Why Qatar's Tarnished 2022 World Cup Is a Safe Bet for Sponsors

Add sponsors to the list of those raising questions about Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They can go just behind bettors, human rights monitors, environmental engineers, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Over the weekend, FIFA global partners Sony and Adidas issued statements expressing their concern about the latest allegations of bribery in Qatar’s winning bid. Those were quickly followed by Coca-Cola, Visa, Hyundai, and Anheuser-Busch inBev. “As a FIFA partner, we expect these allegations to be investigated appropriately,” Sony spokesman George Boyd said in a statement that captures the general message. “We continue to expect FIFA to adhere to its principles of integrity, ethics, and fair play across all aspects of its operation.”