Armour: For plenty of reasons, Qatar's World Cup will be worst ever

Nancy Armour | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA officials arrested on corruption charges USA TODAY Sports' Martin Rogers discusses the recent arrests of FIFA officials.

Congratulations, Qatar. The details of FIFA's slimy wheelings and dealings laid bare by federal and Swiss officials mean your World Cup is destined to go down as the worst ever.

As if it wasn't already.

Many thought the idea of playing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar had to be a joke. Searing heat that makes it impossible to play the World Cup during its traditional summer timeframe. Conservative mores that frown on alcohol – just a tad bit awkward considering one of the tournament's biggest sponsors is a beer maker. Billions spent on stadiums that aren't needed in a country with little soccer tradition.

Now we wish that were the case.

Most of the attention Wednesday was on the 47-count federal indictment alleging two generations of soccer officials sold everything in their game – from soccer fields for impoverished kids to the 2010 World Cup – to the highest bidder. But even more important is a Swiss investigation into allegations that Qatar bribed FIFA officials with cash and kickbacks in exchange for getting the World Cup instead of it going to the United States.

The Swiss are also looking into the vote for the 2018 World Cup, which went to Russia over England.

This isn't one of those sham inquiries FIFA has conducted over the years so Sepp Blatter can pompously claim he's on the side of the angels and Eliot Ness, mind you. This is a criminal investigation, with actual repercussions.

"The beautiful game was hijacked," FBI Director James Comey said at a news conference announcing the U.S. charges. "That field that is so famously flat was tilted … in favor of those seeking to profit."

And that's not even the worst part of it. Qatar's record on human rights is so abysmal it should be blacklisted until it joins the 21st Century.

Discrimination against women is endemic, relegating them to second-class status – if even that. Gays and lesbians aren't looked upon too highly, either, with homosexual activity still illegal.

Then there is Qatar's exploitation of migrant workers. You know, the folks building the shiny new palaces for the World Cup.

It's tantamount to modern-day slavery, with late or no payment of wages and employers confiscating passports to prevent workers from leaving. The actual working conditions are life-threatening, with the International Trade Union Confederation once estimating that some 4,000 workers will die before the World Cup.

Yet despite increased scrutiny of the World Cup host, a scathing report last week by Amnesty International found the Qatari government has implemented none of the reforms it promised a year ago. That's right. None.

Of nine issues that would help protect migrant workers, Amnesty said Qatar has made limited progress on five and no improvements on the remaining four.

Such behavior ought to make Qatar an international pariah. Instead, it "won" the right to host the world's biggest – and most lucrative – party.

Never mind how much the World Cups sold for, I want to know what the price was for FIFA's soul. If it ever had one.

FIFA shot down calls Wednesday for a re-vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, rejecting the idea quicker than the disgraced officials were escorted out of their five-star hotel. As if anyone should have been surprised. FIFA officials believe they are untouchable – the idea of answering to anyone is even more repugnant than flying coach.

That it is U.S. officials delivering the comeuppance will only make FIFA dig its heels in harder on 2022.

What could change the governing body's mind is – what else? – money. If adidas, Coca-Cola, Visa or any of FIFA's other sugar daddies closed their checkbooks, the soccer federation might be convinced to act. That may be unlikely, given that the sponsors who did say anything Wednesday said a whole lot of nothing.

So the World Cup will stay in Qatar. Not even FIFA can cover up what an awful turn of events that is.

VIDEO: WHAT'S NEXT FOR FIFA?