Reportage
Qatar: "For the World Cup, it's ready, but there will still be work afterwards"
Audio 02:35
Located in a city specially created for the event, the Lusail stadium will host the final of the competition.
AP - Hassan Ammar
Text by: Nicolas Falez Follow
2 mins
Much criticized for the fate reserved for migrant workers as well as for the carbon footprint generated by the Football World Cup, Qatar, already transformed by the preparations, is preparing to receive the players and their supporters.
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From our special correspondent
,
The World Cup is everywhere in Doha, with giant portraits of football stars on the futuristic towers of the business district or in the countless fan zones awaiting their first supporters.
On the ledge that runs along Doha Bay, the road is already closed to traffic.
The white and blue jerseys do not deceive: it is Argentinian supporters residing in Qatar who gather around a framed painting representing the idol Lionel Messi.
“
I can't wait
,” says Maria Belen, 28.
“
The World Cup in Qatar, I can hardly believe it.
I've been living here for six years and that's it, it's soon
, ”says this Argentine expatriate, the flag of her country on her shoulders.
“
We are here together with the Argentines who reside in Qatar to say that we support our national team…
”
► Also to listen: Qatar: Al Wakrah, the first stadium of the 2022 World Cup has just been inaugurated
Legacy infrastructure
In 12 years of preparations, Qatar has built infrastructure for its World Cup: a tram, a brand new metro with three lines which, among other things, connect the main stadiums.
The population inside the trains resembles that of the country: a minority of Qataris in traditional clothes and a majority of foreign workers.
At the end of the red line stands the immense silhouette of the Lusail stadium which will host the final of the tournament on 18 December.
It is one of the eight stadiums that concentrate criticism of this World Cup in Qatar.
They are singled out because of the working conditions of the thousands of workers who built them and their air conditioning in total contradiction with environmental issues.
►
To read also: Mondial-2022: overview of the eight stadiums hosting the competition
The construction sites are not all finished, because Lusail is also a new town.
"
Where we are, before, it was the desert
," says Abbas, a young Qatari who walks the main artery.
I am proud of our country
”.
“
A lot of people have worked here and now, it's beautiful,
explains this Indian technician who works on building air conditioning systems.
And it will continue, there are office surfaces, some are empty, some are not.
For the World Cup, it's ready, but there will still be work afterwards, it will become a business district
".
This is one of Qatar's bets: that the World Cup bequeath transport, housing and business infrastructure well beyond the 4 weeks of competition.
►[PODCAST] 2022 World Cup: Are the criticisms against Qatar all justified?
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