The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup™ took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December and proved to be an unforgettable tournament. The host nation Qatar had qualified automatically. They were the lowest ranked team at this tournament, and they were making their first appearance at the World Cup. Canada was making its return to the World Cup (it was their second appearance since 1986). Wales also made its return to the tournament (their second appearance since 1958).
From the very beginning, Qatar was the favorite to host the 2022 World Cup. Five candidates (including the USA, South Korea, Japan and Australia) had submitted their bids by February 2, 2009, and it was these countries that were competing in the final stage against the Middle Eastern nation. Initially, as many as 11 candidates were considered, but Mexico and Indonesia, among others, dropped out during the initial selection phase. On December 2, 2010, the FIFA Executive Committee decided in Zurich to award Qatar the right to host the 2022 World Cup. The small Asian country received respectively 11,10,11 and 14 points in the vote, thus securely overtaking the United States' bid.
There had been much controversy surrounding the decision of the world football federation's governing body. In 2013, France Football published an investigative report that uncovered the backstory behind Qatar's World Cup award. The public perception was that the sheikhs had 'bought' the rights to host the 2022 World Cup in return for investment. It had also been established that the president of FIFA at the time, Gianni Infantino, was a resident of Qatar, which had only inflamed the mood around the tournament and undermined the credibility and status of the organization.
The decision to host the World Cup in the middle eastern country of Qatar back in 2010 raised a lot of scandalous questions regarding human rights violations and the poor living conditions and treatments given to immigrant workers during the construction of the World Cup stadiums. It also raised heightened concerns regarding the general safety and care expected of those global fans coming from diverse cultural backgrounds. Many expected reassurances that such fans would be respected if they chose to attend a World Cup which was being held in a highly conservative Islamist nation.
This was the first time that the event was held during the winter months period on the calendar (November/December) instead of the usual summer months period. The choice of these months to host the most important football tournament in the world had aroused extreme emotions from the very beginning. Due to the high temperatures in Qatar in the summer, it would be impossible to organize matches in this period as the players could suffer health problems. It was a drastic change from the norm, which always saw the competition being played between the end and the start of the new league season. Furthermore, there was an emergency in which players were released by their clubs in the middle of the season to be able to attend training and national team matches at the World Cup.
However, the 2022 FIFA World Cup was always certain to be a tournament like no other. It was the first time that the most famous competition in global sport was held in the Arab world, it was played in such a small geographic area which made transportation to matches short and easier, and fans of all 32 nations could congregate in one space to bond over a shared passion. It was also the first time that the Legendary Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the most coveted prize of them all: the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
The format for this tournament was copied from the previous tournament. This meant that there was a first round which was made up of a group stage phase consisting of eight groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group then proceeded to a second round which was made up of a knockout stage phase.
Across eight unique stadiums, the 32 teams of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ began their journey on 20 November. It was marked by unexpected twists and outstanding performances.
Although many favorites advanced, the group stage proved to be challenging for every team. Argentina was stunned by Saudi Arabia, while Japan triumphed over Germany in a nail-biting match. Consequently, Die Mannschaft (the nickname for Germany’s national team side) and Belgium were eliminated early. Belgium was pushed out by Croatia and the tournament's surprise package, Morocco.
Under the guidance of Walid Regragui, Morocco topped their group, while France confidently claimed first place in Group D.
It was not to be for four-time champions Germany or 21st-century titans Spain in Group E. Japan had other ideas, and in slaying both of those giants they finished top in their group. The Samurai Blue (the nickname for the Japan National team side) also became the only third team in World Cup history, and the first since West Germany in 1970, to win two separate games in which they had been trailing at half-time.
Some of the most exhilarating performances in FIFA World Cup history were showcased during the knockout stage of Qatar 2022.
In a FIFA World Cup™ packed with surprises and intrigue from the off, few other squads managed to win the hearts and minds quite like Morocco, who became the first nation from Africa, and the first- ever Arab nation, to reach the semi- final stage.
For the first time in 88 years, an African team reached the World Cup semi-finals. Morocco were the continental trailblazers. After sinking Belgium in the group stage, they eliminated Spain in the round of 16 and Portugal in the quarter-finals. The Atlas Lions (the nickname for Morocco’s National team side) also gave France a strict examination in the semi-finals before losing an end-to-end encounter with Croatia 2-1 in the battle for third place.
Croatia’s achievements are among the greatest in FIFA World Cup history. Despite a population of less than four million, they finished second and third in back-to-back editions.
While Zlatko Dalić lost several key players of his 2018 side, such as Danijel Subašić, Ivan Rakitić and Mario Mandžukić, new stars emerged in the shape of Dominik Livaković and Joško Gvardiol to complement the divine talent of Luka Modrić. The Croatian highlight was the stunning elimination of tournament favorites Brazil enroute to finishing third.
Les Bleus (the nickname for France’ National team side) were the reigning World Champions. They advanced with victories against Poland and England, while Argentina's path to the final featured a nail-biting penalty shoot-out win against the Netherlands and a 3-0 triumph over 2018 FIFA World Cup finalists Croatia.
It was the perfect final to an unforgettable FIFA World Cup™, with Argentina and France delivering an all-time classic at the Lusail Stadium (pictured above) in the city of Lusail. It had a capacity to hold 88, 966 people.
La Albiceleste (the nickname for the Argentina National team side) looked to be in control for most of the match and they were leading with two goals by half-time, thanks to Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. However, France produced a stirring late comeback inspired by two goals from star man Kylian Mbappé.
During a breathless and breath-taking extra time, Argentina regained the lead with Messi's second goal, only for Mbappe to level once again. Ultimately, the match was decided by penalties, with Gonzalo Montiel clinching Argentina's historic triumph of a third World Cup title. Their first one achieved since the glory days of Diego Maradona back in 1986.
After six goals in the Argentina v. France World Cup final match, including a hat-trick for France’s Kylian Mbappé, and 120 minutes of pulsating action in what many have called the greatest final ever. It proved to be a fairy-tale ending for Lionel Messi as he had finally captured the one trophy which had eluded him for the most part of his illustrious career.
Five, and arguably some of the most pivotal goals at this edition of the World Cup were scored by Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi. Not even the Albiceleste’s fiercest rivals could resent this wonderful player for this well-deserved moment with the prize he had struggled to have for so long. Argentina's Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made some iconic key saves throughout their world cup journey. During the trophy presentation ceremony, Messi was also given the honor of being named the adidas Golden Ball winner, an award decided by the FIFA Technical Group.
With eight goals in seven appearances, France’s star player Kylian Mbappé had joined an elite group made up only of six men to have ever scored eight or more goals in a single edition of the tournament. Mbappé also became just the fifth player in the history of the FIFA World Cup to score in separate finals, he was the first to score a hat-trick in a final since Geoff Hurst in 1966, and he is now established as the highest-scoring player in the history of football’s showpiece fixture with four goals across the 2018 and 2022 matches.
At the 2022 World Cup, records were broken on and off the pitch with a total of 172 goals scored during the 64-game tournament.
Participating Teams: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, United States of America (USA), Uruguay, Wales.
Cities and Stadiums: Lusail (Lusail Stadium), Al Rayyan (Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium), Al Khor (Al Bayt Stadium), Al-Wakrah (Al Janoub Stadium), Doha (Al Thumama Stadium), Doha (Education City Stadium), Doha (Khalifa International Stadium) and Doha (Stadium 974).
Average World Cup Match Attendance: 40, 000
Top Scorers: Kylian Mbappé (8 goals), Lionel Messi (7 goals), Julián Alvarez (4 goals) and Olivier Giroud (4 goals).
1st, 2nd and 3rd Places: Argentina (Winners), France (Runners’ Up) and Croatia (Third Place)
Source Information: https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-summary/
Source Information: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022
Source Information: https://stadiumdb.com/tournaments/world_cup/2022
Source Information: https://www.transfermarkt.com/weltmeisterschaft-2022/torschuetzenliste/pokalwettbewerb/WM22/saison_id/2021
