Dua Lipa clears up rumours of World Cup performance in Qatar

Pop superstar Dua Lipa denied rumours that she will perform at the FIFA World Cup 2022 ceremony in Qatar. The 27-year-old Londoner made it clear she will not play in or visit the country until it improves it human rights records.

The 'Levitating' singer wrote on Instagram, "There is currently a lot speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar. I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform."

"I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the Wold Cup. One love, Dua x,' she continued.

Qatar's history and current state of human rights abuses are overshadowing the upcoming World Cup. The country was granted the games in 2010, with no human rights examinations or requirements. FIFA did not consider the risks for journalists, women, LGBT people and others in the country.

In 2017, FIFA adopted a Human Rights Policy, stating they would "take adequate measures for their protection, including by using its leverage with relevant authorities."

However, Qatar still needed millions of migrant workers to build and maintain the massive infrastructure required for the World Cup. FIFA did not impose conditions to protect workers, and thereby enabled their abuse including illegal recruitment fees, wage theft, injuries and deaths, according to Human Rights Watch.

The pressure is on Qatar and FIFA to remedy the abuses caused by their hosting of the World Cup.