logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2022
22m 42s

Qatar’s World Cup, from the inside out

Al Jazeera
About this episode

The World Cup is about to head to the Middle East for the first time. Ever since it was announced back in 2010 that the tournament would be held in Qatar, the country has been getting ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event. In this episode, the first in The Take’s coverage of the World Cup, we look at some of the preparations for the tournament, their associated controversies, and a preview of what we might expect after kickoff. 

In this episode: 

  • Tony Karon (@TonyKaron), editorial lead at AJ+
  • Sohail Malik (@SohailAJE), sports reporter, Al Jazeera

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Ruby Zaman fact checked this episode. 

Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Up next
Today
Inside the rise of sports betting in the United States
<p>Sports used to be about the game. Now, for millions of fans, it&rsquo;s about the bet<strong data-stringify-type="bold">. A 2018&nbsp;</strong>Supreme Court decision turned sports into a multibillion-dollar machine &mdash; one that&rsquo;s&nbsp;<strong data-stringify-type="bol ... Show More
24m 9s
Yesterday
Brief: Israel kills at least 24 in Gaza, increases Syria operations
<p>This week: 46 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 342 Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian factions in Gaza said they would reject an international force there. Israel killed at least 14 people in Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 69,733 Palestinians in Gaza sinc ... Show More
5m 38s
Nov 22
Another Take: How Sheikh Hasina transformed Bangladesh
<p><strong>Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 1, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.</strong></p> <p>Sheikh Hasina has won a fourth straight term as Bangladesh&rsquo;s prime m ... Show More
17m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2022
Qatar World Cup: Has football become a side show?
32 teams are competing in the FIFA World Cup being held in Qatar. It’s the first winter championship and first tournament to be held in the Middle East. But the choice of host has come under scrutiny; homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, and poor conditions for migrant workers buil ... Show More
18m 36s
Dec 2022
Scoring the World Cup
This is the final week of the first World Cup hosted in the Middle East. And it’s been a tournament like no other: We’ve seen Morocco advance further than any Middle East or African team has before, making the whole region proud. And we’ve seen many joyous moments go viral as fan ... Show More
38m 11s
Nov 2022
World Cup 2022: What does football mean to the Middle East?
For the first time World Cup history, the tournament is hosted in the Middle East. Football has always been more than just a game in the Middle East. Seen sometimes as a symbol of decolonisation and regime legitimisation, it also plays a role in fostering national identities. In ... Show More
24m 20s
Nov 2022
World Cup: Welcome to Qatar!
Soccer is sometimes called “the second religion of the Arab World,” and Qatar is the region’s first country to host the World Cup. But FIFA’s pick of the desert nation comes with boundless controversy. This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-check ... Show More
24m 54s
Nov 2022
Counting down to the World Cup
Presenter Mani Djazmi is in Qatar as the build-up to the World Cup intensifies. He's joined by World Cup winner Heather O'Reilly, former Scotland player Pat Nevin and Qatar based journalist Ahmed Hashmi. We also hear from Ecuador winger Jeremy Sarmiento who'll be hoping to featur ... Show More
43m 29s
Dec 2022
talkSPORT's Story Of The Qatar World Cup
<p>talkSPORT's Story Of The Qatar World Cup is a special&nbsp;programme narrated by Natalie Sawyer, taking a look back at all of the highs and lows of the 2022 competition.&nbsp;</p><br><p>The story is told by the talkSPORT team that were out in Qatar, as they relive all the dram ... Show More
49m 39s
Nov 2022
World Cup 2022 Preview: Part 1
In this inaugural episode, Brendan Hunt (who plays Coach Beard on ‘Ted Lasso’) and Rebecca Lowe (who covers the English Premier League for NBC Sports) gear up for the World Cup. Hear them battle out their national allegiances to the U.S. and England, reflect on the human-rights a ... Show More
27m 52s