This summer, while billions of eyes are on the football pitch, Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates is turning its gaze to the stands.
On July 8, 2026, in partnership with the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, Doha Debates will host a signature town hall in Toronto, Canada on what happens to football fandom when big money gets involved in the “beautiful game.”
“Football Fandom: Community or Commodity?” brings global experts and young people together for a debate about whether the soul of the world’s most-watched sport has been corrupted or invigorated by an influx of wealthy club owners.
Senior contributor at CBC Sports Shireen Ahmed; writer, historian and sociologist of football David Goldblatt and President of Nascimento Foundation Kely Nascimento; will join a group of students and recent graduates from Qatar, Canada and Mexico for this timely discussion moderated by international journalist Imran Garda.
Commenting on the initiative, Qatar’s Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Mr. Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari, said: “Football is ultimately about people, which is why this conversation matters. As a universal language, football has long served as a bridge across cultures, empowering communities and reinforcing the recognised nexus between sport and development. Our Year of Culture with Canada reflects the values our two nations share — values that united Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and now connect the tournament’s journey to Canada and its fellow 2026 hosts. This continuity speaks to the enduring role of football in projecting culture, strengthening international cooperation, and advancing human values. Through this Doha Debates town hall, diverse voices will come together to explore the game’s evolution while keeping fans and communities at its heart.”
Amjad Atallah, Managing Director of Doha Debates said: “Football is one of the few forces left that can make a billion people feel something at exactly the same moment. But as the game grows bigger, richer and more global, the question of what it means to truly belong to a club—or to a national team—becomes harder to answer.”
“That is the truth-seeking conversation we are bringing to Toronto, and there is no better partner for it than the Years of Culture initiative, which reflects the same spirit of exchange, connection and cross-cultural understanding at the heart of this town hall,” he added.
Established in 2012, the Years of Culture initiative uses cultural exchange to build lasting relationships between Qatar and countries around the world through partnerships in the arts, education, heritage, sport and innovation. The 2026 edition celebrates Qatar’s relationships with Canada and Mexico through a year-long programme of exhibitions, educational initiatives and community exchanges.
Town hall tickets are available at DohaDebates.com/Toronto.
