Category: Kicking Off the Qatar World Cup

The opening games of any World Cup are some of the most important games. Not only do they give your nation the opportunity to earn points which could lead them out of the group stage, but these early results have a huge impact on team morale and mental outlook for the tournament. The importance of these games cannot be overstated, and it often results in upsets due to the large rewards or consequences of winning or losing these games. I am going to be discussing a few of the opening games along with my predictions for them.

The first game of the Qatar World Cup will take place on November 20th at the Al Bayt Stadium. This game will be Qatar against Ecuador. Every World Cup is kicked off by the host nation playing and this one is no different. This will be a massive test for Qatar as they didn’t need to qualify for the World Cup, due to being the host country. Although they are not the favorites to win this game, their home nation advantage as well as the electric support from the fans could give them the edge in this one. This is compounded by Ecuador having few standout players and a predictable style of play. I think that this game will end with Qatar winning 1-0.

The second week-one game I will be discussing is USA vs Wales, which will be played in the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on November 23rd. This will be a huge game for both teams. They are in a very competitive group and this game could be the deciding factor on whether or not they make it through to the knockout stages. Overall, the USMNT has a much better team, but Wales has far better individual stars, including Gareth Bale. As a result, I think that neither team will gain an advantage in this matchup, leading my prediction to be a 1-1 draw.

The final first-round game that I will be talking about is Belgium vs Canada. This game is taking place on November 23rd in the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. The reason I selected this game is that it will be one of the highest-quality games prior to the knockout stages. Canada is likely going to be one of the biggest underdogs in this competition. Although Belgium has an excellent team, they may underestimate Canada and be caught out. Nonetheless, this game is going to be very exciting even if you are not a fan of either team. Canada is certainly going to put up a fight regardless of the score, but my prediction for this game is 2-1 to Belgium.

These exciting games make up just a fraction of the first round. My fingers are crossed that my predictions are correct, but more importantly that you are able to watch these games and enjoy the competition. Thank you for tuning into my final post as we kick off the Qatar World Cup.

The players of the World Cup are almost as important as the teams. Regardless of how well your country performs in the World Cup, the players make the games exciting and make the competition what it is today. I am going to highlight some of the best players at the World Cup who will be playing in the competition for the first or last time. Whether these players play for the nation you support or not, these players are ones you should keep up with.

The best players attract fans from around the world to watch, no matter what team you support or what country you are from. They are a joy to watch and make the beautiful game exciting and full of life. Two players who will have every pair of eyes on them are Messi and Ronaldo. They are arguably the best two players of all time and the only thing holding back their legacies is that neither one of them has won a World Cup. This will also be both of their last World Cups due to their increasing age. Other players whose last World Cup it’ll be are Manuel Neuer and Sergio Ramos. Manuel Neuer revolutionized being a goalkeeper and will be representing Germany in hopes of securing his second World Cup trophy. As for Sergio Ramos, he is arguably the best defender to ever play. He is extremely versatile and shows exceptional leadership on and off the field. He will be a key part of Spain’s defense as he also looks to win his second World Cup trophy.

Unfortunately, the Qatar World Cup is missing some of the world’s biggest stars, either through injury or through their nation failing to qualify. Often smaller nations will have a superstar player who never makes it to the World Cup as he is unable to carry his nation to victory during the qualification rounds. This was the case with Erling Haaland who plays for Norway. Haaland has been a breakout star for Manchester City and his presence will certainly be missed. This is also the case for Jorginho and Chiesa who are both excellent players but won’t be playing at the World Cup. This was due to Italy failing to qualify, despite being the champions of Europe, which was a major upset. As for players that will be missing the World Cup due to injury, Calvin Phillips and Reece James are both out with injuries that require surgery. Both are key players for England and are some of the best players in the world in their respective positions. Other players unable to play because of injuries are Liverpool star, Diogo Jota, and German international, Marco Reus. Both players are really exciting to watch and bring life to the game, so they will be sorely missed.

The World Cup is always filled with ups and downs and the players involved experience the same. I am incredibly excited to watch the best players in the world play in Qatar and will simultaneously miss those who will not be there.

Works Cited

EUROSPORT. “Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.” FOOTBALL NEWS – CRISTIANO RONALDO: LIONEL MESSI RIVALRY HAS MADE ME A BETTER PLAYER, 22 Aug. 2019, www.eurosport.com/football/football-news-cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-rivalry-has-made-me-a-better-player_sto7416173/story.shtml.

This post is specifically tailored to those who will be traveling to the Qatar World Cup, although it is relevant for anyone interested in broadening their understanding of this competition. I am talking about tickets and accommodation! Both are absolute necessities if you are planning on watching any games live. This should also help with avoiding any confusion and with budgeting when it comes to selecting the right hotels and games to watch.

Although you have a few options as for the type of accommodation you choose, including hostels and hostels, I will only be explaining hotels as these are the safest and most reliable places to stay in Qatar. When booking a hotel, I recommend using the Qatar 2022 Official Booking Site. This site has a very user-friendly interface that allows you to sort hotels through a series of filters. This is great if you are on a tight budget and are looking for a more affordable option. If this is the case, I recommend staying in the Fan Village Qetaifan Island North. This is an affordable option at around $200 per night. It will also give you the unique experience in staying in a large tent-style hotel that is very close to several of the stadiums. If you truly have an unlimited budget, then I am very jealous of you. Nonetheless, a perfect option for you would be the Paramount Residences, which is $6,200 per night. This property is a large, modern, apartment-style building. The hefty price comes from its great location at the heart of Doha as well as its facilities, including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, and coffee shop (Qatar 2022™).

That brings us to tickets. You have eight stadiums to choose from, three of which I touched on in a previous blog post. More important than the stadium are the teams playing in them. You have the option of watching group stage games as well as knockout stage games all the way up until the final. The cost of these games varies greatly. The group stage games are much cheaper than the knockout stage games which are much cheaper than the final. This is due to the importance of these games as well as the desire to watch better teams play. Regardless of the game you choose to watch if any you could be paying a pretty penny. The average price for a knockout stage game is $150 and a ticket to the final would be around $850. Residents of Qatar get a discount on these ticket prices, which will be a great experience for them to witness the World Cup in their home country (Sporting News 2022).

Overall, this can be a confusing process, especially given that Qatar has such a unique culture and governance. Given this, it is important to have a clear plan on your accommodations as well as tickets. Hopefully, my breakdown and advice help you plan your logistics as we kick off the Qatar World Cup.

Works Cited

“How Much Are World Cup Tickets? Price, Cost to Watch Matches at FIFA Qatar 2022.” Sporting News, www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/world-cup-tickets-cost-price-fifa-qatar-match-2022/n0ylcazcagi9nuutapmwcmwy.

Qatar 2022™, www.qatar2022.qa/book/en/search.

Everybody loves an underdog or a dark horse, and the Qatar World Cup has no shortage of them. As discussed in my last post, some powerhouses are traveling to the competition, but that doesn’t mean that one of them is guaranteed to win it. Often an unexpected team goes far in the competition. In the 2018 Russia World Cup, Croatia made it to the final and ended up coming in second place. Croatia wasn’t even in the top fifteen teams competing. I am going to break down the top three teams that I think are most likely to exceed expectations and go deep into the knockout stages of the competition.

The first dark horse of the 2022 Qatar World Cup is Senegal. Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, declaring them the best team in Africa. This makes their ranking of 14th place far too low. Senegal has an incredibly strong defense and goalkeeper with the likes of Mendy and Koulibaly forming the spine of the team. They also have a very exciting attack with Sadio Mane, one of the best goal-scorers in the world, leading the team from the front. I can see Senegal going far in this tournament, so do not let their ranking trick you into thinking they will be facing an early exit.

The United States is not seen as a soccer nation as it has such a heavy involvement in other sports. As a result, the team has been lackluster in almost every previous soccer tournament. In my opinion, this year is going to be much different. This is by far the most exciting team that the United States has ever had. The excellent young players, including McKennie, Reyna, and Pulisic, make up the basis for the team and serve as a beacon of hope for fans. This has not gone unnoticed as this team has risen in the rankings to 15th, but I think that they will go much higher and will surprise a lot of fans at the Qatar World Cup.

The third underdog of the 2022 Qatar World Cup is the Canadian National Team. Canada is certainly not widely considered to be a powerful soccer nation, but don’t write them off yet. With the likes of Davies and David leading the team with their exciting attacking presence, Canada will likely outperform the low expectations. They have competitive group stage games, which will be a test for them, but if they make it out into the knockout stages, there is no telling how far they’ll go. They will prove their 24th-place ranking out of the 32 teams to be an underestimate of their abilities.

These dark horses and underdogs make watching the World Cup as exciting as it is. While rankings can help determine who statistics believe should win, these games rarely go to plan, making it all the more exciting. These are just three of the dark horses that you should be keeping an eye out for as we kick off the Qatar World Cup!

Now we’re getting to what the 2022 Qatar World Cup is all about; the exciting teams from around the world playing against one another. Although the teams needed to qualify for the World Cup, there is still a large gap between the capabilities of the best team and those of the worst. I am going to be discussing the three teams I believe have the best chance at becoming world champions, bringing pride, honor, and the World Cup Trophy back to their nation.

The first team is ranked #1 in the world in FIFA’s Men’s National Team Rankings. They are also favorites to win the World Cup. This team is none other than Brazil. They have won the most World Cups in the past, and their current team is certainly at the level to add one more World Cup to their trophy cabinet. Their attacking stars of Neymar Jr, Vinicius, and Richarlison are arguably the most dangerous strike force in the competition. Paired with a creative midfield and a solid defense and goalkeeper, they have an excellent shot at winning the World Cup.

The team that I think has the second-best shot of winning the World Cup has won the competition twice before and is the reigning World Cup champion after winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Can you guess what team it is? It’s France! They are currently ranked #4 in the world in FIFA’s Men’s National Team Rankings and are predicted by sports betting companies across the board to be the third most likely team to win the World Cup. I believe that these ratings are slightly low. The young and exciting team that won the World Cup four years ago is just as exciting this year. In fact, they’ve added many young players to the squad as well. France has an attack that is extremely close to the standard set by Brazil. It also has a better midfield than Brazil, but a slightly worse combination of defenders and a goalkeeper. It will be a close match-up between these two teams; it would make a great World Cup Final.

Finally, the team I believe will take home the bronze medal at the Qatar World Cup is… Argentina! Currently ranked third in the world by FIFA’s Men’s National Team Rankings and is the second favorite to win the World Cup. They have the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, at the heart of this team. They won the most recent Copa America tournament, which is a competition between all South American teams, giving them momentum coming into this tournament. They have great midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers, but the chemistry between them lets them down at times, leading me to put them in third place.

With teams like Brazil, France, and Argentina competing to win the World Cup, it is guaranteed to be a spectacular event. There will very likely be underdogs (I’ll try and predict those too) and other great teams, which will all challenge for the World Cup Trophy.

It wouldn’t be a World Cup without controversies. In recent years FIFA has been under fire and the Qatar World Cup was at the heart of this. There were controversies surrounding the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar, the finances behind hosting a World Cup, and many human rights issues that are shocking to think about.

From the start, the Qatar World Cup was founded on corruption. A 2014 investigation by the FBI into FIFA revealed that Jack Warner, the Vice President of FIFA at the time, took a bribe of almost $2 million to award Qatar the World Cup. This was paired with promises by Qatari television companies and the Qatar government promising to donate several hundred million dollars if Qatar were designated as the host country. This led to the arrest of several executives in FIFA in 2019 (BBC News 2022). Due to the money invested by FIFA into Qatar and an overall lack of ethics the host country was not changed.

The extreme cost associated with hosting the World Cup has caused other controversies to emerge. Many fans and activists claim that the $220 billion Qatar has spent on stadiums and accommodations should go toward solving societal issues (BBC News 2022). I completely agree that this amount is far too high. Although amazing, these stadiums will be used much less frequently after the World Cup and the money could be used to help millions of people in need of support.

Worst of all, the World Cup in Qatar is riddled with human rights issues. Firstly, homosexuality is illegal in Qatar. This is punishable by fines and imprisonment, but they will likely be more lenient as all eyes will be on Qatar during the World Cup. Nonetheless, there is a need for change in the Qatari legislature to make it more inclusive. Another human rights issue that has arisen is the treatment of workers who are building the stadiums and infrastructure needed for the World Cup. Workers were severely underpaid, and some were even unpaid and were threatened with being deported if they refused to sign papers saying that they had been paid and treated well. For those workers that were being paid, most were given less than $200 per month for 48-hour work weeks. This was later raised to $275 per month, which is still ridiculously low considering Qatar’s high cost of living (BBC News 2022). A report from The Guardian revealed that over 6,500 migrant workers have died since construction for the World Cup began in 2010. This is completely unacceptable and has been swept under the rug by the government in Qatar. Upwards of 50 workers were deported this August for protesting low pay and poor working conditions, leaving those working with a very difficult decision to make (The Guardian 2021).

Although the games of the World Cup will be amazing as will the experience there, it is important to consider the dark controversies that have occurred to make it a reality. Many people are boycotting the World Cup because of these ethical issues emerging. Will you still be watching the World Cup, or will you be making a stand against Qatar and FIFA’s actions?

Works Cited

Arlidge, John. “Qatar 2022: Inside the Most Controversial World Cup Ever.” The Sunday Times Magazine | The Sunday Times, The Sunday Times, 24 Jan. 2022, www.thetimes.co.uk/article/qatar-2022-inside-the-most-controversial-world-cup-ever-9kp3vst6v.

“Revealed: 6,500 Migrant Workers Have Died in Qatar since World Cup Awarded.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 Feb. 2021, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/23/revealed-migrant-worker-deaths-qatar-fifa-world-cup-2022.

“World Cup 2022: How Has Qatar Treated Foreign Workers?” BBC News, BBC, 25 Aug. 2022, www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042.

Every four years the World Cup is hosted in a country different from its previous host country. Each country is so vastly different from one another, so it is important to adapt to the cultural norms of the host country that is welcoming fans from around the world. This is especially important this year with Qatar being the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup. With such big differences in cultural expectations, it is important to understand and respect the culture of Qatar before visiting there for the World Cup.

Qatar’s presence and deep history in the Middle East are rooted in Islam and with that comes norms and expectations that need to be understood and followed. Firstly, homosexuality is prohibited by law. As someone from the United States, this obviously seems wrong and is a reason that some people are boycotting the World Cup, but this is something that needs to be understood so getting in legal trouble can be avoided. Speaking of legal trouble, there are many other laws and regulations that should be understood before arriving in Qatar. One is that you can be arrested and imprisoned for criticizing the Emir (monarch) of Qatar. So, no matter how much you don’t support his rulings, avoid speaking about politics, especially any criticisms of him. Additionally, to the disappointment of many fans, alcohol is not tolerated in public. It is only served in licensed hotels and bars and will likely be very expensive as it is against the Islamic religion. Pork is also something that won’t be available in Qatar due to its consumption conflicting with the Islamic faith (Cultural Behavior Guide 2022).

Although you won’t be arrested for it, cultural norms are also something that needs to be followed while in Qatar. No matter how tempting it may be to wear clothing that exposes large portions of skin in the heat, it is important to dress to fit the customs of Qatar. You do not need to wear typical Qatari clothing, but the dress code is conservative. This means that both shoulders and knees should be covered by clothing for both genders. Additionally, like Western culture, manners should always be followed.

Like a fingerprint, Qatar is unique and needs to be understood and respected

So, with such a drastic shift in cultural norms, what should you do? It is important to drink a lot of water and to wear thin clothes. Although the clothes must cover your skin, they will help keep the sun off of you and if you chose thin clothes, they would keep you cool. As for alcohol, stick to drinking in designated places and do not become intoxicated. Overall, it is better to avoid drinking alcohol when possible. Furthermore, it is important to be polite to all Qataris and traveling fans. Do not stare, be polite, and avoid taking pictures of anyone without their permission. The Qatar World Cup will be a great experience with new cultures to learn from and some great games to watch. So as long as you learn about the culture in Qatar and have respect for everyone involved, the World Cup will be a great experience!

Works Cited

“Cultural Behavior Guide.” Qatar World Cup 2022, 23 June 2022, www.qatarwc2022.com/cultural-behavior-guide/.

Qatar is making history as the first Middle Eastern country to hold the World Cup. This is one of the primary reasons, among scandalous factors that I’ll get into in another post, that they were chosen as the host country. Qatar is a beautiful country in the Persian Gulf. Its area of 4,468 square miles makes it around 20% smaller than Connecticut. Qatar certainly should not be written off because of its size; in fact, it should be perceived as a major benefit. It allows those traveling to experience the World Cup to easily travel between games and different events. This is a sharp contrast to the last World Cup, which took place in Russia, where fans had to travel hundreds or thousands of miles if they wanted to watch multiple games.

Above is a map of Qatar in 2022, outlining its regions and local borders.

The climate is another big factor that makes Qatar such a unique host country. In the summer months, it is not uncommon that the temperatures climb to upwards of 105°F. There is also very minimal rainfall at around three inches, which compounds the heat, forming hot, dry Summers. This would make playing games unsafe for players as well as for the fans watching. For this very reason, the 2022 World Cup was moved to the Winter for the first time in the event’s history. The Winter months provide much more comfortable temperatures with the average temperature being 72.5°F across November and December (Weather Spark).

Before being selected as the host country for the World Cup, Qatar had few venues that could support the hundreds of thousands of fans traveling to watch the World Cup. As a result, FIFA invested $1.7 billion in Qatar. This money goes directly toward building modern stadiums and improving infrastructure to support the fans coming to Qatar. Along with government funding, the result of this money has developed into seven stadiums, an airport, new roads, almost one hundred hotels, and an improved subway system. This is not only exciting for the people traveling to the games as it makes their lives much easier, but also for the people of Qatar who now have significantly better infrastructure along with new jobs. It is predicted that this will add over $17 billion to Qatar’s economy, making this an excellent investment (BBC 2022).

As for the stadiums that are being built, they are all incredibly modern, have air conditioning, and each contains at least 40,000 seats. Modeled after the Arab and Islamic hand-crafted bowls created during the development of civilization in the Middle East, the Lusail Iconic Stadium is the biggest stadium that has been built in Qatar, holding 80,000 people. The construction of the stadium began in 2014 and was completed in late 2021. This stadium will be the venue of the 2022 World Cup final, a highly prestigious honor. For those in Qatar who are worried about what it’ll be used for after the World Cup don’t fret, because it’s going to be transitioned into a community of shops, schools, eateries, and wellness clinics (FIFA 2022). For those who will be seeing it on television from the comfort of their home (like me) stay tuned as we get ready for kickoff in Qatar.

Pictured above is the Lusail Iconic Stadium, which was completed in 2021.

Works Cited

“Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Qatar.” Weather Spark, weatherspark.com/y/150272/Average-Weather-in-Qatar-Year-Round#:~:text=Climate%20and%20Average%20Weather%20Year,or%20above%20112%C2%B0F.

“Lusail Stadium: Qatar 2022.” FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, www.qatar2022.qa/en/tournament/stadiums/lusail-stadium.

“World Cup 2022: How Has Qatar Treated Foreign Workers?” BBC News, BBC, 25 Aug. 2022, www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042.

The World Cup is the most prestigious competition in the world of soccer. It brings fans from all over the world to watch and is very fast-paced, with this year’s tournament lasting from November 20th to December 8th. Every four years thirty-two teams compete to win the World Cup, but this wasn’t always the case.

The first World Cup took place in 1930 as FIFA, the global governing body of soccer, had decided that soccer was so popular in the 1928 Olympics that they could form their own competition. The tournament was not the instant success that FIFA had hoped for. Due to the high costs for European teams to travel to Uruguay, the chosen host country and eventual tournament winner, only thirteen nations ended up competing. In fact, as a result of a disagreement over the emergence of the World Cup, the International Olympic Committee removed soccer from the Olympics until 1936. The World Cup’s popularity continued to grow throughout the twentieth century, allowing the tournament to expand featuring 24 teams in 1982 and 32 teams, the current amount, in 1998 (Britannica).

Today, the World Cup has a highly organized structure spanning from qualification to group stages and then knockout games. In the three years preceding the tournament each country competes regionally to earn a spot in the World Cup. After qualification, thirty-two teams enter to compete in the World Cup. They are divided into eight groups of four. Each team plays six group games. The top two teams in each group, which is determined by a point system where three points are awarded for a win, one for a tie, and zero for a loss, advance to the knockout rounds. The knockout rounds consist of the round of sixteen followed by quarter-finals, semifinals, and then the World Cup final.

Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, eight teams have won the World Cup, including Brazil winning five times, Germany and Italy winning four times each, Argentina and France and Uruguay winning twice each, and England and Spain each winning once. The victor is awarded the World Cup trophy, adds a star above their badge on their jersey, and brings the highest pride to their nation. Thousands of people travel from around the world to watch the World Cup in person, and over 3.2 billion people worldwide watched the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The World Cup makes or breaks players and brings fans to tears, some of joy and others of heartbreak.

Each tournament a different country hosts the World Cup. They are responsible for having adequate stadiums, safety precautions, and accommodations for traveling fans. This year Qatar is hosting the World Cup. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the World Cup is being hosted in the Northern Hemisphere’s Winter months. This is largely in part due to the extreme temperatures experienced in the summer months in Qatar. The build-up to the Qatar World Cup has not been a smooth ride with controversies unfolding, upsets already occurring, and incredible players traveling, so the Qatar World Cup is a must-watch event.

Works Cited

Britannica, The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia. “World Cup”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Sep. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/facts/World-Cup-football. Accessed 7 September 2022.