Johnson says England has ‘tough’ World Cup group after invitation to Qatar

Boris Johnson stated England has a “powerful group” after he was invited to attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, used a bilateral dialogue with the Prime Minister to ask the British chief to journey to observe the winter international soccer competitors within the Center East.

England has been drawn in the identical group as Iran, the US and the winner of the play-offs between Wales and both Scotland or Ukraine.

The World Cup, which was shifted to November and December because of Qatar experiencing sizzling climate throughout the summer time months when the Fifa competitors is historically held, has been dogged by human rights controversies in relation to migrant employee abuses throughout the building of stadiums within the nation.

Talking in Downing Road, the Qatari chief stated it’s a “particular yr” for his nation as host nation.

He stated: “I invite the Prime Minister to come back and see the World Cup.

“England have a really robust younger group.”

The Prime Minister replied: “Sure. Properly, we’ve acquired a troublesome group.”

The Qatari chief stated: “A really attention-grabbing group. And likewise, on prime, we would have Scotland and Wales as properly.”

The invitation got here on the day England supervisor Gareth Southgate named his penultimate squad earlier than the World Cup as his aspect gears as much as play 4 Nations League matches.

In his opening speech welcoming the Emir to London, Mr Johnson stated the 2 leaders will probably be working collectively on safety, local weather change and “tackling the financial issues of the world” as he praised Qatar’s efforts throughout the Western evacuation from Afghanistan.

Felix Jakens, Amnesty Worldwide UK’s head of precedence campaigns, stated: “Aside from watching the soccer we’d wish to see the Prime Minister utilizing his time on the World Cup to boost the necessity for Qatar to make sure there’s a long-lasting human rights legacy from this event.

“1000’s of migrant employees have been exploited and plenty of have tragically died to make the World Cup doable, so everybody with affect – from Fifa, to the sponsors, the gamers and naturally political leaders – must be pushing for lasting labour reforms in Qatar.

“The World Cup is ready to generate 6 billion {dollars} (£4.8 billion) in income for Fifa, and we’ve known as on Fifa to put aside a minimum of 440 million {dollars} (£350 million) for a employees’ compensation fund for the a whole lot of 1000’s of migrant employees who’ve suffered human rights abuses in Qatar in these previous years.”

Downing Road stated no choice has been made on whether or not the Prime Minister will journey to Qatar for the World Cup.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman, requested if he is aware of if Mr Johnson plans to attend, stated: “I don’t for the time being.

“I don’t suppose we’ve set any plans that far forward on the subject of international journey. We must contemplate what else was taking place at that second.”

No 10 stated the 2 leaders agreed an “preliminary £10 billion funding into the UK over 5 years” throughout their talks.