Objects of Glory: Iconic Moments in the History of Football

Anchored in an object-centred approach, the exhibition reveals how material culture — such as balls, jerseys, trophies and personal artefacts — embodies moments of transformation, identity and collective memory.

From the standardisation of the game in nineteenth-century England to the global spectacle of the FIFA World Cup, football emerges as a shared language across cultures. Objects associated with figures such as Pelé and Diego Maradona illustrate how football has been deeply intertwined with national identity and collective emotion, while players like Lionel Messi, David Beckham and Kylian Mbappé reflect its global cultural reach. The exhibition also foregrounds inclusion through the presence of Honey Thaljieh (both the only female and the only Palestinian player represented), whose story reflects football’s capacity to challenge barriers and expand access to the game.

About the Curator

Najla Al Thani is a curator at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, where she works on exhibitions that position sport within broader cultural, historical and social contexts. She has been involved in the development of the museum’s permanent galleries and contributed to the museum’s opening in 2022, supporting its successful launch as the only Olympic museum in the region. Najla is currently pursuing a PhD in Gulf Studies, where her research examines the evolution of cultural narratives and their role in shaping national identity in Saudi Arabia. Her research interests focus on the intersection of sport, culture and identity, particularly sport as a platform for the production of cultural memory.