Qatar World Cup Rally
Qatar World Cup Rally | Less than ten days before the tournament’s start, thousands of migrant workers in Doha held a World Cup rally while donning the national colours of Argentina, Brazil, and England. An AFP writer reported that supporters of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Harry Kane gathered on the Doha waterfront for a march that was not often permitted.
The majority of the spectators were from Kerala, a football mecca in India that also contributes significantly to the 750,000-person-strong Indian immigrant population in Qatar. The overall population of Qatar is close to 2.8 million.
The event was advertised on social media, and the crowds arrived, marching behind drummers to the World Cup countdown clock overlooking the Gulf.
One of the organisers, who asked to remain anonymous, stated, “Police were informed in advance and today is our day.”
In Qatar, demonstrations and rallies are uncommon and typically met with strict security, but on Friday, police quietly observed the supporters.
The organiser continued, “The foreign employees in Qatar adore football and they have purchased a lot of tickets.
“This is the first World Cup to be held in an Arab country, but in many ways it’s also the first World Cup to be held in South Asia.”
The supporters wore jerseys with the names of Messi and Neymar as well as Indian names, as well as the yellow and blue stripes of Argentina and Brazil.
They marched by the Doha royal palace, where it is typically forbidden to snap photos of the structure.
Due to the way it treats foreign workers, Qatar has come under a lot of scrutiny. Most of the football rally participants did not provide their complete names because they did not want their employers to know.
One man identified himself as Rajesh and declared, “This is a day of excitement for us.” We’ll sing and chant about football, especially Lionel Messi, instead of politics.
Another person wearing a Messi shirt and stating his name as Aju said, “This is our freedom of expression.
Despite the fact that some of us have difficult professions and are aware of these stories, the World Cup is an exceptional occasion.
The majority of tournament tickets have been purchased by citizens of Qatar, with a few $10 seats being set aside for migrant labourers. The largest market for ticket sales has also been India.
The rally was staged the day after the United States arrived in Qatar as the first team for the competition, which begins on November 20.
The football world was “excited” by seeing players land in Doha, coaches reveal their teams, and players respond with such unbridled and natural emotions, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
