The World Cup won't change anything for migrant workers - Qatar pulled off a giant heist

So after 64 games, the most controversial World Cup in history is over. As a football tournament, Qatar 22 must be considered a resounding triumph. There was something bizarre about Lionel Messi's footballing coronation taking place in disguise - the Arab bisht didn't really suit him - but if you pre-wrote a script for the tournament, the greatest of all time was ultimately lifted the World Cup, would have been Hollywood's choice.

Other support stories were equally compelling, including Morocco's stunning run to the semi-finals and Germany's elimination in the group stage. There was even an English element to enjoy before the familiar return to heroic failure.

It was, taken in circles, the tumultuous roller coaster of a World Cup with lots of drama until a breathtaking conclusion. There were, of course, disappointments in the football sense too - Brazil's too-early exit in the round of 16 and the hosts' abysmal effort to bail out within six days - among them.

But unfortunate hosts aside, the gap between the best and the rest was pleasantly tight. Argentina - Messi and all - lost to Saudi Arabia in their opening match, remember. The noise at Lusail Stadium - probably the best in the world - as the rowdy Saudis let loose in this match was extraordinary.

Just like it was when Messi and Argentina finally managed to defeat France in the final on a crazy Sunday night in the sparkling golden bowl. Forget any fear that banning alcohol in stadiums will dilute the atmosphere. It turned out that the World Cup in the dry was quite manageable.

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In fact, Doha wasn't as arid as some fans had feared, although a pint, when they found one in Doha, ended up costing the same as a tank of gas. The mix of supporters for the tournament in their hotels, boats and tents was rich and interesting.

The influx from all over the Arab world – even nations whose teams had not arrived in Qatar – gave it a unique flavor. Hosting an entire World Cup in one city meant they mixed more. The sweet evenings shared in the souk between matches were edifying. Knowing a little more about the people you share on the planet can never be a bad thing.

But despite all this and the fabulous nature of football, FIFA's fateful decision to grab the natural gas money and take the big show to the desert in the depths of winter has remained. indefensible in many respects. No assessment of the tournament can or should dodge the deaths of the migrant workers whose hands built the whole fanciful project. Their ghosts have haunted Qatar 22.

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Watching a Qatar game on the big screen at the Asian Town Cricket Club in the migrant workers' fan zone, the featureless dormitories that house them stretch out into the distance, stark reminders of the marginalization of those in the labor force. 'shadow . Those who watched were part of the World Cup but also outside.

We always talk a lot about legacy after a big sporting event. How will the World Cup change the lives of these people? This will not be the case ? For real Qataris - all 300,000 of them in this small country - it probably won't pay much...