Sportswashing como forma de ocultar as violações de direitos: o caso da Copa do Mundo Catar

Abstract

This research aims to analyze how Qatar used the 2022 FIFA World Cup as a sportswashing tool to project an image of modernity and openness to the world, despite its controversial record of human rights violations. The study investigates how sport was instrumentalized as a diplomatic and symbolic resource to suppress both internal and external criticism. To achieve this, the concepts of sportswashing, sports soft power, and sports diplomacy are explored within the scope of International Relations, drawing on authors such as Nye (2004) and Murray (2018), and historical cases. The methodology is qualitative, based on a bibliographic review and the analysis of reports from organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, in addition to FIFA documents and specialized media coverage. The study contextualizes Qatar’s political and social background, highlighting contradictions between its official discourse and the reality experienced by migrant workers, women, and LGBTQIA+ community. It also addresses political demonstrations during the tournament and the legacies left behind. It is concluded that the World Cup was used as a means of international legitimation, revealing the ethical and political limits of FIFA’s actions in disregarding human rights criteria when selecting host nations.