# In a stadium of their own, migrant workers say their sweat made World Cup happen Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-11-21 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Thousands of Migrant Workers Gather for First World Cup in Meta Description: Experience the excitement of migrant workers watching the first World Cup in the Middle East for free in a special fan zone in Doha. URL: https://financedigest.com/in-a-stadium-of-their-own-migrant-workers-say-their-sweat-made-world-cup-happenhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-11-21t073009z4lynxmpeiak057rtroptp4soccer-worldcupqat-ecu-workers-1736814840823-compressed.jpg) By Maya Gebeily and Charlotte Bruneau DOHA (Reuters) -Taking selfies from the stands and sitting on the grassy pitch, thousands of migrant workers gathered in a Doha stadium to watch the opening match of the first World Cup in the Middle East. The special fan zone set up at the industrial area on the city’s outskirts includes a stadium with a giant TV screen and another big screen set up outside for an overflow crowd. It sits adjacent to several [worker camps where many of Qatar’s hundreds of thousands](https://www.financedigest.com/thousands-of-british-postal-workers-walk-out-over-pay.html "Thousands of British postal workers walk out over pay") of low-income labourers live. “We are here to enjoy our sweat now,” said Ronald Ssenyondo, a 25-year-old Ugandan who was rooting for Qatar on Sunday. He had been in Qatar for two years, [working long hours](https://www.financedigest.com/low-use-of-shortened-work-hours-points-to-mild-german-recession-ifo.html "Low use of shortened work hours points to mild German recession – Ifo") under the sun to finish stadiums where the tournament was being held. “I am just overwhelmed with the things I’m seeing now,” he said. The wealthy gas-producing country is home to 2.9 million people, the vast majority of whom are [foreign workers](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-sees-biggest-rise-in-foreign-workers-since-covid-19-pandemic.html "UK sees biggest rise in foreign workers since COVID-19 pandemic") ranging from low-income construction workers to high-powered executives. Rights groups have accused authorities of failing to protect lower-income workers – including those who built the stadiums and hotels to host World Cup fans – from overwork, unpaid [wages and poor living](https://www.financedigest.com/pensions-awareness-day-could-you-get-by-on-less-than-living-wage.html "Pensions Awareness Day: Could you get by on less than living wage? ") conditions. The government [says it has enacted labour reforms](https://www.financedigest.com/boes-bailey-says-bank-reforms-worked-but-questions-about-liquidity-buffers.html "BoE’s Bailey says bank reforms worked but questions about liquidity buffers"), including a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari rials, or about $275, more than many can earn back home. Match tickets for the [opener cost](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-open-banking-help-smbs-navigate-the-cost-of-living-crisis.html "How can Open Banking help SMBs navigate the cost-of-living crisis? ") an average of $200 – but the industrial fan zone was free. Thousands piled in to cheer on Qatar on Monday, groaning when the match ended with Ecuador’s win 2-0. Some told Reuters it was the closest they would get to a game all month. I’m supporting my sisters and brothers in Ethiopia by sending money back, so I’m coming here because tickets are too much,” said Ali Jammal, 26, who has worked in Qatar for five years. A nurse from Nepal, one of a handful of women watching, said she wouldn’t be able to watch any other matches because of her long [shifts at a hospital](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-shifts-stance-on-hospital-bombing-that-sparked-world-outrage.html "Russia shifts stance on hospital bombing that sparked world outrage"). Mohammad Ansar, a 28-year-old Indian who has been working in Qatar [since earlier this year](https://www.financedigest.com/japans-emperor-gives-first-public-new-years-greeting-since-2020.html "Japan’s emperor gives first public New Year’s greeting since 2020"), said he was volunteering with FIFA at two of the upcoming matches, so he would get in to watch them live. But on Sunday, he was grateful to be with fellow workers watching on a screen – even though Qatar’s loss was a disappointment. “With this stadium for free, they’re considering poor people also,” he said. Others were watching from their [home countries:](https://www.financedigest.com/prefabricated-homes-market-report-2021-by-global-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2029.html "Prefabricated Homes Market Report 2021 By Global Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast To 2029") Amirul Hussein was gathered with friends to watch the opener in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He had worked on stadiums in Qatar for four [years and was on a short break back home](https://www.financedigest.com/hong-kong-home-prices-drop-15-6-in-2022-snap-13-years-of-gain.html "Hong Kong home prices drop 15.6% in 2022, snap 13 years of gain") to visit his family. Now I will watch the FIFA [World Cup](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-englands-houghton-will-keep-knocking-the-door-for-the-world-cup.html "Soccer-England’s Houghton will keep ‘knocking the door’ for the World Cup") matches with great happiness. Of course, if I could be there, I would feel even better,” he said. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Charlotte Bruneau; Editing by Peter Graff and Bradley Perrett) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---