Australian team condemns 'suffering' behind Qatar World Cup

Captains from a number of leading European football nations will wear armbands with the message 'One Love' in an anti-discrimination campaign during the World Cup

Australia have become the first World Cup participant to collectively criticise host Qatar over its human rights record

Australia's football team on Thursday condemned human rights abuses in Qatar ahead of the World Cup, becoming the first participant to collectively criticise the host.

Sixteen members of the men's team -- the Socceroos -- appeared in a short video explaining their position.

The World Cup -- beginning on November 20 -- has been marred by controversy since Qatar was awarded the tournament 12 years ago.

"Over the last two years, we have been on a journey to understand and know more about the situation in Qatar," said Socceroos captain Maty Ryan, a former Arsenal goalkeeper.

Governing body Football Australia also released a statement critical of Qatar's human rights record. 

"However, we have also learned that the tournament has been associated with suffering for some migrant workers and their families and this cannot be ignored."

"As the most multicultural, diverse, and inclusive sport in our country, we believe everyone should be able to feel safe and be their true authentic selves," Football Australia said.

- 'Courage from athletes' -

"They are essentially carrying the load of FIFA and other federations around the world -- to be upholding their own human rights policies," Foster said.

Australian athletes have in recent weeks been increasingly willing to mix politics and sport -- an often-volatile combination.

And the Australian netball team objected to wearing jerseys sponsored by a mining company whose late founder once suggested sterilising some Indigenous populations.

A huge influx of migrant workers has underpinned Qatar's dash to prepare the infrastructure needed for one of the world's biggest sporting events.

More than one million fans are expected to descend on Qatar when the tournament kicks off. 

The International Labour Organization said 50 World Cup workers died in 2020, and hundreds more were injured. 

Its ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, this week hit out at the "fabrications and double standards" in what he described as an "unprecedented campaign" of criticism since the country was awarded the World Cup.

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