Thousands of migrant workers gathered at a stadium in the Qatari capital Doha to watch the opening match of the World Cup, being held for the first time in the Middle East, as they snapped selfies from the stands and enjoyed sitting on the grass.
A special fan zone set up in the industrial area on the outskirts of the city included a stadium with a giant television screen and another large screen set up outside for large crowds.
This area has been set up alongside a series of labor camps where hundreds of thousands of low-income workers live in Qatar.
“Now we are here to enjoy the fruits of our efforts and sweat,” Ronald Senyondo, a 25-year-old Ugandan, said on Sunday.
Senyondo has lived in Qatar for two years and has worked long hours in the sun to finish building and equipping stadiums for the tournament.
“I’m overwhelmed with feelings about what I’m seeing now,” she said.
The wealthy gas-producing country has a population of 2.9 million, the vast majority of whom are foreign workers of various levels ranging from low-paid construction workers to top executives.
Rights groups accuse the authorities of failing to protect low-wage workers, including those who have built stadiums and hotels to house World Cup fans, from overwork, unpaid wages and poor living conditions.
The government says it has implemented labor reforms that include a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals, or about $275, more than many people can earn at home.
Tickets to the opening game averaged $200, but the Industrial Fan Zone was free.
Thousands turned out to cheer on Qatar on Sunday and expressed their grief after the opening match ended in a 2-0 victory for Ecuador.
Some told Reuters this is their way of getting a close look at a match during the World Cup.
“I help my brothers and sisters in Ethiopia by transferring money, so I came here because buying tickets is very expensive,” said Ali Jamal, 26, who has been working in Qatar for five years.
A nurse from Nepal, one of the few women who attended the match, said she would no longer be able to watch the matches due to long hospital shifts.
Mohammed Ansar, a 28-year-old Indian who has been working in Qatar since earlier this year, said he has volunteered with FIFA for two of the upcoming matches, so he will watch them from the pitch.
On Sunday, though, he was grateful to be with his workmates watching the match on a screen, even if Qatar’s defeat was disappointing.
“Having this free stadium means they think about the poor too,” he said.
