Mapping the Football Tourism for Sustainable Development Goals: A Bibliometric Approach to Understand Research Agenda

Abstract

This study seeks to create knowledge maps of football tourism with the goal of fostering sustainable development. Furthermore, it aims to introduce this field's research agenda in order to contribute to the sustainable future of football development. Examining 111 publications on football tourism and sustainable development from the Web of Science database between 2014 and 2024, we employ bibliometric analysis methods within CiteSpace software to uncover collaborative relationships among authors, institutions, and countries, as well as to identify research trends through keyword analysis. The findings reveal that scholars like Daddi, Tiberio, Hunt, Kate, Wyke, Sally, and Kellison have significant contributions in the field, working closely together in various research teams. These institutions are pioneers in this field. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany have a wealth of research outputs and maintain strong collaborations with other countries, holding prominent positions in the network. There is a wide range of topics covered in football tourism and sustainable development research, such as sustainable development goals, carbon footprint, environmental management in professional football, university sports, and circular economy. Lately, there has been a growing focus on the practical aspects of sustainable football tourism. This includes exploring ways to engage audiences, manage resources effectively, and implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Future research directions include improving global collaboration, encouraging knowledge exchange and resource integration, and investigating the use of cutting-edge technologies in football tourism.