Mouloud Kenioua1, Nawal Krine2, Mohammed Meratate3, Said Yahiaoui3
1Department of Physical Education, Institute of Sciences and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities, University of Batna2, Batna, Algeria
2Department of Arabic Language, Faculty of Arts, University of Batna1, Batna, Algeria
3Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Sciences and Technology of Educational Sport Activity, University of Batna2, Batna, Algeria
Youth Sports, Civilizational Advancement, and Human Communication: Lessons from the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup
J. Anthr. Sport Phys. Educ. 2026, 10(3), 25-34 | DOI: 10.26773/jaspe.260704
Abstract
This study examines the pivotal role of young athletes and youth stakeholders during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in advancing civilizational development and fostering human communication. The tournament represented an unprecedented platform through which Arab and Islamic identity was projected to a global audience in a balanced and contemporary manner, supported by the active engagement of young volunteers, administrators, and community initiative leaders. The study adopts the Scoping Review methodology following PRISMA- ScR standards , drawing on literature published between 2022 and 2025 across international and Arab academic databases. A total of 53 studies were identified and analyzed, covering themes of youth empowerment, national identity, sports diplomacy, volunteering, and sustainable development. Results indicate that the Qatar 2022 World Cup constituted a turning point in the global perception of Arab youth, enabling genuine leadership roles in organization, intercultural communication, and cultural influence. The tournament served as a space for embodying Islamic and humanitarian values of hospitality and coexistence, strengthening national identity and social capital. Youth volunteering emerged as a foundational pillar of civic participation, while media and cultural programs contributed to dismantling stereotypes and reshaping international discourse about Arabs and Muslims. Qatar's national strategies, aligned with Qatar Vision 2030, ensured the sustainability of the tournament's impact through extended sports and developmental initiatives. The study concludes that major sporting events can function as effective instruments of civilizational advancement when guided by a youth-empowering perspective that integrates sports with social, cultural, and developmental values. Recommendations include sustained investment in youth capabilities through sports education, cultural diplomacy, and sustainable leadership programs.
Keywords
sports youth; civilizational advancement; human communication; Qatar World Cup 2022; youth empowerment; cultural diplomacy
View full article
(PDF – 368KB)
References
Al Gheithi, R., Al Droushi, A. R., & Gafaar, A. (2024). Social impacts of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup on citizens and residents in Qatar. Journal of Physical Education, 36(1), 71–113. http://search.mandumah.com/Record/1498404
Alazmi, N. G. (2023). The role of Qatar 2022 World Cup in social development and communication between Gulf and Arab nations. Arab Journal of Scientific Publishing, 59, 137–161. http://search.mandumah.com/Record/1436611
Albouhliqa, H. A. (2025). World Cup in Qatar: Soft sports diplomacy that shocked everyone. Arab Journal of Scientific Publishing, 78, 23–42. http://search.mandumah.com/Record/1568663
Al-Emadi, A., Sellami, A. L., & Fadlalla, A. M. (2022). The perceived impacts of staging the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 26(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/14775085.2021.2017327
Al-Emadi, A. A., Sellami, A. L., Al-Marri, S. S., El Madad, J. M. N., Alazaizeh, M. A. H., Fadlalla, A. M., & Almekaimi, H. Z. (2024). The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar: Resident interests and attitudes. Managing Sport and Leisure, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2024.2384907
Alheiti, N. A. (2023). Sports diplomacy: Qatar 2022 World Cup as a model. Journal of Alliance of Civilizations, 3, 16–29.
Al-Marri, S. H. (2023). How to sustain motivation among the youth in Qatar beyond hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022? QScience Connect (Special Issue–Thesis), 2023(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.5339/connect.2023.spt.1
Al-Thani, M. (2025). In the liminal realm: Qatar's World Cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6, Article 1434522. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1434522
Amara, M., & Bouandel, Y. (2024). Why Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup matters. In Research Handbook on Major Sporting Events (pp. 271–284). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Arab Democratic Center for Strategic, Political, and Economic Studies. (2023). Qatar World Cup 2022: Arab soft power shaping global future perspectives: Foresight visions – Part One. Arab Democratic Center.
Ayouni, M. A. (2022). Developing a host volunteer program for 2022 FIFA World Cup: Challenges and opportunities (Thesis). Manara – Qatar Research Repository. https://doi.org/10.57945/manara.hbku.28032938.v1
Bettine, M., & Ozdemir, M. (2024). The men's World Cup in Qatar 2022 through the lens of the Western media: Soft power, sports diplomacy and sportswashing. Sociology International Journal, 8(4), 190–196. https://doi.org/10.15406/sij.2024.08.00394
Bouatelli, M. (2025). Arab experiences in the field of implementing digital management: A reading of the Qatari experience through Qatar E-Government 'HUKOOMI'. Journal of Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship, 8(1), 10–19. https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/downArticle/612/8/1/267007
Brannagan, P. M., & Reiche, D. (2022). The politics and power of small states: The 2022 World Cup and Qatar's global sports strategy. In Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Politics, controversy, change (pp. 47–83). Springer International Publishing.
Brannagan, P. M., Reiche, D., & Bedwell, L. (2023). Mass social change and identity hybridization: The case of Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, 30(6), 900–918. https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289X.2023.2203576
Carvache-Franco, M., Hassan, T., Orden-Mejía, M., Carvache-Franco, O., & Carvache-Franco, W. (2024). Motivations and satisfaction of sports tourists during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022. Heliyon, 10(5), Article e26682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26682
Coalter, F. (2007). A wider social role for sport: Who's keeping the score? Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203014615
Coalter, F. (2010). The politics of sport-for-development: Limited focus programmes and broad gauge problems? International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 45(3), 295–314. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690210366791
Diop, A., Jatić, Š., Holmes, J. L., Le Trung, K., El Maghraby, E., & Al Naimi, M. (2022). Interest in volunteering for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar: A nationally representative study of motivations. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2022.2125521
Ekren, D. C. (2024). Islamic values, sustainability, and mega-event legacies: A case study from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (Thesis). Manara – Qatar Research Repository. https://doi.org/10.57945/manara.hbku.29325545.v1
Elbanna, S., Elsharnouby, T., Aljafari, A., & Fatima, T. (2025). The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Unveiling insights beyond the pitch. Springer Nature.
El-Kassem, R. C., Ahmed Lari, N., Al Maadeed, A., & Awadalla Mohamed Ali, A. (2024). Barriers to formal volunteering among married Qatari youth. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2386048
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). (2022a). Intercultural guidance. FIFA Publications. https://publications.fifa.com/en/final-sustainability-report/social-pillar/cultural-understanding/intercultural-guidance/
FIFA. (2022b). Social impact of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. FIFA Publications. https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/
FIFA. (2022c). Youth education and empowerment overview. FIFA Final Sustainability Report. https://publications.fifa.com/en/final-sustainability-report/human-pillar/youth-education-and-empowerment/
FIFA. (2023). Volunteer capacity building programme: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 sustainability report. https://inside.fifa.com/tournament-organisation/world-cup-2022-sustainability-report/
Fouda, M. S. M., & Abdeldaim, A. A. A. (2024). The impacts of World Cup 2022 news on the image of Arabs and Muslims in foreign press. Journal of Media Research and Studies, 27, 179–280. http://search.mandumah.com/Record/1506647
Girginov, V., & Hills, L. (2008). A sustainable sports legacy: Creating a link between the London Olympics and sports participation. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 25(14), 2091–2116. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523360802439015
Giulianotti, R., Hognestad, H., & Spaaij, R. (2016). Sport for development and peace: Power, politics, and patronage. Journal of Global Sport Management, 1(3–4), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2016.1231926
Giulianotti, R., & Robertson, R. (2009). Globalization and football. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446213544
Grix, J., & Houlihan, B. (2014). Sports mega-events as part of a nation's soft power strategy: The cases of Germany (2006) and the UK (2012). The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 16(4), 572–596. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-856X.12017
Hajjaj, M., Borodin, V., Perțicas, D. C., & Florea, A. G. (2024). Qatar's FIFA World Cup odyssey: A quest for legacy transforming a small nation into a global destination. Heliyon, 10(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30282
Hartmann, D., & Kwauk, C. (2011). Sport and development: An overview, critique, and reconstruction. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 35(3), 284–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193723511416986
Hartmann, D., Manning, A., & Green, K. (2023). Postgame analysis: Qatar 2022 and the social significance of global sport. Contexts, 22(3), 62–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/15365042231192501
Hidaya, M. (2024). Investing in sports to promote sustainable development goals: The case of the Qatari humanitarian and developmental sector after the World Cup. Hokama Journal, 8, 156–183. https://doi.org/10.31430/WVEB9922
Ishac, W. (2024). Examining sport tourism role in fostering social sustainability: Qatar youth perceptions. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6, Article 1388123. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1388123
Ishac, W., Javani, V., & Youssef, D. (2024). Leveraging sentiment analysis of Arabic tweets for the 2022 FIFA World Cup insights. Managing Sport and Leisure. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2024.2342258
Ishac, W., & Swart, K. (2022). Social impact projections for Qatar youth residents from 2022. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, Article 922997. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.922997
Jarvie, G., & Yujun, X. (2022). Qatar 2022: Facts, myth and issues. University of Edinburgh.
Kerry, L., Aguerrebere, P. M., Burgess, S., & Chadli, L. (2024). Branding countries through multicultural events: A quantitative analysis of the impact of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Qatar's brand. Frontiers in Communication, 9, Article 1337088. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2024.1337088
Kozhanov, N., Amara, M., & Zweiri, M. (Eds.). (2024). The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar: Global and local perspectives. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003453246
Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O'Brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69
Luo, Y., Choi, J. A., Andon, S. P., Benton, B., Green, K., & Strudler, K. (2022). Protests and calls for boycotting the Qatar World Cup 2022 spark online discussion and action away from the soccer pitch. Montclair State University.
Mohamadi Turkmani, E., Nassif, N., Houhou, K., Włodarczyk, A., & Javid, M. (2024). Social capital building through mega-sporting events: Did the Qatar 2022 World Cup foster bonding, bridging, and linking social capital? International Review for the Sociology of Sport. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902241297415
Munzilin. (2024). The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (24 case studies). OAPEN. https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/104168
Mustafa, A. A. A. (2023). The role of contemporary Islamic outreach methods in spreading Islam: Qatar 2022 World Cup as a model. University of Omdurman Islamic Sciences Journal, 1(1), 99–118. http://search.mandumah.com/Record/1557903
Parvez, Z. (2024). The FIFA World Cup 2022, national identity, and the politics of women's sports participation in Qatar. Asian Journal of Sport History & Culture, 3(2), 154–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/27690148.2024.2341256
Peters, M. D. J., Godfrey, C., McInerney, P., Munn, Z., Tricco, A. C., & Khalil, H. (2020). Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 18(10), 2119–2126. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00167
Qatar Foundation. (2023). Driving social progress: Qatar Foundation's World Cup story. https://stories.qf.org.qa/world-cup/driving-social-change/
Rizana, A. H., & Lisnarini, N. (2023). The role of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 brand ambassador: An analysis of Ghanim Al Muftah in promoting inclusive engagement. COMMICAST, 4(2), 61–70. https://doi.org/10.12928/commicast.v4i2.8996
Sammour, K. (2023). Qatar 2022 World Cup cultural celebration: An Arabic model of cultural diplomacy. Contemporary Studies in Social Sciences, 1(2), 133–145. https://doi.org/10.31559/CSSS2023.1.2.4
Solimane, M. T., & Elfekair, M. (2024). The impact of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on the intention to visit the host nation. Journal of Human Development and Economics, 15(2), 68–84. https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/259945
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O'Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., … Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850
Ulrichsen, K. C. (2023). Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In Soft power, state branding, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003348238-18
UNESCO. (2021). Fit for life: Youth and sport for sustainable development. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://en.unesco.org/themes/sport-and-anti-doping/youth
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Yaylali, M. S. (2025). Mega sports events and national identity: The case of Qatar World Cup 2022. Qatar University. https://qspace.qu.edu.qa/handle/10576/62739
Youssef, D., & Ishac, W. (2024). Social media, sentiment analysis, and youth engagement during FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Global Journal of Sport and Society, 6(2), 35–60.
Zhang, C. (2024). Impact of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Qatar. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 14(5), 175–180. https://www.ijssh.net/uploadfile/2024/IJSSH-V14N5-1225.pdf
Zhao, Y., & Liu, Y. (2024). Impact of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Qatar. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 14(5), 225–230.
Zimbalist, A. (2015). Circus maximus: The economic gamble behind hosting the Olympics and the World Cup. Brookings Institution Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7864/j.ctt1287brp