The art of football: World Cup 2022 museums and exhibits

FIFA’s World Cup may be the greatest football festival in the Solar System, but it’s also the ultimate in pop-up events. Host country Qatar has been making preparations for years, so we’re going to do a body swerve around all the headlines and have a look at what the people of this Persian Gulf gem have achieved. And it’s really very impressive. 

With around a cool 1.5 million people attending this year’s mega matches, the Qataris’ focus has been to create something that will last long after one jubilant team returns home with the trophy. mustardBE covered stadiums a couple of weeks ago, and this week we in mustardXP are investigating the mammoth art project surrounding this year’s World Cup, as well as the 3-2-1 Olympic Sports Museum which is one of the largest on the planet. 

First off – art!

Did you know that more than 100 art pieces were purchased and commissioned from around the world for the tournament? This amazing tribute to global artistic achievement is the baby of Qatar Museums.   

Some of the most celebrated names in the art world including Olafur Eliasson, Damien Hirst, Tom Otterness and Urs Fischer have created bespoke installations. But the story doesn’t end there because local artists have also made an outstanding contribution. 

Sheikha Al Mayassa, the chairwoman and face of Qatar Museums explains. “As tourists visit this region of Qatar to experience these new art installations they will learn about Qatar’s natural landscape and history and come away with a better understanding of the diversity of Qatari culture.” 

Sheikha Al Mayassa’s vision has seen installations situated in such diverse areas as desert-scapes, airports, parks, shopping centres and even hospitals – although, with respect, we sincerely hope you won’t see any in the last category. 

The installation on most people’s ‘must see’ list, however, has got to be Paraguayan artist Lili Cantero’s football-inspired art show, 8 Stadiums, 8 Champions, 1 Dream: Qatar 2022. 

So far, so good! Cantero explains further: “We are going to be exhibiting 25 works in total consisting of boots, soccer balls, also canvases and 3D structures.” 

Cantero’s football magnum opus revolves around the number 8. If you’re a genuine footie fan, then you’ve probably already guessed why. If not, then let us blow your mind! For in the entire history of the World Cup, the trophy has been won by only eight countries. If we need to point out that Brazil has picked up the most World Cup titles, notching up five to date, then you need to go back to football kindergarten. In second place Italy and Germany come in with four. Third place goes to Uruguay, Argentina and France, each with two, and down but not out, England and Spain have won once. 

Anyway, back to the exhibit being produced. If you’re lucky enough to be in Doha right now, get your hiking boots on because the installation opened on 18 November. And when you’re finished there, don’t sit down as there’s more waiting – next stop is the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum. 

The exhibition is called World Of Football – uncanny, isn’t it, but still another must-see. Touted as “one for all football enthusiasts”, we can’t disagree. The exhibition covers football history, popularity, evolution, global appeal and historic milestones. It also boasts an amazing collection of sports memorabilia like jerseys, footballs, and shoes, some of which have been part of football legends’ careers. Nice. 

As you’ve probably noticed, we love a bit of blurb, so we’re going to let those lovely 3-2-1 Museum people whet your appetite a bit more. 

“Like a football match itself, World Of Football is displayed over two halves. The first half – Football For All, All For Football – examines the universal and global appeal of football; the beautiful game that is played, watched and enjoyed by millions regardless of age, gender, nationality or socioeconomic status. The Road to Doha is the second half of the exhibition and follows the long journey to Qatar 2022, from the first FIFA World Cup matches in Uruguay in 1930 to the final at Lusail Stadium on 18 December 2022.” 

The one big take-home? Years of forward planning and thinking that have gone into 2022’s tournament and exhibits. If you’ve got the brains and creativity to contribute to the experiential, museum and exhibition worlds surrounding global mega-events like the World Cup, then we need to talk to you. Number one fans of the beautiful game, Archie Harvey and his mustardXP team are hanging about just waiting for your call, so press the dialpad now!