Beyond the Final Whistle: The FIFA World Cup as a Catalyst for Urban Transformation and Social Impact in Host Cities

The FIFA World Cup is more than a quadrennial sporting event; it is a powerful engine of urban and social change. When a city is selected to host, it undergoes a radical transformation—from the construction of state-of-the-art stadiums and revamped transport networks to the implementation of new public space policies. However, the long-term impact on the urban fabric and the resident population remains a subject of intense debate.While these mega-events promise economic growth, modernized infrastructure, and enhanced global visibility through destination branding and city positioning, they often bring challenges such as gentrification, population displacement, and "white elephant" facilities. The increasing trend toward multi-nation hosting models—exemplified by the 2026 (USA, Canada, Mexico) and 2030 (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, with centenary matches in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) editions—introduces additional complexity, raising critical questions about the equitable distribution of economic, infrastructural, and social benefits across co-hosting nations. This Research Topic aims to explore the dual nature of the World Cup legacy, analyzing how the event reshapes cities and influences the daily lives, health, and social equity of their inhabitants.Scope and Suggested Themes:We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies that address (but are not limited to) the following areas:Urban Morphology and Infrastructure: How World Cup requirements reshape city centers, transport hubs, and periphery connectivity.Social Displacement and Gentrification: Analyzing the impact of stadium construction and urban "beautification" on local residents and housing affordability.The "Legacy" of Public Spaces: Investigating how Fan Zones and renovated parks contribute to or detract from active living and community cohesion post-event.Demographic Shifts and Tourism: The long-term effects of the World Cup on population migration, temporary labor influx, and the branding of cities as global tourism hubs.Destination Management and Nation Branding: Examining how host cities and nations leverage the World Cup to position themselves on the global stage, develop tourism strategies, and shape long-term destination identity.Environmental Sustainability and the UN SDGs: Assessing the ecological footprint of urban projects associated with the tournament and their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships).Multi-Host Equity and Cross-Border Legacies: Exploring how multi-nation hosting models distribute benefits and burdens across co-hosting countries, and the implications for international cooperation, policy alignment, and equitable legacy planning.Social Equity and Inclusivity: Exploring how marginalized populations are integrated into or excluded from the urban benefits of the World Cup.Health and Well-being: The correlation between new urban sporting infrastructure and the physical activity levels of the local population.Goal: The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a multi-disciplinary platform for researchers to evaluate the tangible and intangible legacies of the FIFA World Cup. By bridging urbanism, population studies, destination management, and sustainable development, we aim to offer insights for future host cities and nations (such as those for the 2026 and 2030 editions) to ensure that the tournament leaves a positive, sustainable, and inclusive footprint—both within individual host cities and across multi-nation hosting partnerships. Topic editors: Brendon Knott, Kamilla Swart, Elsa Sacramento Pereira, Jihad Ait Soussane Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81411/beyond-the-final-whistle-the-fifa-world-cup-as-a-catalyst-for-urban-transformation-and-social-impact-in-host-cities