The FIFA World Cup in Qatar required the work of millions of migrant laborers, many of whom worked for years in the country under distressing working conditions and lax safety enforcement.
This is the story of one of those workers, Azeez Sulaiman.
A young Ghanaian soccer player, he flew to Qatar with promises of playing soccer professionally in one of the richest countries in the world, leaving behind his loved ones and investing a massive sum in a trip he believed would put him on the pitch.
When he arrived, he was told there was no such opportunity, and that he was there to work construction.
This is his story of enduring difficult working conditions and rising to meet his situation — and becoming a fierce advocate for the workers of Qatar — as told to Insider.
The glittering arenas, the infrastructure connecting them, and the day-to-day operations of the cup itself are possible only thanks to the talents, the expertise, and the efforts of millions of migrant workers. While the World Cup ends this week, their plight continues: almost 90% of Qatar’s population is made up of foreigners and migrant workers, and people like Azeez are the ones putting themselves on the line to ensure better working conditions.
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