FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar - All You Need to Know

The biggest sporting event of this year - FIFA World Cup 2022 - is just around the corner and billions of fans all over the world are preparing for the month-long spectacle. This football tournament is going to be the most watched and talked about global event, no doubt about it. 

As the starting day of the tournament approaches, the excitement is growing more and more among the fans. Some of the living legends of the football world, such as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, are also going to show up on the football pitch as members of their national teams which only adds to the overall football fever taking over the world. 

FIFA World Cup 2022 - When & Where? 

This year, the World Cup is taking place in Qatar, the first Arab country to ever host the greatest football event. The tournament kicks off on November 20, 2022 and will end on December 18, 2022 when the finals are going to be held. Although it’s usually taking place during the summer, this time around the rescheduling needed to happen due to Qatar’s high temperatures during those months.   

To be able to respond to the requirements for hosting the World Cup, Qatar has built 8 stadiums - Al Bayt Stadium, Ahmad Bin Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Stadium 974 and Lusail Stadium. All of them are located within a 50 km radius from the Doha city center. Lusail Stadium is the largest of them all with 80,000 seats and will be the location of the final game of the tournament. 

How Many Teams are Playing in The World Cup 2022? 

There are 32 teams playing in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Defending the title of the world’s best is France which won 4 years ago when the World Cup was held in Russia. If Les Bleus manage to win this time around as well that would be the first successive title win since 1962. The first game, played between Qatar and Ecuador, will take place at Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm local time (5pm CET). 

What are The World Cup 2022 Groups? 

All 32 teams are divided into 8 groups, each of them containing 4 teams. Once the group stage is completed, the winner and the runner-up of the group competition progress to the knockout stage. Also known as the round of 16, this stage works in a single-elimination style and ends with a World Cup finale.  

FIFA World Cup 2022 Groups

Who are The Main Contenders for The World Cup Title? 

Brazil is seen as the favorite to win the World Cup 2022 but will they be able to meet the expectations remains to be seen. Both Argentina and France, as a defending champion, certainly have a chance to end up raising the trophy. England, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark also rank in the top 10 most likely to win the tournament. 

What is The FIFA World Cup 2022 Mascot? 

During the Qatar 2022 Final Draw, which took place in Doha on April 1, 2022, the organizers also revealed the official tournament mascot - La’eeb. Inspired by the keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by the Arab men, La’eeb celebrates the talent and amazing skill-set of football players. The literal translation of the word ‘La’eeb’ from Arabic means ‘super-skilled player’.