Thousands of migrant workers gathered at a football stadium on the outskirts of Doha, the capital of Qatar. Some took selfies in the stands, while others sat on the green grass to watch the opening match of the first World Cup football match in the Middle East.

(Reuters)

(Central News Agency) Thousands of migrant workers gathered at a football stadium on the outskirts of Qatar's capital Doha. Some took selfies in the stands and others sat on the green grass to enjoy the first World Cup football match in the Middle East Opening game.

Thousands of migrant workers gathered at a football stadium on the outskirts of Doha, the capital of Qatar. Some took selfies in the stands, while others sat on the green grass to watch the opening match of the first World Cup football match in the Middle East.

(Reuters)

Reuters reported that in the special fan zone in the industrial area on the outskirts of Doha, there is a stadium with huge TV screens, and there are also super-large screens outside the stadium.

The precinct is adjacent to several worker camps, where many of Qatar's hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers live.

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"We are here now, enjoying the fruits of our sweat," said a 25-year-old migrant worker from Uganda who supported the Qatari team.

He has been in Qatar for 2 years, working long hours every day under the scorching sun to complete the stadium where the games will be held.

Qatar, a wealthy gas producer, has a population of 2.9 million, mostly foreign workers, ranging from low-paid construction workers to top managers.

Rights groups have criticized authorities for failing to adequately protect low-income workers, including those building stadiums and restaurants to host World Cup fans, from overwork, unpaid wages and poor living conditions.

The government says it has implemented a labor reform plan, including a monthly minimum wage of 1,000 Canadian riyals (about NT$8,500), which has exceeded the income of many migrant workers at home.

Tickets for the opening game cost an average of $200, but the fan zone in the industrial area is completely free.

Thousands of people flooded the precinct during the game to cheer on the hosts Qatar, and they couldn't help sighing when Ecuador won 2-0.

Some migrant workers told Reuters it was the closest they had been to watching a game all month.

A 26-year-old Ethiopian migrant worker who has worked in Qatar for five years said, "I will send money home to help my brothers and sisters. I come here to watch the football because the tickets are too expensive."

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