Journals / Anadolu Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1

LEVERAGING SPORTS FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OUTCOMES: THE CASE OF QATAR’S FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

KAMU DİPLOMASİSİ SONUÇLARI İÇİN SPORDAN YARARLANMA: KATAR'IN 2022 FIFA DÜNYA KUPASI ÖRNEĞİ

Pages
33–49
Publication Date
2023-03-19
DOI
—
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Media and broadcasting, ambassadorship, Sponsorship, the French club of Paris Saint-Germain, infrastructures and technology, and naturalizing talent were key instruments of Qatar’s Football and World Cup diplomacy.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In 2008, Qatar launched its “Qatar National Vision 2030” which aimed to transform the country into a sustainable and thriving knowledge-based economy.
📊
Key Findings & Data:With this in mind, Qatar focused on Sports and Football in particular, to produce soft power, and the FIFA World Cup 2022 was the key element of this strategy.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Media and broadcasting, ambassadorship, Sponsorship, the French club of Paris Saint-Germain, infrastructures and technology, and naturalizing talent were key instruments of Qatar’s Football and World Cup diplomacy.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2008 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Spor diplomasisi · Qatar · Yumuşak Güç

Abstract

In 2008, Qatar launched its “Qatar National Vision 2030” which aimed to transform the country into a sustainable and thriving knowledge-based economy. The Middle Eastern country aimed also to be attractive and to upgrade its global status. With this in mind, Qatar focused on Sports and Football in particular, to produce soft power, and the FIFA World Cup 2022 was the key element of this strategy. Therefore, this article analyzes Qatar’s sports diplomacy and in particular, the strategic reasons behind the host of the FIFA World Cup 2022. There is still a lack of academic studies pointing out the interesting framework of the use of sports and Football in particular, as a diplomatic tool, and the World Cup in Qatar is a case that deserves to be studied in depth. Using descriptive analysis, this article underlines the strategic objectives and tools behind Qatar’s sports diplomacy and the World Cup, by focusing on official statements, documents, speeches of Qatari leaders, and journalistic resources. The article argues that Qatar leveraged Football and the 2022 FIFA World Cup as public diplomacy tools to improve its global image. Media and broadcasting, ambassadorship, Sponsorship, the French club of Paris Saint-Germain, infrastructures and technology, and naturalizing talent were key instruments of Qatar’s Football and World Cup diplomacy.

Özet

2008 yılında Katar, ülkeyi sürdürülebilir ve gelişen bilgi tabanlı bir ekonomiye dönüştürmeyi amaçlayan "Katar Ulusal Vizyonu 2030 "u başlattı. Orta Doğu ülkesi aynı zamanda çekici olmayı ve küresel statüsünü yükseltmeyi de hedeflemiştir. Bu amaçla Katar, yumuşak güç üretmek için spora ve özellikle de futbola odaklanmış ve 2022 FIFA Dünya Kupası bu stratejinin kilit unsuru olmuştur. Bu nedenle, bu makale Katar'ın spor diplomasisini ve özellikle de 2022 FIFA Dünya Kupası'na ev sahipliği yapmasının ardındaki stratejik nedenleri analiz etmektedir. Sporun ve özellikle de futbolun diplomatik bir araç olarak kullanılmasının ilginç çerçevesine işaret eden akademik çalışmaların eksikliği devam etmektedir ve Katar'daki Dünya Kupası derinlemesine incelenmeyi hak eden bir vakadır. Betimsel analiz kullanan bu makale, resmi açıklamalara, belgelere, Katarlı liderlerin konuşmalarına ve gazetecilik kaynaklarına odaklanarak Katar'ın spor diplomasisinin ve Dünya Kupası'nın arkasındaki stratejik hedeflerin ve araçların altını çizmektedir. Makale, Katar'ın küresel imajını iyileştirmek için futbolu ve 2022 FIFA Dünya Kupası'nı kamu diplomasisi araçları olarak kullandığını savunmaktadır. Medya ve yayıncılık, büyükelçilik, sponsorluk, Fransız kulübü Paris Saint-Germain, altyapı ve teknoloji ve yeteneklerin vatandaşlığa alınması Katar'ın futbol ve Dünya Kupası diplomasisinin kilit araçlarıdır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Lo, A. A. (2023). LEVERAGING SPORTS FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OUTCOMES: THE CASE OF QATAR’S FIFA WORLD CUP 2022. Anadolu Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1, 33–49. https://ajindex.com/articles/1338123

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (52)

  1. Almaskati, B. E. M. A. M. (2014). Qatar’s Nation Branding Strategies: The Effectiveness of Soft Power. https://www.academia.edu/8332873/Qatars_Nation_Branding_Strategies_The_Effectiveness_of_Soft_Power
  2. Burton, J. (2022). Team Qatar Wanted Immigrant Players—Not Citizens. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/16/team-qatar-wanted-immigrant-players-not-citizens/
  3. Cassini, S., & Martel, C. (2022, May 30). Pour BeIN Sports, « la Coupe du monde, c’est juste le début de nos ambitions ». Le Monde.fr. https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2022/05/30/pour-bein-sports-la-coupe-du-monde-c-est-juste-le-debut-de-nos-ambitions_6128189_3234.html
  4. Castells, M. (2008). The New Public Sphere: Global Civil Society, Communication Networks, and Global Governance. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 616, 78–93.
  5. CEP. (2022). Qatar: Extremism and Terrorism. Counter Extremism Project. https://www.counterextremism.com/countries/qatar-extremism-and-terrorism
  6. Chacko, R. (2022, November 22). Qatar 2022 World Cup: Hi-tech innovation takes centre stage. Https://Www.Newarab.Com/; The New Arab. https://www.newarab.com/features/qatar-2022-world-cup-hi-tech-innovation-takes-centre-stage
  7. Chahine, J. (2010). PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK. McGill University.
  8. Crafton, A. (2022). Cantona: Ex-players promoting Qatar making “big mistake.” The Athletic. https://theathletic.com/3626573/2022/09/26/cantona-world-cup-qatar-beckham/
  9. Craig, M. (2022). The Money Behind The Most Expensive World Cup In History: Qatar 2022 By The Numbers. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2022/11/19/the-money-behind-the-most-expensive-world-cup-in-history-qatar-2022-by-the-numbers/
  10. de-San-Eugenio, J., Ginesta, X., & Xifra, J. (2017). Peace, sports diplomacy and corporate social responsibility: A case study of Football Club Barcelona Peace Tour 2013. Soccer & Society, 18(7), 836–848. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2015.1067796
  11. Dorsey, D. J. M. (2022, October 26). The Qatar World Cup: Footballing for soft power. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/10/26/the-qatar-world-cup-footballing-for-soft-power/
  12. Elias, T. (2021). Qatar’s Sports Diplomacy as a Driver for International Visibility, Prestige, and Branding. States and Societies in the Gulf.
  13. Eltayeb, M. (2022, November 8). Barcelona legend Xavi says Qatar World Cup will be “historic” for football. Doha News | Qatar. https://dohanews.co/barcelona-legend-xavi-says-qatar-world-cup-will-be-historic-for-football/
  14. ESSEC Sports. (n.d.). ESSEC Sports Chair - Sport as a nation-branding tool: The case study of Qatar. ESSEC Sports Chair. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://sports-chair.essec.edu/resources/research-reports/sport-as-a-nation-branding-tool-the-case-study-of-qatar
  15. France 24. (2019, May 27). Azerbaijan’s sporting glitz conceals grim reality. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/20190527-azerbaijans-sporting-glitz-conceals-grim-reality
  16. Ganji, S. K. (2022). How Qatar Became a World Leader in Sportswashing. Journal of Democracy. https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/how-qatar-became-a-world-leader-in-sportswashing/
  17. GCO. (n.d.). Sport in Qatar. Government Communications Office. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://www.gco.gov.qa/en/focus/sport/
  18. Gilani, I. (2021). ANALYSIS - Checkered history of cricket diplomacy [AA]. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis-checkered-history-of-cricket-diplomacy/2372581
  19. Goldman, T., & Lewis, R. (2022, December 19). The moments that captured our attention at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/12/19/1143835164/2022-world-cup-qatar
  20. Hutchins, B., & Rowe, D. (Eds.). (2013). Digital Media Sport: Technology, Power and Culture in the Network Society. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203382851
  21. Jewell, C. (2022). Sports diplomacy, nation branding and IP go hand in hand in Qatar. https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine_digital/en/2022/article_0003.html
  22. King, M. (2022). FIFA World Cup: How Qatar built its national football team. Pulse Uganda. https://www.pulse.ug/sports/football/fifa-world-cup-how-qatar-built-its-national-football-team/38lp9tj
  23. Kissinger, H. (2012). On China (Reprint edition). Penguin Books.
  24. Lebreton, J.-G., & Jamin, V. (2022). Coupe du monde 2022: Zidane appelle à “laisser la polémique de côté.” RMC SPORT. https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/coupe-du-monde/coupe-du-monde-2022-zidane-appelle-a-laisser-la-polemique-de-cote_AV-202210240717.html
  25. Lô, A. A. (2021, October 26). Makale | Spor Diplomasisi ve Diplomatik Sonuçlar: Ruanda Örneği. AKEM. https://www.akem.org.tr/post/makale-spor-diplomasisi-ve-diplomatik-sonuçlar-ruanda-örneği
  26. Melissen, J. (2005). The New Public Diplomacy Soft Power in International Relations. Macmillan; St. Martin’s Press.
  27. MFA. (n.d.). Sports Diplomacy. Qatar-Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.mofa.gov.qa/en/foreign-policy/international-cooperation/sports-diplomacy
  28. Mohamed, H. (2022). FIFA president slams Western ‘hypocrisy’ over Qatar criticism. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/19/fifa-president-slams-the-west-of-hypocrisy-over-qatar-criticism
  29. Mukhopadhyay, S. (2022, December 27). Qatar 2022 voted best FIFA World Cup of 21st century. Mint. https://www.livemint.com/sports/football-news/qatar-2022-voted-best-fifa-world-cup-of-21st-century-11672121733687.html
  30. Muralidharan, A. (2022). A World Cup of Innovation—All the technological revolutions at Qatar 2022 | Goal.com. GOAL. https://www.goal.com/en/lists/world-cup-of-innovation-technological-revolutions-qatar-2022/blt06e6383e481a9d9c
  31. Murray, S. (2012). The Two Halves of Sports-Diplomacy. Diplomacy & Statecraft, 23(3), 576–592. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592296.2012.706544
  32. Newmedia, R. T. L. (2022, September 1). “Un endroit incroyable”: David Beckham crée la polémique en faisant de la pub pour le Qatar (vidéo). RTL sport. https://www.rtl.be/sport/football/football-etranger/-un-endroit-incroyable-david-beckham-cree-la-polemique-en-faisant-de-la-pub-pour-le-qatar-video--1399409.aspx
  33. Noble, J., & Kerr, S. (2022, December 2). ‘It’s absolutely fantastic’: Visiting World Cup fans shrug off Qatar negativity. Financial Times.
  34. Nye, J. S. (1990). Soft Power. Foreign Policy, 80, 153–171. https://doi.org/10.2307/1148580
  35. Nye, J. S. (2004). Soft power: The means to success in world politics (1st ed). Public Affairs.
  36. Nye, J. S. (2008). Public Diplomacy and Soft Power. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 616, 94–109.
  37. Nygård, H. M., & Gates, S. (2013). Soft power at home and abroad: Sport diplomacy, politics and peace-building. International Area Studies Review, 16(3), 235–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/2233865913502971
  38. Özsari, A. (2018). Sport Diplomacy As Public Diplomacy Element. International Journal of Science Culture and Sport, 6(28), 339–349. https://doi.org/10.14486/IntJSCS765
  39. Pattisson, P., McIntyre, N., & Mukhtar, I. (2021, February 23). Revealed: 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since World Cup awarded. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/23/revealed-migrant-worker-deaths-qatar-fifa-world-cup-2022
  40. Pedro, A. (2022, November 20). World Cup 2022: Qatar puts its faith in homegrown talent. Le Monde.Fr. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/football/article/2022/11/20/world-cup-2022-qatar-puts-its-faith-in-homegrown-talent_6004978_130.html
  41. Qatar National Vision 2030. (2008). Government Communications Office. https://www.gco.gov.qa/en/about-qatar/national-vision2030/
  42. Reuters. (2020, August 30). Qatar raises minimum wage, lifts curbs on changing jobs. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qatar-labour-reform-idUSKBN25Q0H7
  43. SCDL. (2022a). Ambassadors—Global Ambassadors | Qatar 2022TM. Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. https://www.qatar2022.qa/en/legacy-ambassadors/global
  44. SCDL. (2022b). Spectacular opening ceremony signals the start of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM | Qatar 2022TM. Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. https://www.qatar2022.qa/en/news/spectacular-opening-ceremony-signals-the-start-of-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022
  45. Søyland, H. S., & Moriconi, M. (2022). Qatar’s multi-actors sports strategy: Diplomacy, critics and legitimisation. International Area Studies Review, 25(4), 354–374. https://doi.org/10.1177/22338659221120065
  46. TES Diplomacy. (2022). Sports Diplomacy: A literature review of scholarly and policy sources. Co-Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of The European Union. The Olympic Boycott, 1980. (2008, May 8). Department Of State.; Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/qfp/104481.htm
  47. TRT World. (2021). A brief history of Olympic boycotts. TRT World. https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/a-brief-history-of-olympic-boycotts-52406
  48. Trunkos, J., & Heere, B. (2017). Sport Diplomacy: A Review of How Sports Can be Used to Improve International Relations (pp. 1–17).
  49. Vuving, A. (2009). How Soft Power Works. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1466220
  50. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) (Ed.). (2004). Tourism Market Trends 2003—Africa—Tendances des marchés touristiques 2003—Afrique (Version française). World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284406456
  51. Zawya, 2022. (n.d.). BeIN sports announces record-breaking cumulative viewership of 5.4bln for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Zawya. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/bein-sports-announces-record-breaking-cumulative-viewership-of-54bln-for-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-ou8ru1m3
  52. Melissen, J. (2005). The New Public Diplomacy Soft Power in International Relations. Macmillan; St. Martin’s Press.