The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

This book offers in-depth analysis of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, this was a unique sporting mega-event, and the book explores its wider significance across political, socio-cultural, economic, organisational and historical dimensions.

Nikolay Kozhanov is a Research Associate Professor at the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University, Qatar. His research interests are focused on the geopolitics of the Gulf hydrocarbons, Russian foreign policy in the Middle East and Iran's economy and international relations. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport, Social Sciences and Management in the Physical Education and Sport Science Department, College of Education at Qatar University, Qatar. Dr Amara's work focuses on sport, business, culture, politics and society in the MENA region, and sport, cultural diversity and Muslim communities in the West. Mahjoob Zweiri is a Professor in Contemporary Politics and History of the Middle East, with a focus on Iran and Gulf region, and the former Director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University. Professor Zweiri has more than 90 publications in the areas of Iran and Contemporary Middle East History and Politics, Gulf Studies and Social Sciences.

Introduction MAHFOUD AMARA, NIKOLAY KOZHANOV AND MAHJOOB ZWEIRI 1 Revisiting the History of Qatar's Decision to Bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup KRISTIAN COATES ULRICHSEN 2 A Geopolitical Economy of the FIFA World Cup: Observations from Qatar's Hosting of FIFA's Showcase Tournament SIMON CHADWICK 3 Qatari Lessons for Activists Gearing Up for a 2034 Saudi World Cup JAMES M. DORSEY 4 The Impact of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Iran: A Clean Sheet for Scoring Political Points GHONCHEH TAZMINI 5 The 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Post-Colonial Narrative Examined 81 SARAH AL NAIMI AND THOMAS BONNIE JAMES 6 Qatar's Sports Diplomacy of the 2022 World Cup and Ontological Security of Qatar Foreign Policy HAZAL MUSLU EL BERNI 7 Building a Lasting Legacy: Beyond Qatar 2022 SIMONA AZZALI 8 Infrastructural, Socio-cultural and Economic Issues Dealing with Disabled Spectators: Lessons from the FIFA World Cup 2018 and Qatar Experience VADIM KAPUSTKIN 9 Framing of the FIFA World Cup 2022: An Examination of Message Appeal in the English Language Press in the UAE MAGDALENA KAROLAK 10 Nation Branding Through Sport MegäEvents: The Case of Qatar's World Cup KAMILLA SWART, OTHMAN ALTHAWADI, YARA ZEYAD ALI AND BRENDON KNOTT 11 The World Cup and Human Rights in Qatar: A Catalyst for Change? YOUCEF BOUANDEL AND THOMAS BONNIE JAMES 12 FIFA World Cup as a Catalyst for Qatar to Achieve its Goals on Sustainability and Sports Diplomacy MELTEM ÖZEL 13 Sport Diplomacy and Soft Power through Qatar's FIFA World Cup 2022: A Case of Generation Amazing DAVIES BANDA, KRISTIAN COATES ULRICHSEN, NASSER AL KHORI AND JONATHAN MISEROY