An Armchair Fan's Guide to the Qatar World Cup: The Story of How Football Came to the Desert

by Jon Berry

Zurich, 2 December 2010: FIFA president Sepp Blatter pulls the name Qatar from the envelope to reveal the hosts of the 2022 World Cup. The accusations fly and the recriminations start. But once it's all sunk in, we start to look at maps and temperature charts, and try to scrape together fragments of knowledge about kingdoms in the Arabian desert. The Armchair Guide looks beyond the myths and preconceptions to provide the average fan with sound information about what a World Cup in the desert might look like. Was the bidding process corrupt? How many people actually did die building stadiums? How hot will it be? Can I go there with my mates and have a drink anywhere? What will the legacy be - both in the region and for the global game? The Armchair Guide takes a light-hearted, sideways look at the tournament, using stories from within and beyond the game to cover everything about the 2022 Winter World Cup. Although the book can't claim to pick a winner, it goes some way to shedding light on football's place in a changing world.

224 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2022

Reviews

[Charlotte Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book considering the controversial topic. Very humorous and satirical, as well as interesting and informative. As well as talking about Qatar and the World Cup, the book also talks about previous tournaments, controversies and the way which football is progressing. Is it good or is bad? Up to you to decide. Regardless, it is very well written ands provide numerous considerations and acknowledges the sensitivity of the subject

[John Valdez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glancing the first part of this book’s title, you may think Mr. Berry provides an overview of the 2022 World Cup kicking off in a few weeks. Instead, the book gives so much more. His primary thesis centers upon soccer’s relation to historical, geo-political, and social issues. He relates these issues back to the Qatar bid to host the tournament and how they might intersect once the games begin. He starts by providing a concise history of the World Cup noting it’s expansion from the exclusive European/South American event to featuring nations from outside those continents. Along the way he provides a wide ranging commentary on everything from LGBT fans in Qatar to alcohol consumption to Qatar’s motivation for hosting the tournament. The book is very current as well as the author often references current events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Interspersed throughout are stories about his own fandom. His writing is witty and humorous, making for an enjoyable read.