The Broken Promises of Neoliberal Soccer: Illusion and Disillusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar attracted over 3.4 million spectators and more than a million international visitors. However, the tournament required a colossal investment of 220 billion US dollars for facilities whose future use remains uncertain. It also highlighted the excesses of neoliberal soccer, dominated by financial interests. Since the World Cup was awarded in December 2010, controversies have emerged, particularly regarding the working conditions of migrant workers, which have led to several thousand deaths. There have been widespread denunciations of labor and civil rights violations, and the banning of the “One Love” armband has illustrated FIFA’s censorship. Environmental criticisms were also significant, questioning the event’s claimed carbon neutrality. Extravagant spending on stadium construction and hotel infrastructures, often seen as unnecessary luxury after the tournament, has been highlighted. Qatar has not fulfilled its promises to dismantle and repurpose the stadiums, which remain underused. The 2022 FIFA World Cup exposed the tensions between sporting values and economic realities and underscored the need for a thorough analysis of the long-term impact of mega-sporting events.