World Cup sponsors Coca-Cola and Visa have expressed their concern over conditions facing the migrant workers building the stadia and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter told Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in March that the Gulf nation must do more to improve guest workers’ lives. But human rights groups continue to express concern, particularly over living conditions for migrant workers.
Two sponsors, Coca-Cola and Visa, were the first to respond.
“The Coca-Cola Company does not condone human rights abuses anywhere in the world,” Coca-Cola’s statement read, according to Marketing Magazine. “We know FIFA is working with Qatari authorities to address specific labor and human rights issues. We expect FIFA to continue taking these matters seriously and to work toward further progress.”
Visa said “we continue to be troubled by the reports coming out of Qatar related to the World Cup and migrant worker conditions. We have expressed our grave concern to FIFA and urge them to take all necessary actions to work with the appropriate authorities and organizations to remedy this situation.”
Visa’s FIFA sponsorship runs until 2022.
