The Gambian community in Qatar, including those with lawful status, are worried that they might be deported before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

According to a member of the community, the Qatari government wants to "clean their country" as they prepare to welcome the FIFA World Cup games between November 21 and December 18 this year.

"They already deported 20 Gambians and more will be deported before November," he said.

According to him, the 20 Gambians, most of them young people between 25-35 years old, were arrested in an apartment in Doha, detained, and deported to Banjul without a court hearing.

When asked if the Gambian embassy is aware, he responded: "Yes, they are. The ambassador is useless. They don't help Gambians here. It's one Mr. Abu Cham who's assisting us."

Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the FIFA World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed: "I have never seen a country so ready to host a World Cup as Qatar."

The Qatari sports officials said they want to use the World Cup to showcase their country to the world.