The 2022 World Cup and Shifts in Qatar’s Foreign Policy

Small states are often perceived as being unable to exercise influential power in their region, let alone the international arena. Additionally, small state theorists such as Jeanne A.K. Hey contend that even if there was a change in leadership, small states would be unable to change their foreign policy because they lack the capacity to do so and are merely reactive to domestic and systemic factors. This study argues against this claim by demonstrating that in the case of Qatar, there has been a strong shift in its foreign policy from 2010 to the present. This change is closely related to two major events: the country’s leadership transition in 2013 and winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup bid. More specifically, this paper examines how after winning the bid to host the World Cup, Qatar adopted an expansionary foreign policy and heavily intervened in the Arab uprisings that started in 2010, using both its soft and hard power capabilities. This study also examines how, following a change in leadership in the run-up to the FIFA 2022 World Cup, Qatar’s foreign policy reverted to one based on mediation and diplomacy, which is more aligned with the values of the international sporting tournament.