FIFA World Cup Kicks Off in Qatar

Setting the scene

FIFA's rotation to a small Gulf state forced calendar shifts to avoid lethal summer heat for players and fans.

What happened

Human-rights groups documented kafala-era labor conditions during stadium construction for years.

Why it still matters

Rainbow armband debates collided with local laws, igniting culture-war headlines. Memorable detail: semi-automated offside tech split fans over millimeter line animations.

Background

Messi's Argentina triumph capped a month of VAR controversies, geopolitical boycotts, and stadium cooling tech flexes.