World Cup 2022 Will Produce PR Boon for Qatar But Little Economic Benefit

By James M. Dorsey

With its successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is likely to turn the economics of major sporting events upside down. Unlike most major sporting events, the World Cup is likely to produce for Qatar a public relations boon but at best negligible economic gains.

The tournament’s public relations value is a no-brainer. Hundreds o…