The men and women who built the venues for a World Cup that never was are finally getting their due. In a stirring ceremony at Canada House in London, British officials joined Canadian veterans and union leaders to honour the construction workers, cleaners, and caterers who made the 2022 tournament possible – only to be erased from the official narrative. The event, organised by the Commonwealth Workers’ Union, paid tribute to the 12,000 temporary staff who migrated from Commonwealth nations to work in the stadiums, hotels, and transport hubs of Qatar. Many returned home with debts, injuries, and no recognition. Now, Boris Johnson’s government has announced a special Commonwealth Service Medal for those who served, praising the “enduring spirit of co-operation and sacrifice” that defines the bloc. Sarah Jenkins reports on the tangled legacy of labour versus glory.
They came from Jamaica, India, Kenya, and the Philippines. From small towns in the North of England and the valleys of Wales. They were welders, electricians, and chambermaids. For two years, they worked 12-hour shifts in the desert heat to build the gleaming stadiums that hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup. But when the final whistle blew, they were forgotten. No official thank-you. No parade. No record of their names in the FIFA programme. This week, the UK government moved to correct that oversight, awarding a commemorative medal to all Commonwealth citizens who contributed to the tournament. The gesture, announced by the Foreign Office on Monday, was met with tears and applause from the assembled veterans.
“They called us the invisible army,” said Terence Brown, a 57-year-old from Bradford who worked as a site supervisor for a subcontracted firm. “We built the air-conditioned stadiums, we cleaned the toilets, we served the champagne. And when it was over, they flew in the players and the politicians for the photos. But we were sent home with nothing except a sore back and a pay packet that was often weeks late.” Brown is one of more than 3,000 Commonwealth workers who have been recognised under the new scheme. The medal, designed by the Royal Mint, features the crossed hammers of labour and the laurel wreath of sporting victory. It is a small token, but for many it represents a long-overdue acknowledgment of their contribution.
The ceremony at Canada House was a study in contrasts. Outside, the rain lashed against the windows of Trafalgar Square. Inside, the room was filled with the scent of fresh flowers and the low hum of conversation. Union leaders spoke of the “dignity of work” and the “solidarity of the Commonwealth”. Former athletes sent video messages of thanks. And for one brief moment, the forgotten workers were the stars of the show. “We are not looking for money,” said Maria Santos, a cleaner from the Philippines who worked in the stadiums for 18 months. “We just want our children to know that their parents were part of something big. That we were heroes too.”
But the medal scheme has not been without controversy. Critics have pointed out that the UK government did not offer financial compensation for the exorbitant recruitment fees that many workers paid, nor for the injuries sustained on the job. “A medal is a nice gesture, but it does not pay the bills,” said Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress. “These workers were treated as disposable. The government should be funding a compensation scheme, not just handing out lapel pins.” The Foreign Office has dismissed calls for a financial package, arguing that the medal is a “symbolic recognition of the unique contribution of Commonwealth citizens to global events”.
Nevertheless, for many of the workers gathered in London, the medal is enough. “I don’t want money,” said Fatima Al-Mansouri, a 42-year-old cook from Ghana who worked in the media centre. “I want respect. I want my grandchildren to see this medal and know that their grandmother helped make the World Cup happen. That is worth more than any cheque.” As she spoke, she clutched a small velvet box containing the newly minted medal. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
The UK government has indicated that it will consider expanding the medal scheme to include workers from other major sporting events. But for now, the focus is on the men and women of the 2022 World Cup. As the ceremony drew to a close, the assembled workers sang the Commonwealth anthem, their voices rising in a chorus of gratitude and defiance. It was a moment of rare unity in a world riven by inequality. A moment when the forgotten were remembered. And for that, at least, the Commonwealth spirit proved itself alive and well.
