An undercover investigation on labour conditions in Qatar has, for the first time, prompted FIFA to admit violations of worker standards on World Cup projects. A Deutsche Welle report on the investigation says that “FIFA have promised to investigate the allegations made by WDR” and that the football governing body issued a press release in which in stated “We are aware of reports that the company TAWASOL – a sub-contractor in the construction of the Al Bayt Stadium – has violated the standards for workers”.

The company named in the report, TAWASOL, has since paid outstanding wages to 23 employees  according to the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

The investigation by the German broadcaster WDR found delayed wages to be a recurrent theme for the thousands of Nepalese migrant workers on projects in Qatar. It features interviews with migrant workers who allege a range of additional abuses including expired visas, poor accommodation and hazardous working conditions. Additionally, the Nepal embassy disclosed data to WDR showing that 1,426 Nepalese workers had died in Qatar between 2009 and 2019.