Do opponents from the West simply object that the World Cup is being held in an Arab country in the Middle East? Is this really a matter of human rights.

 There have been concerns over Qatar's capability and deservingness to host the 2022 World Cup ever since it won the bid. And appropriately so; any nation that intends to host visitors from all over the world for a crucial event for the world should come under close examination.

A lot is swept under the rug by the numerous fervent protests against Qatar's hosting.

However, what has occurred over the past few years, and particularly in the last few months leading up to the World Cup's Sunday opening, shows the depths of Western prejudice, performative moral outrage, and, perhaps most importantly, blatant double standards.

Headlines implying that tournament fans were paid to appear because they were South Asians have been among a barrage of derogatory and quite frankly racist commentary about the tiny Persian Gulf nation. In a cartoon published by a French publication, the Qatari national team is shown to be terrorists. the list is endless.

However, is this controversy really about the rights of migrant workers and other human rights, or is it more likely that European nations and Western commentators, who see themselves as the established gatekeepers of international soccer, find it intolerable that an Arab Middle Eastern nation will host such a storied event?

I should be upfront and say that I spent the better part of five years living and working in Qatar. I have first-hand knowledge of the nation's growth and advancement as well as its areas for improvement. As a Muslim, I am also acutely aware of the social conservatism and societal constraints that Qatar must balance in order to welcome fans from various backgrounds while upholding cultural and religious norms and traditions. I love playing soccer, and I'm going to the World Cup, which I'm excited to see in the Middle East because I'm an Arab American.

Excuse me if I don't think watching soccer requires you to get wasted and start a brawl with the opposing team's supporters. It will be more challenging to accomplish that this year due to a last-minute surprise decision to forbid alcohol sales at the World Cup stadium.

The numerous and ardent protests against Qatar's hosting often neglect a number of important issues. FIFA is one of the most dishonest multinational organizations in the world that controls soccer on a global scale. Following allegations of corruption and pay-to-play scandals, the US Department of Justice once brought criminal charges against a number of senior FIFA executives. If there is a villain, it is not just Qatar.

It is legitimate to condemn Qatar for its dismal record regarding the rights of migrants, women, and LGBQT people. The Defense of Marriage Act, which, in case you forgot, defines marriage as occurring between a man and a woman, is still the law of the land in the United States, so it feels doubtful, if not hypocritical, to see Western nations and their pundits consistently singling out Qatar. Although there are optimistic initiatives to repeal the law and a lot of the United States has made progress in terms of culture, it is crucial to recognise the distinction between the two both at home and abroad. Nearly 240 measures that directly restrict LGBTQ rights or make care that is gender affirming illegal have been introduced in the U.S. just this year.

Ironically, Western teams would support their players protesting LGBQT rights in Qatar but won't allow them to speak out against injustice in their own nations.

I wonder if any of these American and European commentators and pundits who make such a big deal about human rights will demand that the United States forfeit its right to host a portion of the 2026 World Cup because of the way our judicial system and elected officials have restricted access to abortion, moved to outlaw the term "gay" in public schools, and banned books they feel pose a threat to a far-right political and religious narrative. Nobody in these discussions, as far as I can see, is accusing the United States of attempting to whitewash its anti-women laws.

Instead of limiting their criticism to Qatar, Europeans and Americans should set a better example for how to treat immigrants in their own nations. A recent investigation found that while France and the U.K. disagreed over who should save a sinking vessel carrying migrants, 27 people were allowed to perish. If the Danish Federation wants to protest the treatment of migrants in Qatar, it should also protest the treatment of migrants in Europe. The opportunity to discuss alternatives to their own cruel treatment of migrants should be taken advantage of by Americans criticising Qatar's migrant labour policies.

Some people questioned how a nation with no soccer history could host the World Cup when Qatar won the bid to do so. Such arguments overlook history and minimise the tournament's goals. The United States didn't even have a professional soccer league when it won the World Cup. Though they were rarely soccer-playing nations, Japan and South Korea have seen significant and long-lasting growth in the sport since the World Cup arrived in these nations. In addition to the fact that Qatar is the current Asian champion team, it's important to keep in mind that one of the main goals of the competition is to grow and promote the sport.

The criticism against Qatar actually serves to underline how obviously Western-centric the conversation surrounding the sport is. Numerous European soccer leagues and clubs protested FIFA's decision to move the tournament's dates to the cooler months of November and December in order to avoid the oppressive heat, stating it would interfere with their regular seasons and schedules.

Remember that the World Cup has historically been held in the summer months of June to August, during the off-season of the European leagues. The World Cup has forced South American nations to acclimatise to playing throughout their seasons for nearly 90 years. However, no one seemed to voice concern that it would hurt South American nations, which collectively have won nine World Cup titles.

No one is claiming that Qatar is flawless. It would be absurd to do that. But I'm pushing us to be more thoughtful in our criticisms and to avoid just repeating generalised, biassed charges without any self-reflection.

Today's global interconnectedness is largely due to occasions like the World Cup. And it's understandable that people have grown more and more disillusioned with the moral haughtiness and self-righteousness of the West. The legitimate criticisms of international sporting organisations like the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, which have been plagued by egregious issues for decades, are also undermined by bombastic accusations, exaggerated headlines, and prejudice.

Fortunately, the World Cup spectators travelling to Qatar have recognised the difference that so many Western commentators in the lead-up to this event had overlooked. despite not having all that beer.