The Weird World Cup

Hey guys, the FIFA World Cup starts on Sunday!

Yes, the biggest tournament in world football is back after an extended four-and-a-half-year break, with the greatest event in sport finally returning to our screens.

Of course, most of you already know that, but you could be forgiven for forgetting as a result of where it’s being held.

Qatar were confirmed as hosts of the FWC over a decade ago and in that time, we’ve seen a parade of allegations flying around regarding the workers who have died there, the money they paid to be awarded the World Cup and some of their troublesome views as a nation that could lead to more than a few hiccups.

Plus, ina addition to all that, the tournament is having to be held in the winter as opposed to the summer due to the insane heat that Qatar experiences between June and July.

It’s not exactly a fresh story that Qatar is very, very unfit to host the World Cup, regardless of how many pretty new stadiums you build. There are so many red flags popping up even in the last few days that should give us all some serious concern, begging the question: should fans even be watching at all?

We all know football provides us with a great sense of escapism and, in many ways, that is precisely what we all need in the midst of what is bound to be a difficult winter.

In equal measure, though, some see it as giving support to the Qatar World Cup by tuning in. We can understand the logic, but we just don’t think that’s true.

Yes, it’s awkward to watch and even enjoy a tournament that is under the guidance of a really questionable country, but these players are simply going out there and doing their job.

We’d like to believe there will be some protests from a handful of countries, even though that doesn’t seem overly likely, and in equal measure we also think there should be widespread displeasure voiced from every corner of the globe on social media.

They say things like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are detrimental but in this particular instance, it certainly feels like the right route forward.

If you’re going to be watching the action unfold then all the paper should go to you for making that kind of decision, especially if you plan on blending that together with a public outcry – which we don’t think we have seen nearly enough of recently.

Everything about the World Cup is supposed to be a celebration and although that may not be strictly true this time around, it doesn’t mean we can’t still get behind the lads, regardless of who you may be cheering for.

The opening ceremony goes down on Sunday and millions upon millions of people will be watching. Hopefully, if Joe Lycett is anything to go by, we’re going to be seeing a whole lot more fury boiling to the surface as the countdown to kick-off continues.