As many as 600 players from 32 teams are playing in the year’s Workers Cup. What is behind the success of the Qatari laborers’ football tournament?
For the fifth consecutive year, Qatar’s Workers Cup is attracting a huge turn up of both players and crowds to the games that are intended to give Qatar’s working class a fun time through the world’s most popular sport, football.
The Workers Cup is a seven-week long tournament is organized by Qatar’s Stars League and is sponsored by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, each year.
This year’s event is expecting a record in both number of teams and players, as well as in the size of the cheering crowds. Last year, 24 teams battled for the title, with the trophy going to Taleb Group, who were playing their first tournament. They will be returning to defend their 2016 title this year again.
The first game of the season will start at 6:45pm on Friday, February 17, at Qatar Sports Club, where Nakheel Landscapes will play against Bin Omran Trading & Contracting.
Attendance has been always been free, and remains free this year, so that the families and friends, and any football fan can just come down and enjoy the live atmosphere.
The teams are made up of players from several local and international construction companies operating in Qatar, some of which are working on 2022 World Cup projects.
The two-weeks of play, fun and sportsmanship will conclude on Friday, March 31, with the winners being crowned as this year’s champions.
