episode-header-image

Nov 2022

17m 53s

Qatar’s $200bn bet on the World Cup

Financial Times

About this episode

Qatar is in the spotlight as the host of this year’s World Cup — and the small, oil-rich nation has had to confront a lengthy human rights record with the world watching. The FT’s Gulf correspondent Simeon Kerr breaks down Qatar’s larger goals due to hosting the tournament, and what changes it has — and hasn’t — made to see those through.

Clips from BBC, AP, PBS NewsHour, France24, The Guardian

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For further reading:

The ethical case for watching this possibly unethical World Cup

Qatar counts down to World Cup kick-off after $200bn soft power bet

How the unlikeliest World Cup ever came to be

Qatar 2022: the weirdest World Cup in history

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On Twitter, follow Simeon Kerr (@simeonkerr) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07)

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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