Jamie van Leeuwen, Qatar: The World Cup catalyst (DOCO 2023)

Hosting the largest event on the planet, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, was Qatar's introduction to world. The tournament was played in the Middle East for the first time and the country's aspirations, culture and traditions were thrust into the international spotlight. This documentary photography series explores the contrasts between the old world and the new in a country that has gone through almost unimaginable change since the discovery of rich oil and gas reserves. Tradition and religion still lie at the heart of a country that has rapidly modernised. Where palace guards ride camels against a backdrop of a futuristic skyline and casual tourists wearing t-shirts and shorts barter with conservative local women at market stalls. The decision to host the World Cup in Qatar opened the doors for an exchanging of values and beliefs between East and West and the old and new.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.