OPINION: Whoever thought it might be a good idea to stage one of the world's biggest sporting events in such a politically incorrect nation must now be regretting that rush of blood to their head.
Turns out the Football World Cup may prove just the vehicle for delivering a message to Qatar - and FIFA - that its prehistoric attitudes to women, gays and foreign workers have no place in the modern world.
While the onfield action has delivered more than its share of upsets, the events around the periphery have proved just as entertaining and thought-provoking.
Here are some of the big winners and losers of the opening round of games...
WINNERS
Japanese fans
Japan is such a polite nation. Even when they're not at home, the Japanese are looking after those around them.
In a nation where so much is wrong, there's so much right about the visitors classing up the joint by tidying up after themselves - and everyone else - by picking up litter at Al Bayt Stadium.
The most amazing part of this story - this wasn't even a Japan match, it was the tournament opener between Qatar and Ecuador.
They really deserve to have success at this event, so here, have a victory over superpowers Germany with our undying respect.
England
Amid all the talk about a 56-year World Cup drought and football finally coming home, the Three Lions got their campaign off to the best possible start with a 6-2 win over Iran.
OK, so Iran are among the least-fancied teams to win the tournament, despite a respectable world ranking of 20th, so don't get too excited.
On the other hand, you know somehow, somewhere, English hopes will be dashed over the next couple of weeks, so enjoy this moment while you can. They still have USA and Wales in their group... and you know the Welsh would love nothing better.
All Whites
Maybe it's too soon to joke about this, but Spain's 7-0 win over Costa Rica... that could have been us!
Badge Direct BV
Call it karma, but when FIFA banned the 'OneLove' armband from its captains, it could not have known the international demand that would trigger for this symbol of inclusion and diversity.
The bands were originally launched by the Royal Dutch Football Association, but uptake had only been lukewarm, until the world body threatened yellow cards for any captain wearing them on the field.
Now, everyone wants one... and they've sold out.
Take that, FIFA.
LOSERS
England, Wales, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany & Denmark captains
No-one likes a bully, and every now and then, you just have to stand up and take whatever is being dished out to prove a point.
When FIFA threatened these skippers with yellow cards, if they dared wear the 'OneLove' armbands onfield, the scene was set for perhaps the most powerful diversity and inclusion protest of the tournament.
Imagine the theatre of a referee physically reaching into their pocket to impose the penalty... but pulling out a rainbow card instead, as their own show of support for the captains.
Alas, the bully was allowed to win the day.
Gianni Infantino
If you want to identify the exact moment the FIFA boss might have realised he had bitten off more than he could chew, look no further than the evening he spent chatting with German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who openly flouted the armband edict by wearing one herself.
Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall to eavesdrop on that conversation?
Unless Infanctino is actually more clever than we give him credit and locating the tournament in the Middle East was part of a masterplan to expose some of the archaic local customs on an international stage...
Nah, I'm not buying that either.
Qatar
Both the team and the country.
On the field, the national side proved money can't buy you everything, including a decent football team, with a toothless 2-0 loss to Ecuador.
Pre-kickoff rumours had the locals offering substantial bribes to the South Americans to throw the game, but even that didn't work.
Off the field, the nation and its human rights record are taking a pasting.
Usually, once a major sporting event begins, most of the conspiracy theories over politics, social issues and budget overruns tend to die out, as the game becomes the focus. That certainly hasn't been the case this time.
Argentina
And then we come to the biggest onfield losers...
Argentina arrived in Qatar with a 36-game unbeaten streak and among the red-hot favourites to win their third World Cup crown. Talisman Lionel Messi desperately needed success to seal his GOAT claims.
All that came crashing to earth, when Saudi Arabia proved money can buy you most things - see what we did there - including one of the tournament's biggest-ever upsets.
Argentina can still get out of group play - remaining rivals Poland and Mexico battled out a goalless draw to leave the door ajar - but their favouritism has gone out the window.
Germany
On the other hand, Germany's shock loss to Japan may have left them in a hole they can't escape from.
Remember, this is the same pool New Zealand would have landed in, if we had snuck past Costa Rica in the intercontinental playoff.
The Germans have won this crown four times - three as West Germany - but suffered an infamous defeat to North Macedonia on their way to this tournament - their first World Cup qualifying loss in 20 years.
The signs were there and maybe we all just assumed that result was a mirage.
Now they probably need to overcome 2010 winners Spain, who thumped Costa Rica 7-0, so hold a healthy goal-difference advantage over the rest of the group.
Grant Chapman is the Newshub digital sports lead
