At the 2022 men's soccer World Cup in Qatar, human rights issues are casting a shadow over the tournament, with several of the participating teams seeking to highlight the problems in the host nation.

Inclusion and diversity are the main focus of their protests. Several European teams wanted to express their opposition to discrimination by having their captains wear armbands with a rainbow design featuring the words "One Love."

But organizers are opposed to the idea. Gianni Infantino, president of soccer's world governing body, FIFA, said: "Criticize FIFA, criticize me, if you want, because I'm responsible for everything. But let the people enjoy this World Cup."

The teams gave up on wearing the armbands on Monday after FIFA warned players not to wear them.

Denmark's shirts were designed as a protest against Qatar and its human rights record. The color black is intended to invoke a sense of mourning.

Criticism is mounting over the deaths of many migrant workers in Qatar who allegedly worked in excessively harsh conditions while helping build stadiums for the tournament.

On the pitch, England's players took the knee before their first match to protest against discrimination and inequality.

And Iran's players declined to sing their national anthem in an apparent show of support for protesters back home. Unrest is continuing in Iran following the death of a woman arrested over how she wore her hijab headscarf.