The Case of the Soccer World Cup 2022 in Qatar and Sustainability: Comparison of FIFA's Plan (Target) and Public Perception (Actual)

Abstract

No other mega sporting event has ever been as controversial as the 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar. This paper does not look at how the World Cup was awarded to Qatar and the role played by corruption and the power of money. Instead, this case study will take a closer look at the sustainability of the event. Was it possible to keep the promises made by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the state of Qatar in the run-up to the event? To what extent do FIFA's self-image and the public's perception of it match? In the analysis (target/actual comparison), the dialectical three-step method (with thesis, antithesis, and synthesis) is used.