A Scholarly Look at Football in the Middle East—Our Book Review

Football in the Middle East: State, Society, and the Beautiful Game is an insightful collection of scholarly articles and case studies on the political, social and economic dynamics of football as a unifying and expressive force among the region’s nations. Abdullah Al-Arian, an associate professor at Georgetown University, along with a group of well-known academics, artistically tackles this engaging topic.

The book illuminates the sport’s milestones that have broadened the global perception of traditional societies in the region. It notes Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal FC’s victory over Japan’s team in the final of the 2019 Asian Champions League tournament, one of Asia’s biggest club competitions, as an example of how the sport can unite nations and amplify national pride. More than 25,000 supporters attended the final game in Japan, demonstrating a sense of unity that crosses borders.

The book also highlights Qatar’s successful bid for the 2022 World Cup, an opportunity the country seized on to reshape international views of it which paved the way for an unwavering commitment to leadership and innovation to further their involvement in international events.

Through informative and layered chapters, which are supported by historical records, journal articles and photographs, the book reveals the role of football in public life, shedding light on the game’s rich history and growing influence.

Ultimately, Football in the Middle East invites the reader to reconsider the sport, ingrained in everyday life around the world, as a powerful phenomenon beyond a popular pastime. It brings a new appreciation and perspective of how and why football has risen to the global status we see today.