The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 : Unveiling Insights Beyond the Pitch

This open access book presents a collection of case studies to analyse the FIFA World Cup 2022 held in Qatar, which revealed several complex aspects related to global football – its organization, its community, its related power dynamics, and its socio-economic implications. Behind this mega event lay unspoken narratives about the difficulties of hosting this global tournament in Qatar. This book takes the reader on a journey along the numerous strands connected to this multifaceted event. The case studies excavate both the best practices and the challenges that public policymakers and institutions in Qatar encountered in organizing the FIFA World Cup, including the pressures from various stakeholders involved, including FIFA, the sponsors, the football fans, and the local residents of Qatar. One such case sheds light on the debate surrounding the linkage between government-spending and the subsequent economic impact of hosting such a mega sporting event. The collection also delves into nuanced discussions about volunteering behaviour. Several case studies approach the central questions of sustainability and related implications following the Qatar event. As the first football World Cup to take place in a Middle Eastern country, the case studies also spotlight the role of cultural differences and associated implications, such as nation branding. Relevant to sociologists, economists, business and marketing researchers, and sports studies researchers, this book is a unique compilation bringing together multiple interdisciplinary, critical perspectives on Qatar's FIFA experience – from within the region, and beyond.

Saïd Elbanna is a Research Professor and the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Organizational Excellence at the College of Business & Economics, Qatar University. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of 'Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review' journal. Elbanna’s career includes various teaching and research positions at prominent universities across the Middle East (such as Cairo, UAE, and Sharjah Universities), Europe (including Birmingham, London, and the Social Sciences of Ankara Universities), and North America (Carleton University). His research primarily focuses on the practice of strategic management and the impact of scholarly management research on the development of organizations and society, particularly in the Arab World. Elbanna is the (co-)author of over 80 journal publications on these and related topics, as well as more than 100 other publications, including case studies, book chapters, books, and conference proceedings. His work has been featured in respected publications such as the Journal of World Business, Long Range Planning, Strategic Management Journal, and Journal of International Management. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to research, teaching, and service, including best paper awards from Public Management Review and the Journal of Management Studies, the Qatar University Research Excellence Award, and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Arab Researcher Award. Additionally, he has received teaching and service awards from UAE and Qatar universities. Elbanna has also extensively served as an advisor, consultant, and trainer in the field of strategic management throughout the Arab World.

Tamer H. Elsharnouby is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management and Marketing, College of Business & Economics at Qatar University. Before joining QU, he held various faculty positions at Cairo University in Egypt. He has authored over 60 publications in international journals and conference proceedings. His research explores contemporary problems with the aim of providing impactful insights for both the academic community and practitioners. His research interests include social media marketing, customer engagement, marketing for higher education, and relationship marketing. His work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Business Research, Tourism Management, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Journal of Marketing Management, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Journal of Consumer Marketing, Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, and the Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, among others. He has received several research awards, including the Best Paper Award for the Tourism & Sports Division of the ASAC Conference in Canada and the Best in Track paper at the American Marketing Association Conference.

Abdullah M. Aljafari is an Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Business & Economics at Qatar University. He has served in various faculty roles at a number of universities including, Oklahoma State University, the University of Jordan, and Qatar University. Dr. Aljafari’s research interests include branding, ingredient branding, digital marketing, social media marketing, and religiosity, leading to more than 10 research peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals and conference proceedings. His work has appeared in journals such as Information Systems Frontiers, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Journal of Consumer Behavior, and Personnel Review among others. He also presented his work in major marketing conferences such as the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the American Marketing Society (AMS).

Tahniyath Fatima is a Case Study Analyst at the College of Business & Economics, Qatar University. Since earning her Ph.D. in Management in 2021, she has been an active scholar with nine peer-reviewed publications. She currently serves as the Assistant Editor for Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review. Notably, two of her papers have been published in esteemed journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics and the International Journal of Hospitality Management. Tahniyath specializes in applied research, focusing on policy research and case studies, and has co-authored three case studies. Her research interests include strategies pertaining to corporate social responsibility, labor management, and human resource management. Tahniyath's research has received multiple accolades, including the Case Study Publication Award at Qatar University (2024), the Best Paper Award at the British Academy of Management (2023), and the Dissertation Award at Qatar University (2021).