Leveraging sentiment analysis of Arabic Tweets for the 2022 FIFA World Cup insights, incorporating the gulf region

Abstract

Purpose: The study analyzes Arabic Tweets, with a focus on those originating from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, to examine public perceptions of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Methodology: Twitter's search API was utilized to gather a substantial dataset of 157,756 tweets collected from 1 October 2022, to 1 January 2022. After data cleaning, a refined dataset of 43,658 tweets, was categorized into positive, neutral, and negative sentiments based on sentiment scores. Findings: Arabic tweets, initially held a positive sentiment towards the World Cup, which increased during the tournament, accompanied by a decrease in negative sentiment. Research contribution: This study offers valuable insights into public sentiment regarding the 2022 FIFA World Cup among Arabic-speaking Twitter users, with a particular emphasis on those from the GCC region. Additionally, it lends support to FIFA's decision to host the event in the Arab World by highlighting the favorable public reception. Originality: This research's originality lies in its examination of the transformation in public sentiment within the Arabic-speaking community throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup. These insights hold the potential to inform future decisions related to the hosting of major sporting events, providing a unique perspective on the evolving dynamics of sentiment within this demographic.