Culture and the World Cup: The Case of Qatar

Abstract

The hosting of the World Cup is certainly a monumental achievement by the state of Qatar. Not only it brings the country to more international exposure, and helps it rip the potential economic benefits, but also it offers the world a window onto Qatar's identity, culture and heritage. Culture has been one of the pillars of Qatar positioning strategy and visibility in the international map. Qatar, since winning the bid to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup, has been at the receiving end of much criticism about its culture, tradition, laws, and even geography, which were depicted as non-compatible with western and football cultures. Hosting the FIFA 2022 world Cup in Qatar has expectedly raised a number of controversies. Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup will provide the country with the perfect opportunity to showcase its culture and heritage.