The fans paid to be the cheerleaders of this World Cup will not be receiving their promised daily allowances.
The beer that was supposed to flow freely has been turned off at source. The rainbow armband protest was crushed by an iron fist and the threat of suspensions.
So one question remains. What would happen if, by 8pm local on November 29 - or maybe even 6pm four days earlier - there was no more Qatar at the Qatar World Cup?
What promises might be reneged upon then? What welcome mat might be hastily rolled up and put away?