Major sporting events are key vectors for building the image of a nation. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar demonstrated that a country in the Arab Gulf region can successfully host a world-class event, generate measurable soft power gains and spread positive reputational capital across the region. This paper, based on a netnographic methodology, identifies five positive dimensions of transferable legacy: organizational excellence, cultural hospitality, quality of infrastructure, exceptional overall appreciation, and quantified soft power. It then examines how Saudi Arabia, host of the 2034 World Cup as part of its Vision 2030, can leverage each of these dimensions to accelerate its own national branding trajectory.