BBC: More than a million fans from around the globe will be going to Qatar to watch the World Cup.
But the country has been criticised for its ban on same-sex relationships and its treatment of migrant workers.
For some LGBT football fans, there is a conflict - between the game they love and the life they wish to lead.
It's a dilemma one fan, who fled a neighbouring Middle Eastern country with similar attitudes, understands well.
That person, who asked to remain anonymous, told BBC Asian Network's Luke Wolstenholme what it was like to grow up LGBT in a country where "everyone is scared to talk about it".
'I was trying to change myself'
Living your whole life in fear isn't an experience you would wish on your worst enemy. Fear, consistent lying, pretending - this is the highlight of my life there.
I wasn't happy for long time, to be honest. At that time I was thinking there is something wrong with me for being gay and I didn't accept it.
I was trying to change myself - we are raised like that.
Everything around us says being gay is wrong and God will punish us for being gay. My home country is a religious country and Islam is the religion.
It took me a long time to accept myself. » | BBC | Friday, November 18, 2022
