Background
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the 22nd edition of the world’s biggest football tournament, and it will be held in Qatar. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in June and July, but due to concerns over extreme heat, it has been moved to November and December. This will be the first time the tournament is held in the Middle East and the first to be held in November and December.
Participants
A total of 32 teams will participate in the tournament, with the host nation, Qatar, automatically qualifying for the tournament. The other 31 teams will be selected through the qualifying rounds, which will take place in the years leading up to the tournament.
Format
The format of the tournament will be the same as in previous editions, with the 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, which will consist of 16 teams. The tournament will conclude with the final, which will be held on December 18, 2022, at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, a city located north of the capital, Doha.
Matches
The tournament will consist of a total of 64 matches, with each team playing three matches in the group stage. The matches will take place in eight venues across five host cities: Al-Daayen, Al-Khor, Al-Rayyan, Al-Wakrah, and the capital, Doha.
Goalscorers
It is impossible to predict who the top goalscorer of the tournament will be, as it will depend on the form of the players and their teams. However, some of the top candidates for the Golden Boot award include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Mohamed Salah.
Winner
Again, it is impossible to predict who will win the tournament, as it will depend on many factors, including the form of the teams, injuries, and luck. However, some of the top contenders include Brazil, Germany, France, Argentina, Spain, and Portugal.
Legacy
The legacy of the tournament remains to be seen, but it is hoped that it will help to raise the profile of football in the Middle East and provide a boost to the economy of Qatar. The construction of new stadiums and infrastructure for the tournament has been controversial, and it is hoped that these facilities will be put to good use after the tournament is over.
Controversy
The decision to award the tournament to Qatar has been controversial from the start, with allegations of corruption and concerns over human rights abuses. The extreme heat in Qatar during the summer months has also been a concern, leading to the decision to move the tournament to November and December. The treatment of migrant workers involved in the construction of the tournament infrastructure has also been criticized, with reports of poor working conditions and low wages.
