What is the FIFA World Cup?
Since 1930, the FIFA World Cup has been staged every four years. It features senior men’s national teams from FIFA’s member countries and is the grandest stage for any football player. The only time it took a break was during World War II in 1942 and 1946. The reigning champions are Argentina, who won their third title at the FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament.
The contest starts with a qualification phase that lasts three years. It’s followed up by 32 teams that compete in a month-long tournament. The host nation gets thrown into the mix automatically, and can qualify for the group stage.
No sporting event is as loved and watched as the World Cup. It’s one of the biggest shows on earth. The 2018 World Cup had a viewership of 3.57 billion, that’s half of our planet’s population. The 2026 event will give us some more excitement with 48 teams competing for glory.
When and where is the 2022 FIFA World Cup being held?
From November 20 to December 18, 2022, the 2022 FIFA World Cup took place in Qatar. Marking the first time the tournament has been held in the Arab and Muslim world. It’s also the second time being held in Asia after South Korea and Japan hosted it back in 2002.
After a grueling 29-day tournament featuring 32 teams from five confederations, Argentina came out on top. In the finals they went up against France. The game ended in a draw during extra time with a score of 3-3. Eventually penalties were used where Argentina managed to come out on top again and win with a score of 4-2.
Why is the 2022 FIFA World Cup a big deal?
The FIFA World Cup is important, especially the 2022 one. It’s the first being held in the Arab and Muslim world. And since 2002, it’s only been the second in Asia. This major international sports event attracts a lot of viewers, with 2018 being watched by around 3.57 billion people. Not only is it watched by a lot of people, but it also generates money for FIFA and the host country. A chance for countries to show off their skills in soccer and take a shot at becoming world champions. They can boost tourism and even make jobs for its hosting country’s economy.
Which teams have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022, saw 32 teams qualified by region.
Region Teams
- Asia:- Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates
- Africa:- Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia
- Europe:- Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
- North America:- Costa Rica, Mexico, United States
- South America:- Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay
Who are the top players to watch at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
The best players of the 2022 FIFA world cup were ranked by ESPN, ClutchPoints and Al Jazeera. ESPN came up with a list of the top 50 players, ClutchPoints recommended Salah, Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne. Al Jazeera’s recommendations were Kylian Mbappé, Messi and Ronaldo. And FIFA World Cup News had Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland. ClutchPoints also highlighted Salah, Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne.
What are some of the most anticipated matches of the tournament?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was filled with thrilling matches, including some of the most anticipated ones.
- USA vs Iran: This match was highly anticipated due to the political tensions between the two countries.
- Spain vs Germany: This match was expected to be a thrilling encounter between two footballing giants.
- Portugal vs Uruguay: This match featured two of the world’s best players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez, and was expected to be a close contest.
- Brazil vs Serbia: This match was expected to be a close game between two strong teams.
- England vs USA: Both teams played well in the qualifying games, and this match was expected to be a challenging one for both sides.
How does the 2022 FIFA World Cup work?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was held in Qatar, and lasted from November 20th to December 18th, 2022. The tournament featured teams from five confederations, and a total of 32. The host nation was able to qualify for the group stage, starting with the qualification phase that took place over three years. Once they were in the tournament phase, they joined the other teams to compete for the title at venues in Qatar.
The tournament was split into two rounds: Group Stage and Knockout Round. To make it easier for everyone to keep up with what’s going on, all 32 teams were divided into eight groups during the Group Stage. From there, only two would move on to Knockout Round 3. In this round, teams played against each other in one match tournaments. With winners moving on and losers being eliminated. Argentina was declared the winner, earning their third title at this tournament.
Where can I watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup matches?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was broadcasted all around the world through Host Broadcast Services (HBS), part of Infront Sports & Media. They used 5.1 surround sound to capture all the matches in Ultra high definition and HLG High-dynamic-range. The tournament was shown on two English channels in the US, Fox Sports and Telemundo, and two channels in the UK, BBC and ITV. Be sure to check with local broadcasters to see if they have the rights to broadcast matches.
The controversies surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Criticism has arisen from FIFA’s decision to have the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with concerns about whether it is a suitable host country, and the bidding process being fair. Those who criticize this decision point out that there are numerous reasons why this should be the case. For one, Qatar has a history of violating human rights. Sports in general are not as popular there which brings into question how they can host the greatest soccer teams on earth. It’s also been said that hosting costs will skyrocket due to their climate and lack of infrastructure. With all these issues raised against this decision, boycotts were declared by a variety of nations, clubs, and players alike.
Conclusion
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was a big deal for Qatar and the Middle East. It created around $20 billion and led to many jobs being created. Held in construction, real estate, and hospitality areas, about 1.5 million were able to secure work. With all good things, you have to take the bad with it. Qatar was able to show off its culture and hospitality to everyone involved. While doing this it also raised concerns about its human rights record which includes treatment of migrant workers, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. There is no success without controversy and that’s the case here too. Many countries, clubs, and players boycotted the event due to corruption allegations as well as calling Qatar an unfit host country.