Top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken volition be the World Cup successful Qatar, a U.S. authoritative confirmed to POLITICO Monday.
Blinken, the U.S. caput of state, volition beryllium successful Al-Rayyan for the U.S. vs. Wales lucifer connected November 21, connected time 2 of the astir arguable World Cup successful decades. He is besides expected to clasp talks with Qatari leaders.
Qatar has faced blowback ever since it was awarded the tourney successful 2010. Bribery and corruption allegations dogged the bidding process, and the country’s quality rights grounds and its attraction of migrant workers person been slammed by activists, politicians and shot associations.
Blinken’s attendance is simply a awesome that, contempt the disapproval that has plagued the tournament, elder diplomatic figures person not been enactment disconnected attending. Qatar has emerged arsenic a cardinal strategical state for the West connected vigor security, arsenic Russia’s warfare connected Ukraine wreaks havoc connected Europe’s state supply.
On the aforesaid time arsenic the U.S. takes connected Wales, Blinken volition besides clasp talks with Qatari leaders arsenic portion of an ongoing strategical dialog with the Middle Eastern country, a erstwhile U.S. authoritative told POLITICO.
U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced Monday that helium besides would beryllium attending the tournament. He told the British parliament’s overseas affairs committee that fans traveling to Qatar should “respect the law” portion they’re successful the country, a remark that drew a crisp rebuke from an LGBTQ+ subordinate of the committee.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said it had nary question plans to announce.
U.S. President Joe Biden is not expected to be immoderate of the events, adjacent though the U.S. is — on with Canada and Mexico — hosting the adjacent men’s World Cup successful 2026.
The U.S. volition besides play England connected November 25, and look disconnected against Iran connected November 29, successful what is definite to beryllium a politically charged encounter.
English (US)