Thousands of migrant workers have died since Qatar was awarded to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Read their stories.

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Since Qatar was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup, thousands of migrant workers have died. In search for answers, journalism platform Blankspot collected stories directly from their families. We then created Cards of Qatar – a catalogue of football cards that instead of facts about players tell the stories of the workers who never returned.

Read their stories and long form articles highlighting the reality of the situation for the migrant workers who built Qatar. Read more

THE CARDS


Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of

Nuruddin Echar Uddin

1984—2020
Years
of
Age
36
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of

Nuruddin Echar Uddin

1984—2020
On January 30, an air conditioning system exploded in the kitchen where Nuruddin worked. One month later, the family received his body from Qatar, where he had traveled four years earlier to work as a chef. His wife says that during the ten years she was married to Nuruddin, she almost never met him. - We got married over the phone when he worked in Dubai and we barely met a few days during our ten-year marriage, says Mosamamat Nazma Akter Beauty Chowdhury who is 26. Now she has to support the family alone. - My only wish now is for our two sons to be able to stay in school.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Tul Bahadur Gharti

1986—2020
Years
of
Age
34
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Tul Bahadur Gharti

1986—2020
Tul Bahadur Gharti from Nepal died on the night of May 28, 2020, at the age of 34. His death certificate issued by the Qatari authorities states that his death was due to "acute heart failure due to natural causes". "He never complained of any symptoms. I have a hard time believing that he would just die," Ms Bipana told Amnesty International. She wanted his body to be autopsied, but was told by his neighbors in Qatar that it would not be possible to determine the cause of death. "We had no children of our own and it feels as if they set my husband on fire and as if I am burning in oil".
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Hari Prasad Makhim

1962—2019
Years
of
Age
57
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Hari Prasad Makhim

1962—2019
Eleven years ago, the family decided that the father would travel to Qatar to work. - We did not have money to be able to send children to school or to buy food or to pay the rent, says the widow Bishnu Kumari Makhim. The job as a driver was intense. He drove workers to and from their homes and construction sites. One afternoon, the brakes of the bus suddenly stopped working and the collision was inevitable. - When I called him on the morning of the accident day, he said he was not feeling well. When I called a few hours later, he did not answer, the widow says.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Yam Bahadur Rana

1986—2020
Years
of
Age
34
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Yam Bahadur Rana

1986—2020
Yam Bahadur Rana from Nepal died in Qatar on February 22, 2020, at the age of 34. He was married and had two children: a daughter who was 11 and a son who was 13 years old. The death certificate states the cause as “acute heart failure due to natural causes”. Yam worked as a security guard at Hamad International Airport. His wife Bhumisara Rana tells Amnesty International that she believes his death has to do with the working conditions. – He had to sit out under the sun for long periods. I think he had a heart attack because he was dehydrated. He never said he was sick, she tells Amnesty.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of

Sujan Mia

1988—2020
Years
of
Age
32
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of

Sujan Mia

1988—2020
Sujan often told his family about the severe heat in Qatar. He also complained that he did not manage to get any good jobs.  “Sometimes he worked in a construction site in Doha and would get $219 monthly.  Sometime he would remain out of work”. Sujan did not have the time or the money to visit his home after going to Qatar. During his three year long period abroad, he did not come back home a single time. The family had plans for marrying him off soon after he returned home from Qatar. But he died abroad.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of

Shohag Madbar

1990—2020
Years
of
Age
30
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of

Shohag Madbar

1990—2020
On May 15, 2020, migrant Shohag Madbar died at his room at the age of 30. The death certificate from the Qatari government mentiones the cause of death as a “heart attack”. Due to the uncertain job situation and the irregular wage, Shohag lived with a constant tension. The family believes the pressure caused a “mental shock”. When asked, Shohag’s uncle Md Kamal Uddin said that the family had been struggling since his death. – Shohag’s father who is a farmer his mother and their two daughters lost all dreams when they sent their only young breadearner to Qatar.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com

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