It has been reported that FIFA are in talks with Qatar to host the inaugural women’s club World Cup in January 2028.
While this has yet to be confirmed and no bid has been activated, the rumours have caused widespread concern. The governing body has not said where it will be held or whether it will run a formal biding process.
Outside the growing issues of match congestion and the league impact, as 16 teams feature in the competition every four years. The competition will take place from 5 to 30 January 2028. There will be no clash with the Champions League, but many domestic European leagues will be affected and may have to introduce a more extended winter break.
Renee Slegers Arsenal manager said: “ I don't have any opinion or any thoughts put together on this. Again, I think we need to do what's right for the game, for society, for fairness, justice. So, but let me have to think about it and let me come back next week.”
The more crucial factor is Qatar's hosting of the competition.
The core issue in their stance on LGBTQ+ rights is a lack of history in women’s football: they officially formed their national team in 2009, but have not played a match in 12 years and have no FIFA ranking.
Qatar has expressed interest in this competition after its controversial men’s 2022 world cups. The controversies specifically to this competition outside its human rights abuse including migrant workers and the rights of the LGBT+ community, as well as allegations of corruption in the bidding process and concerns over the tournaments environmental impact.
Including an 30,000 migrant workers who built the infrastructure with many human right organisations consistently reported widespread exploitation including immense recruitment fees that led to debt bondage, delayed or unpaid wages, passport confiscation and poor living conditions.
A major point of contention was the kafalasponsorship system, which tied workers to their employers, preventing them from changing jobs or leaving the country without permission. While Qatar introduced reforms in 2020 to abolish this system on paper and introduced a non-discriminatory minimum wage, human rights groups noted that in practice, many employers continued to find loopholes and retaliate against workers who tried to report abuses.
Reports on the number of worker deaths vary and are a major point of dispute. data from embassies, estimated more than 6,500 migrant workers had died in Qatar since it won the bid in 2010; however, these figures included all deaths and were not specifically limited to World Cup construction sites.
The Qatari government and FIFA dispute this number, with Qatari official records acknowledging only 37 deaths among laborers at World Cup stadium sites, only three of which were classified as "work-related".
The biggest issue with the competition is the country has banned homosexuality and has poor LGBT rights. Which is crucial to women’s football as players are highly vocal on their support for the community and are also part of the community. So why would they go to a country where being themselves is described as illegal and criminalised.
While back in 2022 the authorities stated that “everyone is welcome” but emphasised that. Viscoses should respect local culture, including avoiding public displays of affection. Why should they be surprised to inhumane conditions and fear there safety. You can respect a country values but not to the point where it criminalises who you are.
Back at the men’s World Cup security officials reportedly confiscated rainbow flags and other symbols of LGBT+ support. A Human Rights Watch report in October 2022 documented cases of security forces arbitrarily arresting LGBT individuals and forcing them into conversion therapy.
Many footballers at the time spoke out against the Qatar World Cup include arsenal and lionesses stars who would very likely be at this competition.
Beth Mead: "Obviously the way they think and how they go is the complete opposite to what I believe and respect... Unfortunately, money talks and the situation, even of the stadiums being built and the amount of people that have passed because of that. Beth Mead: The Qatar World Cup is 'not something that I'll be backing or promoting at all'".
Leah Williamson: "I just feel like it's obviously a really big shame, normally we would all be so excited about the World Cup... But I can't be in support of the World Cup being where it is (Qatar) and the rules that have come about from it... I can't enjoy it". She also stated, "Qatar World Cup is against everything I believe in, football is for everyone
Alex Scott defended her decision to work there amidst controversy, stating, "To keep saying football is for everyone... it's not, because people have not been able to travel to support their teams out of fear, so you can't say football is for everyone". She also famously wore a rainbow armband in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting that some people can't travel to such events. Scott faced criticism for working in Qatar, but argued that her participation, especially as a woman and a pundit, was crucial for visibility and to challenge the narrative that women weren't welcome, while also pointing out the hypocrisy of FIFA's stance on issues like the "OneLove" armband.
Qatar has the advantages not only of close relations with Fifa but of ready-made stadiums and a warm winter climate. Given the dates, staging the event somewhere in the Gulf appears inevitable.
The first Women’s Club World Cup will feature 16 teams, including at least five from Europe and two each from Asia, Africa, South America and North America. A club from each of those five confederations and one from Oceania will play in a qualifying tournament to determine the final three entrants.
Fifa has yet to determine its entry criteria but Arsenal, as Champions League winners last season, expect to be involved.
Ultimately, why should women’s footballers reduce themselves and put themselves in an environment where they are described as criminals, not to mention the fear of their family and loved ones. Also not to mention the fans who would not feel safe travelling to the country.
Add comment
Comments