YES....
Hosting a mega-event such as the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup is a defining moment for
Qatar, a country that is in transition, small in size and population, and rich in natural gas reserves. It is
a unique opportunity to host a universal event and leave a sustainable positive legacy for the country.
However, the preparation, execution, and after-effects of such events are challenging initiatives with
significant long-term impacts on the economy, society, and environment in the hosting country and
nearby region. This study addresses the intersection between mega sports events and sustainability,
to systematically compare and learn from past mega-events and apply that to the case of the Qatar
2022 World Cup. The Qatari bid proposed a new FIFA Men’s World Cup (WC) spatial compact model
around just one city area and the goal of achieving the first carbon-neutral WC. Herein, the challenges,
opportunities, and progress in this scenario are evaluated accordingly, showing that local organizers
are applying green technologies, urban development concepts, and strongly upholding the idea of
legacies based on the Qatar National Vision 2030, which envisions sustainable development of the
country. However, additional work is still needed to reduce environmental impacts and on several
reported social issues.
