Football’s festival of oppression?

Christian converts in controversial World Cup host Qatar come under ‘extreme pressure’ say experts – and the host country also faces allegations of labour abuse, corruption and money-laundering.

The men’s international soccer tournament will kick off on Sunday 20 November in the Al Bayt Stadium, with the hosts playing Ecuador.

But the competition begins against a backdrop of outcry and concern voiced by a whole range of organisations about situations in the oppressive nation, including the deaths of thousands of migrant workers during construction work for the event.

Persecuted church agency Open Doors currently places the Arab emirate at number 18 on its World Watch list of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian (up from 29 in 2021). The persecution level is ‘very high’ with ‘Islamic oppression, clan oppression and dictatorial paranoia’.

Despite Islam being the main religion, as many as one in ten of those currently living in Qatar are estimated to be Christian. Most are migrant workers from south Asia. They have much more freedom to practice their faith than Qatari nationals, although even foreign churches are monitored by the government and limited to specific areas.

The tiny number of native converts ‘face extreme pressure from their Muslim families and community,’ says Open Doors. ‘The country doesn’t officially recognise conversion from Islam, which causes legal troubles and loss of status, child custody and property.’

Christians in Sport, which is supporting a number of players in Qatar, told Evangelicals Now: ‘When asked, we help them navigate how to respond to wider geopolitical issues in a godly way, recognising it is a serious point of tension for the elite Christian athlete to think through how they outwork their faith within their dressing room initially and then, if they choose, more publicly to the watching world.

‘During the tournament we will continue to meet online with players and coaches involved in the tournament. A number of groups run each week where they read the Bible and pray with their peers – and this will carry on throughout the tournament.’

But concerns go beyond religious freedom. More than 6,500 construction workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar since it was chosen to host the World Cup ten years ago. Accusations of corruption and money-laundering have come to court in Switzerland, where FIFA has its headquarters. And the rights of women and other minority groups are also severely restricted.

Environmental concerns have also been raised, for example through the use of air-conditioned stadiums.