FIFA’s ‘Best World Cup Ever’ Came at Migrant Workers’ Loss

World Football’s Chief Claims to Defend Rights, But Still Offers No Remedy

In his last news conference before the 2022 World Cup finale, FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared that the football governing body is set to earn US$7.5 billion in revenue. FIFA then failed to commit to compensate migrant workers who built $220 billion in stadiums and tournament infrastructure in harsh and at times deadly conditions – even when Infantino was asked if FIFA would “share their wealth.”

Nor was there any indication that FIFA’s Legacy Fund – traditionally set up by FIFA post-tournament – would be used to compensate migrant workers who have been injured or the families of those who had died.

Instead, Infantino defended Qatar’s tournament as “the best World Cup ever,” claiming without basis that “We [FIFA] are defending human rights.”

FIFA has a human rights policy with clear rules protecting human rights. But far too often, FIFA sided with its wealthy partner Qatar against the most vulnerable.  

Instead of creating an inclusive space and defending LGBT rights for Qataris, players, and fans, FIFA told teams they would be sanctioned for wearing “One Love” armbands. Security agents also harassed fans and journalists for sporting rainbow flags and abused Iranian fans wearing #WomanLifeFreedom shirts. 

Even the labor reforms Qatar did make came too late, were too narrow in scope, or were too weakly implemented to benefit many workers. At the World Cup opening, Infantino’s comment that he “feels [like] a migrant worker” ignored his immense power over such workers. He earns more than $3 million in annual salary, nearly one thousand times the minimum wage that the majority of migrant workers earn, which comes to $3,300 year – assuming they actually get paid. 

Speaking ahead of the tournament close, Infantino said “every loss of life is a tragedy” and that FIFA did “whatever we could” to protect the workers’ health. Yet, Qatari authorities failed to investigate the causes behind thousands of migrant workers deaths since 2010, which were regularly attributed to “natural causes” or “cardiac arrest.”

This left many families of migrant workers ineligible for compensation under Qatari labor law. Migrant workers even died from falls while working during the tournament – unprecedented in World Cup history. 

This World Cup in Qatar will indeed be remembered, for all the wrong reasons: as the most expensive sporting event ever – and the most deadly.

Related news

Algeria: French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes sentenced to seven years in prison after over a year under a judicial control order

Algeria: French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes sentenced to seven years in prison after over a year under a judicial control order

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the court of Tizi Ouzou’s decision to sentence French football journalist Christophe Gleizes to seven years in prison with immediate incarceration. Arrested and held under a judicial control order since 28 May 2024, he has now been unjustly convicted and imprisoned for simply doing his job. He will appeal the […]

READ MORE

Episode 3: “Sometimes We Can’t See”

Episode 3: “Sometimes We Can’t See”

Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the third and final episode of our research series on violence in sports: “Sometimes We Can’t See.” In this video, we explore why violence is often normalized in sport – and why it’s so hard for athletes, coaches and others to recognise when they see it, when […]

READ MORE

Reporters Without Borders Joins Sport & Rights Alliance to Champion Press Freedom in Sport

Reporters Without Borders Joins Sport & Rights Alliance to Champion Press Freedom in Sport

Ensuring Safety and Rights of Journalists in Sports More Important than Ever (Amsterdam, June 9, 2025) – The Sport & Rights Alliance is proud to announce its newest partner, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-profit organization at the forefront of the defense and promotion of journalism and the right to information. This significant partnership underscores […]

READ MORE

Related resources

Japan Acts to Protect Athletes from Abuse

Japan Acts to Protect Athletes from Abuse

Four Years Since Tokyo Olympics, Lawmakers Commit to Protecting Children Four years after hosting the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan is finally taking action to protect athletes from abuse in sport. This month, the Japanese National Diet passed a revision to the Basic Act on Sport (2011), requiring the national and local governments to adopt measures […]

READ MORE

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Countering Hate and Discrimination Against All People Impacted in Sport The world of sport is often perceived as a place in which none of the burdens and inequalities of society take place or could possibly exist. Embedded by ideals of excellence, respect and friendship, its philosophy often misleads people to discount the importance of critical […]

READ MORE

Aerial shot of four crew rowers on teal water with Title: Behind the Statistics with blue highlight and eyebrow header above

Episode 2: “Behind the Statistics”

Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the second episode of our three-part series exploring scientific data on violence in sports: “Behind the Statistics.” In this video, we dive into prevalence studies and associated factors that put some groups of athletes at higher risk. Led by Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute […]

READ MORE

Join the Network

Sport has the potential to be a catalyst for human development, unity, and freedom, but too often it instead brings harm to its athletes, fans, and communities. We exist to uncover and rectify the many abuses that exist both in and around sport. We aim to transform sports into an authentic force for good.