Before, during, and after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, some French newspapers reported Qatar’s World Cup organization and raised several issues that led to negative public opinion about the State of Qatar organizing this world sports event for the first time as an Arab Muslim country. The French media raised several significant issues, including allegations of Qatar’s failure to meet environmental standards, the exploitation of foreign labour in stadium construction, safeguarding human rights and freedoms, with a particular focus on Qatar’s refusal to allow any display of LGBTQ+ symbols within its borders. Concerns have also been raised regarding Qatar’s readiness to host the world event, as well as the availability of accommodations for international fans. In response to the hostile and promotional attacks from the French press against Qatar and its organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which aimed to tarnish Qatar’s image internationally and undermine the efforts Qatar made to ensure the success of this sporting event. Qatari newspapers took action to counter these negative narratives and address media distortion practiced by the French press since Qatar won the host of the championship. One of these newspapers was the English daily “The Peninsula,” based in Qatar. What response did this newspaper make to the media campaign launched by the French media against Qatar in connection with the 2022 World Cup? How did it overcome this negative campaign and preserve the positive international image that Qatar has been building for more than a decade?