Sports
Qatar is harnessing its national passion for sport to break down barriers, foster greater understanding and drive positive change.
As a global sporting capital, Qatar has an impressive track record of hosting major international sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.The country also offers unparalleled professional training facilities, world-class sporting infrastructure, and celebrates a vibrant local culture where sport is deeply ingrained.
National Sports Day
Qatar is among the first countries in the world to celebrate a National Sport Day – a public holiday that embeds sporting values into Qatar’s culture and inspires the population to participate in physical activity. Held on the second Tuesday of every February, the nation comes together to promotes healthy values that transcend culture and language.
Qatar’s Sporting Heritage and Community
Sport is an integral part of Qatar’s culture and Qatari athletes have competed at the highest levels of international competition, including the Olympics. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Tala Abu-Jubara became the first Qatari rower to qualify for the Olympics, and five-time GCC champion Bashayer Almanwari represented Qatar in the 100m.
Notably, at Tokyo 2020, Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim won gold in the men’s high jump, famously sharing victory with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi. Fares El-Bakh became Qatar’s first Olympic gold medallist when he won the Men’s 96kg weightlifting event. Additionally, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan also secured a historic bronze medal for Qatar in men’s beach volleyball, further contributing to Qatar’s sporting success at the event.
In Paris 2024, Qatar reached a remarkable milestone when its celebrated high jumper, Mutaz Essa Barshim, secured the bronze medal in the men’s high jump.
Hosting Major Sporting Events
Qatar has hosted hundreds of global sporting events such as the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships, the 1988 and 2011 AFC Champions League, 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
From 20 November to 18 December 2022, the State of Qatar welcomed more than 1.4 million fans from all over the world as part of its successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
This historic sporting event, held for the first time in an Arab and Islamic country, has witnessed the State of Qatar’s successful achievement by bringing together people in celebration of their shared passion for sports.
The stadiums for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 were designed by some of the world’s leading architects, creating some of the most ambitious and visually impressive venues in the world. Each stadium was designed to reflect Qatari and Arab culture while prioritising accessibility, comfort, sustainability, and post-tournament legacy use.
While Qatar’s hosting of the tournament stands as an international milestone, it is only one step in the country’s ongoing journey of sporting accomplishments. Qatar will continue to capitalise on the momentum of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ to further inspire younger generations to become more engaged in sports.
FIFA World Cup 2022™ stadiums
The eight FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ stadiums saw 3.4 million fans attend 48 matches during the first 13 days of the tournament. The number of fans who attended the group stage amounted to 2.4 million, equivalent to 94% of overall stadium capacity, while the knockout stage was attended by approximately 1.4 million fans (or equivalent to 96% of the stadiums’ capacity). Thanks to the modular design of stadiums, their geographic proximity, and smart transportation solutions, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ served as the first compact World Cup in the modern era, allowing fans to watch multiple matches in one day.
Bid to Host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Building on its successful and impressive track record with the FIFA World Cup 2022 and over 18 world championships, Qatar has entered into Continuous Dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With world-class infrastructures, unmatched safety, and nearly all stadiums and venues already in place, if selected, Doha 2036 would mark the first Olympic Games in the Arab world, marking a historic milestone for the region. The bid is rooted in Qatar’s vision of sports as a globally unifying force, leaving a sustainable legacy for the country and region.
Unmatched Sports Infrastructure, Training Facilities, and Expertise
Qatar boasts some of the world’s best sports facilities as well as elite training and rehabilitation programmes.
Aspetar is a global leader in sports medicine, known for its pioneering research and innovative treatments, including over 1,800 published scientific papers and pioneering surgical techniques. It is the first specialized orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in the Gulf and was accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in 2009. Aspetar’s top-tier facilities and expertise attract elite athletes worldwide, and it has provided care for international stars and champions, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for sports medicine.
Aspire Academy, founded in 2004, is a prestigious sports institution focused on athlete education and training from a young age. Major achievements include that 70% of Qatar Football National Team that won the 2019 AFC Asian Cup was developed at Aspire Academy. Hundreds of athletes have graduated, and thousands of children have participated in its talent identification and skill development programmes. The academy’s world-class facilities attract top football clubs for winter training camps, such as Manchester United, FC Bayern Munchen, Paris Saint-Germain, and others. Aspire graduates have achieved notable success in football and athletics, contributing significantly to Qatar’s sports legacy.
12 years of continuous work… dedicated to ensuring this tournament leaves truly transformational social, human, economic and environmental legacies to be remembered. We are acutely aware of the spotlight that comes with hosting the greatest show on earth and we have embraced it.