Players stress importance of unity and describe how war affects their preparations for the tournament
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‘We need accurate descriptions of what is happening in Qatar’
JAMES NALTON discusses how although there have been numerous calls for media boycotts, this could be one of the most important World Cups for journalists to report from on the ground
People gather around the official countdown clock showing remaining time until the kick-off of the World Cup 2022, in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.
THE 22nd Fifa World Cup kicks off this weekend in Qatar when the host nation meets Ecuador in Al Khor on Sunday.
It is a significant World Cup for a number of reasons. It will be the first to be hosted in an Arab country, and also the first not to be held in the northern hemisphere summer — ie not in May, June or July.
It is important for the World Cup to be global and to be held in a diverse range of host countries, but it is also important that it remains so for the right reasons.
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