Comprehensive Analysis of Sports Discourse: Sentiment Dynamics, Derogatory Speech Patterns, and Topic Modeling during FIFA 2018 World Cup

Abstract The global phenomenon of sports fandom went into overdrive during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, reflecting deep emotional investment by audiences worldwide. Hence, this study delved deeper into the complex interplay of sport events, Twitter discourses, and mental health—leaning on solid experience in the field of sports informatics and social media analytics. Using state-of-the-art methodologies—BERT-based topic modeling,CatBoost classification and sentiment analysis—we analyzed tweets on the national teams over temporal phases. The research found that a huge increase in negative speech over mental health was present after team losses, while victories—although generally positive—also brought inter-fandom conflicts. Social media reveals its dual nature; it can be a source of amplifying the voice of sports fans but also a purveyor of harm. Our research findings have critical implications, thereby putting pressure on the need for strategic interventions in order to have positive online behaviors and decrease the destructive effects of digital negativity on athletes and fans. This paper seeks to offer a nuanced insight into the emotional dynamics within sports discourses to offer important contributions toward designing mental health initiatives and encouraging a healthier online sports community.