The Qatar-Mexico Year of Culture uses art, film, food and football to strengthen cultural ties long after the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup may have ended, but in Mexico City its legacy continues through a different kind of exchange.
As part of the 2026 Qatar-Mexico Year of Culture, within the broader Qatar-Canada-Mexico Years of Culture initiative, museums, cinemas, cultural institutions and creative organisations are using sport as a starting point for deeper conversations about identity, heritage and connection.
At Museo Jumex, the exhibition Objects of Glory showcases some of football’s most iconic artefacts, including Pelé’s boots and Diego Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” jersey. Elsewhere, Journeys to Greatness explores the legacy of Qatar 2022, while audiences at Cineteca Nacional discover contemporary Arab cinema through a programme curated by the Doha Film Institute.
The cultural exchange extends beyond exhibitions and film. Designers, chefs and digital culture specialists are also participating in collaborations that highlight shared experiences and new perspectives between Qatar and Mexico.
Through interviews with curators, cultural leaders, filmmakers, designers and chefs, this episode examines how the Qatar-Mexico Year of Culture is fostering dialogue between two countries linked by football, while demonstrating how cultural diplomacy can continue long after the final whistle.
