Why the World Cup is so popular with big business, scandal, and everything

Even though the 2018 World Cup in Qatar has been dogged by scandal, businesses and nations alike are vying for a piece of the action.

On Sunday, when the first match of the World Cup got underway in Qatar, Mohamed Jaidah was in a prime spot to watch it. The Qatari executive sat back on a couch in the Al Bayt Stadium V.I.P. hospitality suite, taking in the event from a ringside seat with a buffet and open bar (alcohol is included for the privileged audience while being outlawed for most fans) and a direct view of the pitch.

Mr. Jaidah, group executive director of Jaidah Group and distribution partner in Qatar for Hyundai (a FIFA sponsor), had to go and reopen an old wound. He remarked, "Many people in this country were not pleased when we were awarded the opportunity to host the World Cup in 2010." That we persevered through 12 years of media abyss only strengthens our sense of pride.

Outlets, including The Times, have extensively reported the "hell." Human rights groups have claimed that thousands of migrant laborers died while building 7 seven World Cup stadiums and other projects in the scorching desert heat, but the government has only admitted to three such deaths. The international soccer governing body FIFA has been criticized for allowing a little country where homosexuality is illegal to hold the world's largest athletic event.

All the players want to be heard. Concerned about the persecution of the L.G.B.T.Q. Population in Qatar led several European players to consider wearing rainbow-colored "One Love" armbands in solidarity with minorities until FIFA threatened punishment for teams who did so. On Wednesday, as spectators and T.V. watchers watched, German players protested the FIFA decision by covering their lips before the game. This quiet gesture of defiance echoed for days, even after a stunning loss to Japan.

The sports business is typically chaotic and unpredictable, even when things go smoothly. FIFA is one of the only institutions that has capitalized on this fact to the extent that it now wields unrivaled authority in the professional sports industry. Nations will go to great lengths to host the nearly month-long tournament; the United States (U.S.), Canada, and Mexico will host the next World Cup. Even though governments in Asia, South America, and Africa represent potential development opportunities for big business, many of these regions' leaders are unconcerned with socioeconomic topics that preoccupy Western news outlets. This starkly contrasts the many instances where cities have backed out of Olympic bids due to widespread outcry. Since soccer is a popular program among governments, FIFA has pledged substantial support to its national associations.

In 2010, FIFA's executive members shocked the soccer world by choosing Qatar as the 2022 host instead of the United States. Loretta Lynch indicted 14 FIFA officials and marketing executives in 2015 for "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption,  $150 million in bribes to secure World Cup commercial rights over 24 years. Football's governing body was nearly toppled after F.B.I. raids and arrests, and its longstanding president, Sepp Blatter, resigned. In 2020, the Justice Department accused a few FIFA voting officials of accepting millions of dollars in bribery to secure Russia's 2018 World Cup and Qatar's 2022 World Cup.

The Qatari government has denied wrongdoing, and FIFA claims it has eliminated all corrupt officials.

Even with the issue, significant corporations like Visa, Sony, and McDonald's quickly signed up. Bloomberg reached out to 76 FIFA sponsors and teams this month, and not one of them stated it was thinking about pulling out of the tournament. The company estimates that the tournament may increase sales by 400 million euros.

Yet the laws can change even after corporations have spent millions, leaving them with no recourse. Qatar outlawed alcohol consumption in all eight of the tournament's venues just two days before the competition kicked off. A.B. InBev, the beverage company that pays FIFA $75 million every four years so that its Budweiser brand can be a beer sponsor, had to quickly remove its goods from the venues and postpone several promotional events. The Budweiser Twitter account removed the following response: "Well, this is awkward." Budweiser will return as a sponsor for the 2026 World Cup, making things less unpleasant for everyone involved.

There has been no apparent corporate boycott, and FIFA boasts that all available sponsorship opportunities have been snapped up by companies old and new, including Coca-Cola, Adidas, and even Crypto.com.

Many corporations brag about their E.S.G. (environmental, social, and governance) credentials and marketing efforts back home, targeting audiences concerned with issues like L.G.B.T. rights. However, the tournament demonstrates that corporations are ready to risk a reaction they hope will be forgotten as long as the world is watching, even in an era where social media can amplify a corporate blunder in Qatar. The benefits are enormous. Soccer is the most-watched sport in the world, with FIFA estimating five billion viewers for the tournament (think the Super Bowl viewership times roughly 50). The estimated revenue for FIFA's World Cup is $4.7 billion. The company appears to have recovered from the controversy and is now flush with cash and the associated influence.

When he was elected president of FIFA in 2016, the 52-year-old Swiss soccer entrepreneur Gianni Infantino promised to eradicate corruption and restore the organization's shattered reputation. He persists in spreading that ideology. He made a strong case for awarding the World Cup to Qatar and said his organization had undergone a sea change in the days leading up to the tournament. He stated, "Money just doesn't evaporate anymore in FIFA." There is a definite investment in football infrastructure because money flows where it has to go. (Meanwhile, Mr. Blatter has recently stated that Qatar was not entitled to victory. He reportedly told a Swiss media consortium, "It's a country that's too small."

It is believed that Qatar invested almost $200 billion in infrastructure (including high-speed rail, highways, and stadiums) in preparation for the World Cup. It would cost over $15 billion, over 15 times what Russia spent on hosting the 2018 tournament. Government data shows that in the first half of 2022, Qatar received nearly $32.2 billion from oil and gas income, a 67 percent increase over the previous year due to war inflation.

Qatar's rise to prominence in world sports goes far beyond its efforts to attract FIFA. "The World Cup is altering everything – it is excellent for us," Nasser al-Khelaifi, C.E.O. of Qatar Sports Investments, told me in 2013. It's a powerful instrument for change.

Qatar bought the financially struggling and underachieving Paris St. Germain professional club in the French capital a year after gaining the right to host the tournament and quickly transformed it into a global powerhouse. P.S.G., led by Mr. al-Khelaifi as president, has bought its way to the top of the domestic league and is widely recognized as a cultural icon. An estimated $1.45 billion has been spent by Qatar to acquire several superstar players for the club. These players include Lionel Messi of Argentina, Neymar of Brazil, and Kylian Mbappé of France, who, at age 23, signed a contract allegedly for $250 million over the next three years.

Mr. Jaidah, a Qatari business leader, says the attacks on human rights have backfired and unified the country. He is particularly upset by claims that Doha bought its way into world sports with the World Cup. He believes Westerners have an "indecent feeling," wondering why they should maintain their money. In the minds of Qataris, "it is our country, our wealth."

Meanwhile, FIFA's financial machine is a winner on and off the field. On December 18, Infantino predicts that billions of viewers will watch the final, making it an irresistible advertising opportunity.

Why the World Cup is so popular with big business, scandal, and everything: Stay tuned for more

Matthew Hayden believes Babar Azam will score in the T20 World Cup semifinals.

Pakistan coach Matthew Hayden speaks at a press conference ahead of Pakistan's first ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2022 semifinal match against New Zealand on Tuesday at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). — AFP

Matthew Hayden says Babar Azam will do "something spectacular" in Wednesday's Twenty20 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.

The 2009 winners could only advance to the knockout stages as the Netherlands upset South Africa and Pakistan defeated Bangladesh to secure their second consecutive last-four berth.

Former Australia opener Hayden, Pakistan's batting coach during the last World Cup and now team mentor, said the team is determined to make the most of their second chance.

"When the Netherlands beat South Africa, it was a major occasion for us, a very crucial moment for the team in general in terms of reaching its potential," he stated on the eve of the Sydney semifinal.

"There were many prayers as Pakistan awoke to witness that result, 232 million people can't be incorrect, and as a result, I feel there has been a significant lifting in tempo in our group."

"It's been a roller-coaster ride [...] but I truly believe we have yet to play our best game, which poses a significant threat to opponents."

While Pakistan's bowling, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, has improved, their batting has been brittle, which will be a concern against a top-class New Zealand attack led by Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson.

Azam's form, in particular, is concerning, with the opener scoring only 39 runs in five matches.

Hayden, a destructive opener who played 103 Tests and 161 ODIs, predicted that the skipper would be treated to some "fireworks" on Wednesday.

"There's no doubt Babar has faced difficulty, but it will only make him a better player," he remarked.

"We know from the weather that when there's a lull, a storm follows, so keep an eye on the world because I think Babar is ready to do something extraordinary."

New Zealand has long been a force in white-ball cricket but has yet to win a world crown, including a narrow defeat to Australia in 2021.

Play wisely.

They began their season this year with an 89-run victory over the defending champions in Sydney, and Hayden acknowledged Pakistan was scared of the Black Caps.

"Against Australia, they scored 200" "New Zealand has some devastating batsmen," he remarked.

"They also have a fantastic, well-balanced bowling attack."

"Like New Zealand sport in general, they really punch above their weight; they believe they can and should win this event."

"There are definitely a lot of threats to our camp."

Kane Williamson, New Zealand's captain, downplayed the significance of his team's 200-3 on the Sydney wicket, noting that they only scored 167-7 against Sri Lanka when they returned to the stadium later in the competition.

"The wicket was quite nice the first time we played here, and then it changed the second time," he explained.

"We'll just focus on our cricket and the strategies we're aiming to implement, making sure we adjust to the conditions and attempt to play intelligently."

New Zealand followed up its first Sydney success with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka, with a game against Afghanistan called off due to rain. They lost by 20 runs to England before smashing Ireland to the semifinals.

When it came to the knockouts, Williamson felt the outcomes didn't matter.

"Sport in the finals may go either way," he remarked. "Both teams match up well; there are some similar patterns, and we've both been playing good cricket."

"They have a fantastic pace attack," he added.

"They have some highly seasoned players throughout their team, match winners, so they have great strength in their team."

If you want to read more about the T20 world cup, click here

For the first time, Thailand has advanced to the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup.

Winners last time around, and current hosts Bangladesh were knocked out of the league after having their final game rained out.

Thailand triumphed over the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and, most importantly, Pakistan • Asian Cricket Council.

After Bangladesh's penultimate league game against UAE on Tuesday morning was rained off, Thailand secured a spot in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup for the first time in their history. Bangladesh, the incumbent champions and hosts, only gained one point from the abandoned game, putting them in fifth place when they needed two to finish fourth and take the last semifinal slot.

Thailand finished with six points after winning three games, whereas Bangladesh only managed two victories. Thailand's three victories were against the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and, most importantly, Pakistan by a combined total of four wickets.

Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Natthakan Chatham, and captain Naruemol Chaiwai, who often make up the top three of the batting order, have been the driving force behind Thailand's success at the Asia Cup. Left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong has eight wickets, putting him in the top five among bowlers.

Bangladesh appeared to be on track for a semifinal spot to attempt a defence of their Asia Cup title up until the previous 48 hours. They needed two wins from their final two games but fell short against Sri Lanka in a rain-shortened match where they were tasked with scoring 41 runs in seven overs. Bangladesh were 27 for two and needed 14 runs to win off 12 balls with two overs remaining in the chase. However, they lost four wickets in the penultimate over-delivered by Inoka Ranaweera and went down by four runs. Bangladesh's Tuesday match against the United Arab Emirates was a chance to get back on track and pick up two points, but rain washed away their chances.

However, the order of the top four is still in the air. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are now in the semifinals, and if they win their final league game by a large margin, they will bump India off the top spot.

In 2029, the Asian Winter Games will be held in Saudi Arabia.

The Wahhabi kingdom, centered in the technologically advanced metropolis of Trojan, will be the region's first host of the sporting event.

Saudi Arabia's proposal to host the AWG TROJENA2029 has been accepted, and the country's Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, has announced as much.

On Tuesday, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially announced that it would play host to the 2029 Asian Winter Games. 

The event, which would take place in a mountain resort in the Wahhabi Kingdom, is currently being planned. Using the money from oil sales, the government in Riyadh is constructing stunning new cities with an eye toward tourism, commerce, and environmental sustainability. Saudi Arabian authorities announced the formation of a closed joint stock corporation called NEOM on January 29, 2019. The Public Investment Fund, the country's sovereign wealth fund, owns this corporation outright, and its mission is to create a thriving economic hub in the NEOM region. In an interview, NEOM joint stock company CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr said that 100% renewable energy would be used to power the project.

The Saudi government suggested designating Trojena as the venue for the Asian Winter Games in a letter submitted to the Asian Olympic Council (AOC) in August. 

This proposal was part of the Saudi government's Vision 2030 strategy. It is anticipated that 32 Asian countries will take part in this edition. In a Twitter post, Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal said that the organization had approved the plan and that the Kingdom had received the necessary response to the request after discussions on 3 and 4 October in Cambodia. AWG TROJENA2029 is the name of the issue.

Developing a technologically advanced metropolitan area is a primary goal of NEOM. Trojan, a city in the mountains in the country's northeast, has been selected to host the AWG. Vision 2030 calls for finishing the city's development by 2026. Elevations range from 1,500 to 2,600 meters, and it may be found 50 kilometers from the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. The project's website states that its goal is to "redefine mountain tourism" by capitalizing on the area's varied climates to make it a desirable location for year-round activities, including skiing, water sports, and hiking, as well as residential flats, chalets, and hotels.

When finished in 2026, TROJENA will provide "an unrivalled experience and a global milestone for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," according to a statement on the resort's website.

King Salman's son is an essential character in the introduction of a massive plan to overhaul the oil-dependent economy of the monarchy.

Mohammed bin Salman ( Prince of Saudi Arabia) has started work on his most ambitious endeavor yet, the National Energy Optimization Plan (NEOM). The massive NEOM high-tech infrastructure on the Red Sea will have a carbon-neutral metropolis in addition to industrial and logistics hubs across 26.5 square kilometers.

The prince stated, "NEOM is a place for individuals who dream of a better tomorrow, and The Line is a confirmation of our strong commitment to propose a project to the whole world."

The NEOM corporation is working on more than just the Trojan City project. The business is planning The Line, the next generation of futuristic cities, as part of its Vision 2030 initiative. MBS, or Mohamed bin Salman, revealed the plans for the NEOM project for the new city and claimed it would serve as a model for other cities worldwide.

"How can we send them empty-handed?" Ramiz Raja's comment after England beat Pakistan.

The first English cricket team to tour Pakistan in 17 years was a huge success. Moeen Ali guided the squad to a 4-3 victory in the best-of-five series after Jos Buttler was sidelined with a calf injury. Although England's average skipper took a knock and may be questionable for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, the team nevertheless managed to defeat Pakistan on home soil.

Banners praising the England team for visiting the country were displayed by many Pakistani fans in Karachi and Lahore, the two locations where the matches took place. After Australia's entire tour of Pakistan earlier this year, Pakistan is continuing its reintegration as a host in international cricket with the coming of England. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja congratulated the English side on their win, stressing that the hosts would not let the visitors go home empty-handed.

It has been an honour to play host to England. After waiting 17 years to return, how could we deny them their prize? Ramiz said after Sunday's seventh T20I, "We're not letting them leave empty-handed, but they were the superior team."

Although Pakistan was decisively outplayed in the final two games, the entire series was relentless and exciting. It's clear that Pakistan has much to learn before the World Cup, but I encourage our fans to support the team. I've enjoyed serving England; thank you. He wished them a safe journey until the next Test.

After the Twenty20 World Cup, England will travel back to Pakistan to play three more Tests. Both will begin on December 1; the first will be played in Rawalpindi until December 9, and the second will be played in Multan until December 15. Karachi will play host to the third and final Test match on December17.

Ultimately, Leclerc views his Formula One races as a testbed for Ferrari's strategy.

Formula One driver Charles Leclerc has suggested that Ferrari use the remaining races of the 2022 season as a proving ground to perfect the implementation of the team's strategy.

Although the Monaco driver still has a theoretical possibility of preventing his Dutch rival Max Verstappen from winning the championship, the latter is set to do so this weekend in Japan.

After losing the championship, Leclerc could quickly write off the rest of the season as wasted time. However, he doesn't.

In particular, he believes his superiors at Maranello can take the chance to perfect their race plans after a few missteps in 2022.

As much as he wanted to win the Singapore Grand Prix, he had to be happy that Ferrari had got the timing of its pit stops correctly.

I want to use the remaining races to improve the team's racing execution, and he thinks they've made progress this weekend.

"More steps are needed. Positive growth, although I'm dissatisfied by my second-place finish."

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said the team did an excellent job being aggressive on the pit wall in Singapore, where Sergio Perez ultimately won the race.

I think we made the correct choices," he declared. "As early pioneers in mounting slicks on a track that was not yet totally dry, we ultimately forced Perez to pull over. It was an attempt to alter the course of human history."

The Singapore Grand Prix marked the first occasion since the May race in Miami that Ferrari had two cars on the podium (Leclerc in second and Carlos Sainz in third).

Sainz thought the squad had learnt a lot from its mistakes this year and might continue to improve in the coming weeks, giving it an edge heading into 2023.

The Spaniard was pleased to hear that both teams had a successful race. "I am still sure that there are ways in which we can enhance our performance, but the squad has made tremendous strides forward.

"We're taking in information from every experience. These next five races, or six with this one, will serve as excellent training for us to improve our performance at the front of the pack next season, as Charles put it.

"The vehicle, its drivers, and ourselves can all be seen. We need just sharpen our performance in that regard and make the most of every available opening."

The English cricketer Moeen Ali prefers the food in Karachi over that in Lahore.

The England captain, Moeen Ali, spoke highly of the hospitality he received in Pakistan during a postgame press conference. Tweet from England's Cricket Team

Moeen Ali, captain of the English cricket team, said he preferred the food in Karachi to that in Lahore.

"Lahore has not quite lived up to my expectations in terms of its cuisine. It was great to visit Karachi, "On Sunday, after his team had defeated Pakistan in the seventh and final match of the Twenty20 International series, Ali revealed as much in a news conference following the game.

On Sunday, Pakistan lost the seven-match series to England by a 67-run defeat in the final Twenty20 International (T20I).

Ali thought England did well against Pakistan. Throughout the series, he said that English players had strong showings, so it was a good one for us.

In addition, he said, "I am glad to see that batters and bowlers took the challenge and won the series." This was after his team had dropped the series' first two games in a row.

Moeen Ali said that the people of Pakistan were exceptionally welcoming and that he enjoyed the cuisine in the city of Karachi.

For his part, Ali has no complaints about the series' security.

The level of security has been excellent and much beyond our expectations. He remarked on how wonderfully we were taken care of.