Homophobic tapioca, abuela-la-la. The 2022 World Cup, held in Qatar, was marked not only by the games, but also by the creativity of social media. Between caricatured fans, unusual situations and unlikely characters, the tournament produced a collection of memes that crossed borders and remain alive in the memory of internet users.
With the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup approaching, this time in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the expectation is that a new repertoire of jokes, viral videos and folkloric characters will take over the internet. While that doesn’t happen, it’s worth remembering some of the most striking memes from the Qatar World Cup.
The 2022 edition was especially marked by cultural shock. For the first time, the World Cup took place in a Middle Eastern country with a Muslim majority, which generated debates about local customs, restrictions and cultural differences. One of the situations that had the greatest impact was the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages around the stadiums a few days before the start of the competition. On social media, the topic became fuel for a barrage of jokes.
Even La’eeb, the tournament’s official mascot, ended up gaining an unusual nickname among Brazilians. Because he resembles a kind of floating ghost and represents a country where homosexuality is criminalized, the character began to be called by many Internet users a “homophobic tapioca”.
The memes started right from the opening match. During Qatar’s defeat to Ecuador, cameras caught a Qatari fan looking indignant in the stands. It only took a few seconds of transmission for his image to be turned into a meme and shared thousands of times.
The inaugural game also yielded another viral moment. An argument between fans in the stands caught the attention of internet users.
On the field, the Brazilian team also featured moments that fueled the internet’s imagination. The main one was Richarlison’s great goal against Serbia, considered one of the most beautiful goals of that World Cup. The move generated a wave of enthusiasm among fans and reinforced the feeling that Brazil could finally win its sixth title.
The excitement, however, gave way to frustration in the quarterfinals. The elimination to Croatia on penalties provoked an avalanche of memes about the Brazilians’ disappointment, many of them rescued and shared to this day whenever the team faces difficult times.
The Brazilians also made their contribution outside the four lines. One of the most curious episodes occurred when Brazilian influencers and fans began to challenge Qataris to dance battles in public places.
The decision between Argentina and France went down in history as one of the greatest finals ever played in a World Cup. In addition to the balance on the field and the decisive performance of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, the match also inspired countless jokes on social media. As the two were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain, memes emerged imagining Mbappé “firing” Messi from the club after the Argentine victory, in reference to the Frenchman’s reputation for having great influence behind the scenes on the team.
Among the viral phenomena of the final, none had as much reach in Argentina as the famous “abuela”. The image of a lady celebrating the Argentine title was accompanied by the song “La la la la la abuela”, which quickly took over social media and celebrations across the country.
The Argentine campaign also consolidated one of the most controversial characters of that World Cup: goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, known as Dibu. Fundamental in winning the title, he drew attention not only for his decisive saves, but also for his constant provocations towards his opponents, especially during penalty shootouts.
The most controversial moment came after the final. Upon receiving the award for best goalkeeper of the tournament, Martínez used the Golden Glove trophy in an obscene gesture that surprised the public, FIFA officials and even the authorities present at the ceremony. The episode generated criticism, memes and internal discussions within the organization about award protocols and athletes’ behavior.
Another record that went viral during the competition was that of a Moroccan fan surrounded by Senegalese fans. The image, shared thousands of times, became a symbol of the multicultural environment that marked the Qatar Cup and the coexistence between different fans throughout the tournament.
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