It’s a spectacle that comes every four years, and in this country, though the sport remains on the fringes of an enthusiastic American following, it still is a big event and big-time money for bars and restaurants who swerve into the World Cup fervor.

As a kid, I spent many summers in Mexico and my love for the beautiful game stems from those summers in Aguascalientes and Mexico City. For me, before Fernando and the Dodgers, was Pele and the Cosmos. Before my beloved Oklahoma Sooners was Giorgio Chinaglia and Diego Maradona. I loved watching and playing the sport but upon moving to Bowling Green, Ohio, my opportunities drifted away. Hockey and football were king. Still, now in Hermosa Beach, soccer is a really big deal. And like many others, I’ve looked forward to these games. That’s why the choice of Qatar is so disappointing.

Let’s get the easiest complaint out of the way, first. The joy of the World Cup is meant to be enjoyed at the height of summer, when this tournament is always played. However, since it’s in Qatar, where the average temperature is 5000 degrees Kelvin, the games have been moved to November. Yuk. How did we get here?

The powers that be, in Qatar, allegedly bribed three FIFA officials to sway their votes and vote for Qatar instead of the United States to host these games. Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA, was accused of accepting bribes but was cleared by a Swiss tribunal (oh the Swiss) of the charges and now rests his head on a pillow made from a billion dollars. So, well, the Cup is in Qatar, no changing that now.

There was nearly no infrastructure for the games to be held in this tiny country. Rapid building needed to occur and that, right quick. Migrants from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka flooded to Qatar for the ‘opportunities’ afforded from the work of building multiple structures. The dream became a nightmare. Allegedly, officials confiscated migrant’s passports and, allegedly, condemned the migrants to what essentially was slave labor. It is estimated that 6500 migrants died in the making of the stadiums where these games will be held. I can’t imagine the conditions hundreds of thousands to millions endured to make these games happen.

Qatar is also not exactly cutting edge when it comes to human rights and the inclusion of diverse lifestyles and cultures. FIFA Ambassador from Qatar, Khalid Salman is on record stating, “… that being gay was ‘Haram’, meaning forbidden according to Islamic Law.” “It is damage in the mind,” Salman said. Damage in the mind? That’s some pretty forward thinking. Homosexuality is a crime, in Qatar, that can result in prison (up to seven years) and detainees are said to have been ordered to attend ‘conversion therapy sessions’ at government centers as a requirement for their release. Straight Camp? They send homosexuals to straight camp?

It’s not so great for women, either. Women in Qatar must obtain permission from their male ‘Guardians’ to marry, study abroad, receive government scholarships, work in many government jobs, travel abroad until certain ages, receive some forms of reproductive health care and to act as a child’s primary guardian, even when they are divorced. Hello Feudal system.

So, the Opening Ceremony, a spectacle meant to convey creativity and joy, was crafted with apparently no help from the homosexual community, pretty sure Jews didn’t hold much sway and women, at least, were arm’s length away. Imagine my surprise when the first musical number was a song booming through the stadium from the lungs of renowned NON-Homosexual, Ricky Martin. The MC was Morgan Freeman, who was nominated for an Academy Award for playing… Nelson Mandela, quite a champion of human rights. How much did they pay you, Morgan? To be fair, he looked like he had no idea where he was. I kept waiting to hear him say, “Andy Dufresne crawled through a river of shit…”

Some of this will come across as culture bashing and this, I don’t intend. I have respect for all cultures and just because the power structures of places such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia are provincial and, to be fair, seem to come from the Code of Hammurabi, does not mean the people of Qatar are not lovely. But there have already been accusations of bribery (Ecudaor is alleged to have been approached with bribes to throw the opening match against Qatar to the tune of 7 mil per player). Qatar broke a contract with Heineken and other distributors and have banned the sale of alcohol in and around the stadiums. The number of this loss is incalculable. All of these calamities should fall at the feet of FIFA.

I’m hoping great soccer will provide, not a distraction from all that is wrong, but will illuminate this sad affair. I also want to enjoy the final cups of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and Luka Modric. I want to see great soccer. And I hope we can shine light on the atrocities that need to be seen and foster indemnity on the beautiful mess.