submitted on 2024-10-29, 05:47 and posted on 2024-10-31, 07:22authored byKhaled Saleh M. Al Halk
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East and in a Muslim country. While sport mega-events are used by emerging nations as both foreign and domestic policy instruments, there is much contestation as to whether these events deliver long-term benefits for the host country. Legacy has received increasing attention from governments around the world, and has also been evident in the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s plans for the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Although increasing sport participation has been identified as part of the sport legacy, there is limited research on this aspect of legacy. Hence this study sought to assess stakeholder perceptions of the football participation legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 from the awarding of the bid to hosting the 2022 event to date. Preuss’ (2019) event legacy framework was used as the conceptual framework for the study. A mixed methods approach was utilized to conduct the study. Quantifiable data was collected from various stakeholders and secondary sources to assess increases in football participation. Qualitative, key informant interviews were conducted with various football stakeholders, including administrators, players and coaches to evaluate their perceptions of the role of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on football participation in the country. The key findings of the study indicate that the sport participation legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is generally positive. Structural changes in urban development related to increases in football facilities and social development linked to changes in behavior as demonstrated in increases in football participation are apparent. Furthermore, there is evidence of human development in terms of changes in skills, knowledge and networks related to coaches and player development. Finally, reference has also been made to policy/ governance changes in national football organizations that facilitate football participation. However, more work is required to leverage and sustain these changes beyond the World Cup.