Want Backheel Breakfast in your inbox? Sign up for the email version here.
Qatar can’t build hotels fast enough, so fans might sleep outdoors at the 2022 World Cup
This is actually a great idea.


Qatar is a small country building cities from scratch, so they might not have hotels for everyone who floods the nation to see the 2022 World Cup. They’ve come up with a pretty cool solution: Bedouin-style tents.
“At the heart of this World Cup is a commitment to showcase the hospitality and friendship of the Middle East. As a result, we are actively researching the concept of supporters sleeping under the stars,” said a spokesperson for the Qatar 2022 organizing committee, according to Fox Sports.
While this almost certainly stems from simply not having adequate accommodations, it’s a pretty cool temporary solution. A lot of fans would probably voluntarily sign up to stay in Qatar in the tents, eliminating a potentially massive problem. However, this is just more fuel on the fire that is the push to move this event out of Qatar.
Goal of the day
Karim Benzema’s opener against Sevilla. (r/soccer)
In the news
Sam Allardyce on internationals: “Now we have got another goddamn two weeks for football associations to make money with stupid bloody friendlies.” (Guardian)
Raheem Sterling and Joe Hart got injured this weekend and are out of the stupid bloody friendlies. (BBC)
Manchester United have Wayne Rooney’s pep talk to thank for their win, apparently. (Mirror)
Here’s the USMNT squad. (ESPN FC)
Tim Howard is joining Colorado Rapids, and he sounds excited. (MLS)
He’s getting paid a lot, and his contract makes no sense for the Rapids.
Antonio Conte says he hasn’t signed with Chelsea yet and could coach in Serie A. (Football Italia)
Fun from the rumor mill: Real Madrid still want David De Gea. (AS)
You should be reading
Tom Mason on the spectacular career of Luca Toni. (These Football Times)
James Yorke on what’s gone wrong for everyone in England. (Stats Bomb)
Paolo Bandini on Gianluigi Buffon’s clean sheet record. (Guardian)
What happened this weekend
Juventus are still top of Serie A, thanks to their impressive derby win over Torino. (Black and White and Read All Over)
Real Madrid steamrolled Sevilla. (Managing Madrid)
And Barcelona dropped points, opening the tiniest of tiny windows in the title race. (Barca Blaugranes)
Dortmund kept the pressure on Bayern by winning this weekend. (Fear The Wall)
But the Bavarians edged out a narrow win over Cologne. (Bavarian Football Works)
It’s international break, so there’s no soccer of consequence until Thursday.











