Hassan Al-Thawadi made the statement during an interview with Piers Morgan.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, Hassan Al-Thawadi, the secretary general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, made a harrowing remark.

Morgan asked: “What is the honest, realistic total do you think of migrant workers who died from -- as a result of work they're doing for the World Cup in totality?”

In response to the question, Al-Thawadi stated: “The estimate is around 400, between 400 and 500," Al-Thawadi responded. "I don't have the exact number. That's something that's been discussed.”

This isn’t believed to be an accurate number, however, as the released figures put the total number of deaths at 40. One report also lists a worker's death from COVID-19 and the pandemic.

A statement on behalf of a Qatari Supreme Committee spokesperson said: “The Secretary General told Piers Morgan's 'Uncensored' program that there were 3 work-related deaths and 37 non-work related deaths on the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy's projects.

“This is documented on an annual basis in the SC's public reporting and covers the 8 stadiums, 17 non-competition venues and other related sites under the SC's scope.

“Separate quotes regarding figures refer to national statistics covering the period of 2014-2020 for all work-related fatalities (414) nationwide in Qatar, covering all sectors and nationalities.”

Perhaps Al-Thawadi had these numbers in mind when he quoted them to Morgan but it was a shocking statement nonetheless.

Al-Thawadi continued: “One death is a death too many -- plain and simple.”

Equidem Research, a labor consultancy, has published reports on the toll of construction on migrant workers.

Executive Director of Equidem Research Mustafa Qadri told the Associated Press: “For him now to come and say there are hundreds, it's shocking.

“They have no idea what's going on.”