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WEKU
WEKU
Becky Sullivan

Why Qatar is a controversial host for the World Cup

Qatar relied on migrant workers to build stadiums and other infrastructure for the World Cup. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about worker deaths and safety. (Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images)

The selection of Qatar to host this year's FIFA World Cup brought cheers to the streets of Doha in a celebration of the first edition of the tournament to be held in the Arab world.

But the choice, made in 2010, also sparked instant criticism – over the logistics of holding a sporting event in a country where summertime temperatures regularly top 100 degrees; over allegations of bribery and corruption among FIFA officials who voted for Qatar; and over concerns about human rights abuses that have persisted in the years since.

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