When Qatar spent millions on a World Cup opening ceremony with Morgan Freeman, Jungkook from BTS

And hundreds of performers, it undoubtedly assumed the media would focus on football rather than human rights.

It probably didn't expect the BBC to ignore the event in favor of a broadcast criticizing migrant workers

Highlighting FIFA corruption, and discussing Qatar's ban on homosexuality. In the first two minutes!

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker said it's the most controversial World Cup ever, and a ball hasn't even been kicked.

The BBC declined to explain why it shifted coverage of the opening ceremony to an online-only stream

Which is normally a time for host countries to display soft power.

Viewers in other countries saw Jung Kook, one of the most famous singers in the world, perform his new song