Doha Debates holds Toronto town hall on football, money and fandom

In Doha, Qatar, the Qatar Foundation hosted a Doha Debates town hall titled "Football fandom: Community or commodity?" This event, filmed at The Terminal Theatre in Toronto in collaboration with the Qatar, Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture initiative, brought together young people across borders to discuss the evolution of football and its impact on society.

Moderated by journalist Imran Garda, the debate featured Shireen Ahmed, a senior contributor at CBC Sports; David Goldblatt, a football historian and sociologist; and Kely Nascimento, president of the Nascimento Foundation. The panelists examined whether football clubs should be privately owned or collectively owned as cultural capital. Goldblatt firmly stated that football clubs should not be privately owned, but Nascimento challenged this viewpoint, questioning whether the sport was healthier before the influx of wealth.

Ahmed emphasized the need for accountability and transparency when it comes to the money involved in football, acknowledging that the issue is nuanced and complicated. The students participating in the debate added their perspectives, such as Nawaf Al-Kuwari's observation that football matches are often inaccessible to the working class, and Regina Aldrete's insight that football is inherently political and a reflection of society.

Managing Director of Doha Debates Amjad Atallah highlighted the significance of the conversation, stating that the guests and students refused to provide easy answers, demonstrating the essence of truth-seeking.