Danielle Parhizkaran/USA TODAY Sports)
Beery bad news
Two days before the World Cup opened, Qatar — which has very strict alcohol control — announced it would not allow beer to be sold in stadiums. Instead, it could only be sold in fan zones and some other approved sites.
The news came as a shock to FIFA, ticket-holders and Budweiser alike. The beer giant has been a World Cup sponsor since 1985. It’s unclear whether it will sue World Cup organizers for breaching their multimillion-dollar contract.
The company quickly came up with another way to offload all the beer it took to Qatar: give it to the winning team.
New Day, New Tweet. Winning Country gets the Buds. Who will get them? <a href=”https://t.co/Vv2YFxIZa1″>pic.twitter.com/Vv2YFxIZa1</a>
New Brunswick voters have elected a Liberal majority government, tossing out the incumbent Progressive Conservatives after six years in power and handing the reins to the first woman ever to lead the province. Liberal Leader Susan Holt spent much of the campaign rolling out proposed fixes for a health-care system racked by a doctor shortage, overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait-times. She promised to open 30 community health clinics across the province by 2028. (Oct. 22, 2024)
Susan Holt has made history in New Brunswick by becoming the first woman to serve as the leader of the province’s Liberal Party, a significant milestone in the province’s political landscape. Holt’s leadership victory signals a new era of representation, gender equality, and change in the region, which has long been dominated by male politicians.
Holt’s journey to the top has been one of perseverance and dedication. Before entering politics, she built a distinguished career in the private sector, where she held numerous leadership positions. Her experience in business development and public policy has equipped her with the skills needed to navigate the complex world of politics.
In a province where women have historically been underrepresented in politics, Holt’s election represents a watershed moment. Women’s involvement in leadership roles has been steadily increasing nationwide, but New Brunswick, like many parts of Canada, has seen slower progress in achieving gender parity. Holt’s rise to the top of the Liberal Party not only shatters a glass ceiling but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of women aiming for political leadership.
As the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, Holt has laid out a vision of inclusivity and progress. Her policies focus on economic development, healthcare reform, environmental sustainability, and addressing social issues that have plagued the province. She has also emphasized the importance of transparent governance and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, making her platform both modern and forward-thinking.
Holt’s leadership arrives at a time when many voters are calling for change, especially in the face of challenges like economic uncertainty and the need for healthcare improvements. She aims to bring fresh ideas to tackle these issues while ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their background, have a voice in government decisions.
Susan Holt joins the ranks of other trailblazing women across Canada who have led provincial parties and governments. Women like former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne have paved the way, and now Holt is contributing to this growing legacy of female political leadership in Canada.
Her achievement highlights not only the growing number of women entering politics but also the demand for leaders who can bring diverse perspectives to the table. In a field often dominated by entrenched traditions, Holt’s election is a step toward a more inclusive and representative political landscape in New Brunswick.
Holt’s leadership signals a broader shift in Canadian politics, where more women and diverse voices are gaining prominence. For young women across the country, her rise serves as a powerful reminder that leadership roles are within reach, even in traditionally male-dominated spheres.
With her election, Susan Holt has proven that perseverance, skill, and a vision for change can break even the toughest barriers. Her leadership will not only reshape New Brunswick’s political future but also inspire others across Canada to pursue leadership positions and continue to challenge the status quo.
NDP Leader Carla Beck has two planned campaign events today, starting the day with an availability in Moose Jaw and then later this evening attending an event in the capital with the Regina Medical Staff Association.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, will speak in Prince Albert at the start of Voting Week in the province.
Saskatchewan residents can vote for five days starting today in the lead-up to next week’s provincial election, although polls won’t be open Sunday.
The NDP and the Saskatchewan Party are urging voters to cast their ballots early.
Voters can find their polling stations on their information cards or by visiting the Elections Saskatchewan website.
Chief electoral officer Michael Boda says there are about 810,000 registered voters in Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
