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The article examines how Qatari media responded to intense Western criticism and perceived othering during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with a focus on German discourse as a key example of hostile coverage. It combines a postcolonial framework with qualitative content analysis of opinion pieces from the national Al-Sharq, the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera Arabic, and Al-Jazeera English websites. The study identifies two overarching discursive patterns: first, an inward-looking narrative portraying Qatar as spearheading an Arab renaissance against a morally and politically declining West, mostly articulated in Arabic outlets; second, a defensive–offensive narrative that deconstructs Western criticism as a colonialist, racist, and hypocritical campaign against Arabs and Islam, variably emphasizing cultural difference, double standards, and global power asymmetries. While Al- Sharq relies more on Islamic-conservative value claims and national self-assertion, Al-Jazeera Arabic and English employ more sophisticated postcolonial and structural arguments, especially regarding migrant labor and LGBTQ rights. Overall, the article shows how Western allegations triggered a “rally round the flag” effect and reinforced binary constructions of “us” versus “them” in Qatari media discourse.

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The ‘Other’ Side of Football: Qatari Media’s Reactions to Perceived Western Othering During the 2022 FIFA World Cup

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Carola Richter,
  • Abdulrahman Al-Shami

摘要

The article examines how Qatari media responded to intense Western criticism and perceived othering during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with a focus on German discourse as a key example of hostile coverage. It combines a postcolonial framework with qualitative content analysis of opinion pieces from the national Al-Sharq, the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera Arabic, and Al-Jazeera English websites. The study identifies two overarching discursive patterns: first, an inward-looking narrative portraying Qatar as spearheading an Arab renaissance against a morally and politically declining West, mostly articulated in Arabic outlets; second, a defensive–offensive narrative that deconstructs Western criticism as a colonialist, racist, and hypocritical campaign against Arabs and Islam, variably emphasizing cultural difference, double standards, and global power asymmetries. While Al- Sharq relies more on Islamic-conservative value claims and national self-assertion, Al-Jazeera Arabic and English employ more sophisticated postcolonial and structural arguments, especially regarding migrant labor and LGBTQ rights. Overall, the article shows how Western allegations triggered a “rally round the flag” effect and reinforced binary constructions of “us” versus “them” in Qatari media discourse.