Governance and planning for resilient mega-sport events: Lessons learnt from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

• Introduces a multidimensional framework linking governance, planning, and resilience in mega-sport events. • Provides empirical evidence from Qatar 2022 on adaptive reforms, stakeholder coordination, and legacy strategies. • Demonstrates how resilient governance balances operational adaptability with reputational legitimacy. • Offers actionable recommendations through standardized tables for policymakers and event organizers. • Expands the literature by integrating adaptive governance theory with empirical insights from a politically sensitive context. Mega-sport events are complex and high-risk undertakings that require governance systems capable of adapting to political, environmental, and operational disruptions. This study examines the resilience of governance and planning frameworks during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Resilience is defined as the capacity to anticipate, absorb, and adapt to disruptions while sustaining strategic objectives and legitimacy. A qualitative case study approach, including document analysis, policy review, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, reveals how Qatar’s governance has evolved from rigid hierarchical control to flexible, multi-level coordination. Findings demonstrate that political dynamics, international scrutiny, and the pursuit of sustainable legacies strongly shaped governance reforms. The study contributes by framing resilience as a multidimensional construct that combines operational safeguards with reputational credibility. Practical recommendations are provided to guide future event hosts in embedding adaptive capacity across planning, implementation, and legacy stages.