One FIFA Executive Thinks Qatar Will Lose The 2022 World Cup

Everything about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—from the scores of migrant workers who have died building stadiums and infrastructure, to the accusations of corruption, to the scorching heat that will make games unplayable—is shaping up to be a disaster. It is so bad that even one of the Bond-villain type assholes on FIFA's executive committee is going out in public and saying that Qatar will probably lose the event.

Executive committee member Theo Zwanziger had this to say when asked about what he thinks will happen in 2022 ( via Al Jazeera):

"I personally think that in the end the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar," the German told Sport Bild.

"Medics say that they cannot accept responsibility with a World Cup taking place under these conditions," the former German football (DFB) chief, who is now a member of the world football's governing body FIFA that awarded the tournament to Qatar in 2010.

"They may be able to cool the stadiums but a World Cup does not take place only there. Fans from around the world will be coming and travelling in this heat and the first life-threatening case will trigger an investigation by a state prosecutor.

"That is not something that FIFA Exco members want to answer for."

We can't make too much of this, as Zwanziger was just giving his personal opinion and not speaking for FIFA itself, but it is telling that one of the organization's goons isn't even bothering with sticking to the party line anymore. And the best part is that FIFA had to issue an official response to Zwanziger's comments, which essentially boiled down to, "Well, that's just, like, his opinion, man."

"He is expressing a personal opinion and he explicitly says so," FIFA spokewoman Delia Fischer said. "We will not comment on a personal opinion."

We can't help but wonder if Zwanziger is going to hear from our pals at Qatar's Supreme Committee of Delivery & Legacy.

[ Al Jazeera]