.AymanM: Qatar hosting the World Cup highlights Western double standards.
When Qatar won the bid to host the World Cup, some questioned how a country with little soccer history was allowed to host it. Such arguments belittle the purpose of the tournament, and ignore history. When the U.S. won the World Cup, the country did not even have a professional soccer league. Japan and South Korea were hardly soccer nations and yet with the arrival of the World Cup to these countries, the sport has taken off in meaningful and lasting ways.
Keep in mind that throughout the history of the World Cup, the tournament has been traditionally played in the summer months of June to August, when European leagues are in their off-season. For nearly 90 years, South American countries have had to adjust to playing in the World Cup during their seasons. But no one seemed to complain that it was going to disadvantage South American countries, which claim nine World Cup championships among them.
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