David Beckham sparks controversy for endorsing Qatar. Find out why

Footballing icon David Beckham experiences the sights, sounds, and culture of Qatar in the 30-minute Visit Qatar video, where he is shown sailing and touring a spice bazaar.

Renowned former England football star says in the video that Qatar is truly a great place to spend a few days. He found the place perfect and said that he couldn’t wait to bring his children to Qatar.

David Beckham's participation in the ad has drawn criticism as activists have raised issues with Qatar's record on human rights, such as its treatment of women and migrant workers and its ban on LBTQ+ relationships.


In light of the disputed FIFA World Cup hosting duties for the state, critics are charging David Beckham with making a 'naive' endorsement.

Some people have opted to boycott the World Cup as local authorities failed to guarantee the safety of LGBTQ+ spectators and athletes there. In Qatar, women must also obtain a male 'guardian's' consent before getting married or taking advantage of government-sponsored study abroad opportunities.

The decision by FIFA to name Qatar as the host nation for the 2022 World Cup has drawn criticism for the nation's track record on human rights.

In the lead-up to the event, critics charged Qatar's authorities with running a 'sports-washing' PR operation to draw attention away from non-football-related matters.

The phrase refers to a nation that uses a major sporting event to boost its image and deflect attention away from its human rights record.

According to a Guardian investigation, almost 6,500 migrant workers have perished in the nation while constructing tournament infrastructure.

The UNICEF ambassador David Beckham received harsh criticism on social media after the video was shared online.

Some drew attention to the fact that David Beckham had previously voiced criticism of Russia's and Qatar's success in their hosting bids. In a 2011 interview, Beckham claimed that there had to have been some kind of 'corruption' at FIFA, and it had left him 'feeling terrible.' Advocates for human rights have questioned Beckham's choice to be in the video.