Iran is in early talks with Qatar to take on some of the hosting duties. Iran is already helping to feed Qatar amid a Saudi-led boycott , The Economist reported.

Questions still abound over how Qatar, with no football culture and a stifling climate, won the rights. Including Iran would invite even more scrutiny. But Qatar may have little choice. Though it promised to build 100,000 hotel rooms by 2022, it will struggle to reach 45,000.

Qatar may come up short on stadiums, too. It says eight will be ready by 2022, not the 12 it promised. Iran is unlikely to host matches, but the mere possibility has turned its ban on women in stadiums into a political football at home.

Qatar plans to commission cruise liners and even to use migrant labour camps to hold fans.