The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar represented a pinnacle in the politicization of major sporting events, ignited by debates surrounding severe human rights violations affecting migrant workers, extreme climatic conditions, geopolitical tensions, and restrictions on civil liberties, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals. Germany played a pivotal role in these debates: since the tournament’s awarding, numerous discussions led by political actors, media, interest groups, and NGOs have mobilized both the national discourse and intensified international tensions. Two key debates are examined in this contribution—concerning the conditions of migrant workers and the “One Love” armband campaign and illustrating the range of positions, protest repertoires, and dimensions of transformation associated with these conflict issues. The analysis demonstrates the extent to which the World Cup was leveraged as a platform for sports diplomacy and civil society protest, while also highlighting the considerable power wielded by global organizations such as FIFA. The debates document the persistent entanglement of sport, politics, and society, with human rights emerging as a particularly contentious focal point. Future major sporting events are likely to continue serving as arenas for debate and protest, with symbolic forms of dissent expected to gain greater prominence than outright boycotts.