About
Dr. Mahfoud Amara joined Qatar University in 2015 and currently serves as Associate Professor in Sport Management and Social Sciences at the Department of Sport Management, College of Sport Sciences. He previously held the position of Director of Sport Science Program at the College of Arts and Sciences from June 2017 to March 2021.
Before joining Qatar University, Dr. Amara was an Assistant Professor in Sport Social Sciences and Management and Deputy Director of the Centre for Olympic Studies and Research in the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.
His research interests cover sport, business, culture, politics, and society in the Arab region, as well as sport, multiculturalism, and intercultural dialogue — with a particular focus on the provision of sport for ethnic minorities, sport & social inclusion, and Muslim communities.
Dr. Amara has conducted research for national and international bodies including the British Academy, European Commission, UNESCO, BBC, and ICSS, and has been invited to speak at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and symposia.
Research Interests
Featured Research: Qatar 2022 World Cup
Dr. Amara has been a leading scholarly voice on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, examining its political legacies, cultural dimensions, and future impact on the region.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
Co-edited with Kozhanov & Zweiri. Routledge, 2024. A comprehensive academic analysis of the tournament's political, social, and cultural dimensions.
View research →Political Legacies & Future Impact
Keynote presentations, symposia contributions, and media commentary on how Qatar 2022 reshaped Gulf sport governance and global football politics.
View contributions →Culture, Identity & the World Cup
Peer-reviewed scholarship on the intersection of football, national identity, and the geopolitics of sport hosting in the MENA region.
View publications →