Is It a Beautiful Game?

Football, soccer, kurat al qadam, fútbol. The names vary, but the game is the same. It’s played everywhere - in every village, city, country, and continent. Love it or loath it, football is the most popular sport on the planet. It is considered a microcosm of our world: an avatar of social dilemmas, mirroring highs and lows, challenges and successes, struggles and triumphs, wins and losses. The media coverage of the game has reinforced and globalized these human sentiments. However, what would we find if we dared to look behind this glossy cover?

This summer, we take the dare. “Is it a Beautiful Game?” investigates the multiple characters the media play when mediating football to the world. Taking place at the Media Majlis in Northwestern University in Qatar, the exhibition will be open Saturday to Wednesday, from 10am to 5pm, until 12 November 2022.

This exhibition is accompanied by a full-color publication, available in Arabic and English, a series of discussion programs, as well as a film screening. Follow the museum on social media for updates on all these aspects.