The official logo of the 2022 FIFA World Cup was revealed for the first time in September 2019 in the Qatari capital of Doha. From there, it was beamed to the country’s key landmarks, including Katara Cultural Village Amphitheatre, the Ministry of Interior, Burj Doha, Souq Waqif, Msheireb, and Al Zubarah Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage site). The logo design follows the practice set in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which involves an abstract interpretation of the world-famous trophy.

The 2022 iteration of the logo uses a traditional Arabic woolen shawl with a swooping curvature meant to depict desert dunes. Major cities including Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Mexico City, New York, London, Berlin, Paris, Johannesburg, Moscow, Milan, Mumbai, and Seoul celebrated the unveiling of the 2022 logo with images of the artwork beamed onto outdoor billboards and significant public spaces. In Spain, for example, the logo was displayed on the Cines Callo building in Plaza de Callo, a prominent square in the Spanish capital.

The newly added typeface, created to accompany the logo, evokes traditional Arabic calligraphy in a more modern and contemporary font. It has taken inspiration from the region and Asia, combining tradition and modernity.

Apart from encompassing the shape of the FIFA World Cup Trophy, the logo’s central form takes inspiration from a traditional woolen shawl. The shawls are worn around the world during winter months, particularly in the Arab and Gulf region. The nod to this regionally inspired winter garment in the logo design alludes to the tournament’s start dates and highlights that it will be the first FIFA World Cup to be played in November and December.

Designed by Unlock, a studio based in Lisbon, Portugal, the symbol also appears similar to the infinity symbol, which is meant to represent the “interconnected nature” of the world cup. Additionally, the similarity with the number eight is further meant to highlight the number of stadiums being used for the event.

In addition to the new logo, Qatar also has a new mascot. Going by the name of La’eeb, this ghostly-looking character was unveiled in April 2022 during the group stage draw. La’eeb is described as a floating ghutrah (square headcloth) with an agal (traditional headband). His name comes from the Arabic term meaning “extremely-skilled player” and designs featuring the character will be adorning merchandise items before, during, and after the competition.

For more information on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, check out Qatar’s sustainable stadiums and the World Cup’s technology innovations.