Qatar, global sport and the 2022 FIFA World Cup

In 2010 the Fèdèration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) astounded the world when it bestowed upon the small Persian Gulf State of Qatar the opportunity to host the 2022 World Cup finals. This decision added to Qatar’s desire to become a global centre for sport excellence. In what follows, we offer an introductory analysis of the state’s engagement with global sports. The need for such an extract is indispensable, as, to date, there is a dearth of academic research on sport in Qatar; hence, this chapter aims to contribute substantially towards filling that gap.