The bloc’s vulnerability to corruption has been dramatically exposed.
Tag Archives: Qatar
In World Cup Run-Up, Qatar Pressed U.N. Agency Not to Investigate Abuses
Lobbying at the International Labor Organization dovetailed with an influence campaign that sparked a corruption scandal at the European Parliament.
Manchester United Bidding War Already Has a Winner: The Sellers
A Qatari royal and a British billionaire have designs on the Premier League giant. But the Glazer family still gets to set the price.
When Being European Parliament President Includes Aiding Police Raids
Roberta Metsola, the youngest person to become president of the European Parliament, is seeking to expand the assembly’s role while guiding it through the aftermath of major bribery accusations.
How This World Cup Changed Soccer
The 2022 tournament in Qatar may be an unsettling sign of things to come in the professional sport.
Qatar Got the World Cup It Wanted
In the end, after a tournament shadowed by controversy since the host rights were awarded, Qatar had the turn in the global spotlight it sought.
How FIFA Silenced a World Cup Armband Campaign
European teams had planned to highlight inclusivity on soccer’s biggest stage. They blinked when the sport’s governing body flexed its muscles.
When World Cup Reality Isn’t What It Seems
In Qatar, where the line between the artificial and the authentic has blurred or evaporated, it was the people, as always, who defined the tournament.
A Comedian’s Stunt Is a Sly Protest of Qatar’s LGBTQ Laws
Joe Lycett appeared to shred cash after demanding that David Beckham end his relationship with the World Cup. It was his latest performance with a point.
Bribery Case Cracks Open European Parliament — and Finds Hidden Cash
Prosecutors say the glamorous lifestyle of a European lawmaker masked a Qatari corruption scandal. It exposed how vulnerable Brussels is to foreign influence.
In Qatar, the Ancient Sport of Falconry Gets Some Upgrades
The training regimen now involves drones, but doomed pigeons are still in the mix. Generations of Qataris have taken up the hobby.
Grant Wahl Died of a Burst Blood Vessel, His Family Says
An autopsy in New York showed that the journalist had a tear in the ascending aorta, a large vessel that carries blood from the heart.
Joy and Anxiety Collide as Moroccans Look to World Cup Match With France
Morocco’s magical run has elated fans, but for some, the strain of the impending showdown with the country’s former colonial overlords is too much.
How Qatar Keeps Its World Cup Stadiums Cool Enough for Everyone
A mechanical engineer at Qatar University used giant tanks of cold water to create a cooling system in one of the hottest places on the planet.
The World Cup Is Ending, but the Migrant Labor Economy Grinds On
The World Cup was a $220 billion construction project powered by migrant workers. We went to Nepal – a major source of labor for Qatar — to find out what’s driving workers to do dangerous jobs that many say they can’t afford to lose.
Pouring Through a Crisis: How Budweiser Salvaged Its World Cup
Taken by surprise by Qatar’s decision to ban beer at stadiums, the company remade its marketing strategy in real time.
4 Charged With Corruption in Bribery Inquiry Linked to Qatar
The Belgian authorities announced other charges, including money laundering, in a case involving current and former members of the European Parliament.
His Estate Has 3 Swimming Pools and a Stable. He Says He’s Not Rich.
A rare look inside a Qatari home offers a glimpse at how the lucrative gas industry has transformed the formerly poor, barren country.
What Happened to the Qatar Women’s National Team?
A squad that featured in the host nation’s bid to host the World Cup in 2010 hasn’t played a game in eight years.
Belgian Inquiry Into Qatar and Bribery Stuns European Parliament
The police detained five people, including former and current members of the body, in a case centered on possible attempts to influence the Parliament’s economic and political decisions.
Qatar Extends Its Natural Gas Dominance at Russia’s Expense
As its influence grows, the country is poised to become a big energy supplier to Europe, which has turned away from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Stadiums as High Art in a World Cup Fantasyland
From a desert tent to a golden bowl, the spectacular arenas Qatar has built in and around Doha showcase the majesty, and the folly, of this World Cup.
Morocco Win in World Cup Brings Celebration Across Africa and Middle East
Arabs and Africans around the world joined in an outpouring of pride and joy over Morocco’s World Cup success after it defeated Spain.
A Beer Run in Qatar, and an Oasis That Isn’t Open to All
At the only government-sanctioned store selling alcohol during the World Cup, strict rules keep it out of reach for most residents.
Yes, the Players in the World Cup Do Keep Falling Over for No Reason
Different conventions in different sports can be equally morally acceptable.
Arab Fans are Confronting Israeli Media at Qatar’s World Cup
When Qatar granted access to Israeli soccer fans and media despite an absence of diplomatic ties, some saw it as another sign of warming ties with the Arab world. Instead, some of the Israelis got a chilly reception.
Twists and Turns: A World Cup Fitness Coach Explains Pregame Warm-Ups
In the final hour before a game, teams’ activities can look as random as recess at the local elementary school. But there is order in the chaos.
Can Neymar and Brazil’s World Cup Team Unite a Fractured Nation?
Brazil’s World Cup team has become a political lightning rod at home after an ugly election. A championship might be the only thing that can bring Brazil together.
It’s the World Cup’s Hot Accessory. But Should Fans Wear It?
Head scarves in the colors of the participating teams have become fan favorites in Qatar. Rather than object, locals say they like the twist on a traditional look.
Watching Qatar’s World Cup, Off the Field
Our photographers in Qatar show what the world’s biggest soccer tournament looks like from the streets of Doha and beyond.
$150 World Cup Jerseys Made by Workers Getting $2.27 a Day
Garment workers in Myanmar earn less than $3 a day to produce soccer apparel for Adidas. Some say they were fired after asking factory owners for a raise.
Qatar’s World Cup Narrows Rift With Saudi Arabia
The Gulf neighbors were split for years in a bitter regional dispute. Now, the glare of attention provided by the soccer tournament is highlighting their complicated reunion.
To Get the Best Perks at the World Cup, You Have to Be a V.V.I.P.
Every sports venue has its own tiered system of luxury. The World Cup in Qatar is providing a reminder that there is always a higher level.
A U.S.-Iran Soccer Showdown Intensifies With Protests as a Backdrop
The unrest that has gripped Iran for the past two months has heightened what would already have been a tense encounter at the World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday between the two geopolitical foes.
Qatar’s Loudest Fans Aren’t from Qatar
A heaving mass of flesh and energy has brought life to the host nation’s matches at the World Cup. They are Qatar’s loudest fans, but they’re not from Qatar.
Qatar’s Big Bet on the World Cup
How a tiny nation ended up hosting the single largest sporting event on the planet — and at what cost.
A World Cup Stadium Mural Celebrated Migrant Workers. When the Games Began, It Was Gone.
A mosaic of photographs once decorated Qatar’s showpiece stadium in Lusail. Now a V.I.P. entrance sits beside the spot.
Saudi Commuters Descend on Doha for an In-and-Out World Cup
A victory over Argentina inspired a kingdom’s soccer fans. And when Qatar is just a short flight, you go.
What We Learned About the U.S. In Its Match Against England
A feisty 0-0 tie against World Cup contender England gave the U.S. a chance — and perhaps the courage — to advance in the tournament.
Qataris Say Criticism of Country Amid World Cup Is Rooted in Stereotypes
Many in the country say the barrage of criticism about its human rights record and the exploitation of migrant workers is laced with discrimination and hypocrisy.
Qatar Embraced Its Big World Cup Moment, but Didn’t Like the Ending
At last it was here, the last word in Qatar’s attempt to announce itself to the world, to showcase all that it could do, all that it could build. Then the soccer started.
In Asian Town, Workers Who Built the World Cup Gather to Watch It
Qatar’s big show would not have been possible without migrant workers. On Sunday, thousands gathered to gaze at some of their work.
World Cup in Qatar Caps Big Gulf Push Into International Sports
In hosting major international sporting events, buying up soccer teams and even creating a golf league, the resource-rich Gulf States are seeking attention, prestige, economic diversification and political credibility.
World Cup: FIFA President Gianni Infantino Defends Qatar
Gianni Infantino defended the host country’s decision to ban the sale of beer at stadiums and fired back at the “hypocrisy” of Western criticisms.
Qatar 2022: The World Cup That Changed Everything
The decision to take the World Cup to Qatar has upturned a small nation, battered the reputation of global soccer’s governing body and altered the fabric of the sport.
Why Qatar Deserves to Host the World Cup, Actually
This year’s tournament is a triumph for football’s millions of fans in the Arab world.
An Unlikely Group Scrambles for World Cup Rooms: FIFA’s Elite
The luxury hotel set to host soccer’s most senior leaders wasn’t quite ready when they began arriving, the latest in a series of last-second tweaks to Qatar’s well-laid plans.
Qatar World Cup Faces New Edict: Hide the Beer
A week before the opening game, tournament organizers are scrambling to balance late changes ordered by powerful Qatari officials with the interests of a major FIFA sponsor, Budweiser.
Qatar Offered Fans Free World Cup Trips. But There Was a Catch.
Organizers are providing travel and tickets to hundreds of fans of the participating teams. But only if they promise not to criticize Qatar, and to report people who do.
Will Qatar Be Ready for the World Cup?
As sports fans prepare to flood the tiny Gulf nation, cranes and loaders are still running hard — as is criticism of Qatar’s human rights record and exploitation of workers.