Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup in doubt due to growing regional diplomatic dispute

The prospect of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup is in serious doubt with the country’s neighbours breaking off diplomatic relations and blockading its borders over recent days.

In a culmination of hostilities simmering for years and accusations that Qatar is a major funder of terrorist organisations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have closed the only land route into the tiny Arabian Gulf nation and refused to allow use of their sea ports or airspace.

The multibillion-dollar preparations to host the 2022 tournament, which involve building nine stadiums and huge infrastructure, is put into perspective by local reports that Qataris are so worried about the blockade that they are stocking up on food.

The border with Saudi Arabia is the only road route into the country, while Qatar relies on sea ports for its materials and the blockade of airspace is a huge logistical handicap to the country and its flagship airline, Qatar Airways.

While Qatari organisers of the event have yet to issue any comments, media reports suggest that the seriousness of the crisis is greater than any of the formidable challenges Qatar has faced since winning the vote in 2010 from FIFA’s now discredited executive committee. The tournament has been switched to the winter to avoid searing summer temperatures, a series of investigations has been held into strongly denied corruption allegations and there has been worldwide criticism of the country’s treatment of its migrant construction workers.

Through its national press agency, the Saudi Arabiam Government announced that it had broken off physical and diplomatic contact due to Qatar’s “embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilising the region”.

Resentment has been growing for years, principally over Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, an organisation which the UAE vehemently opposes, while Saudi Arabia also accused Qatar of supporting al-Qaida and Islamic State, extremist groups which have carried out atrocities in the Middle East and Europe.

The World Cup host has consistently denied the accusations that it funds terrorist groups with Qatar's Ministry of Foreign affairs releasing a statement that read "Qatar (expresses) deep regret over the decision of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain to close their borders and airspace and cut off diplomatic relations. Such measures are unjustified and are based on baseless and unfounded allegations.

"Qatar has been exposed to an instigation campaign based on allegations that amounted to absolute fabrications, which proves that there are premeditated intentions to cause damage to the state."

FIFA, which is sponsored by Qatar Airways, declined to comment except to say that it “is in regular contact with the Qatar 2022 local organising committee and the supreme committee for delivery & legacy handling matters relating to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.” 

Images: The recently reopened Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar.

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