Beyond the Game: Exploring the Economic, Social, and Sporting Impact of the FIFA World Cup – Qatar 2022

Abstract

This dissertation critically examines the economic, social, and sporting legacies of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, exploring how the tournament functioned as a catalyst for national development and global image transformation. Adopting an interpretivist epistemological stance, the study employs qualitative document analysis to interpret institutional and external narratives surrounding the event’s legacy. The analysis draws on documents from FIFA, Qatari governmental and sporting bodies, and international observers to identify how the World Cup was framed as part of Qatar’s broader nation-building and soft power agenda. Findings reveal that the tournament played a central role in advancing Qatar’s economic diversification objectives, enhancing social infrastructure, and strengthening local sporting ecosystems. Simultaneously, it contributed to repositioning Qatar as a regional and global sports hub, reinforcing its geopolitical influence through sport diplomacy. The study concludes that the 2022 World Cup went beyond the realm of sport to become a vehicle for strategic national transformation, offering critical insights into the intersection of mega-event legacies, policy, and international development.