The greatest show on turf kicks off tomorrow when hosts Qatar and Ecuador get the ball rolling for the 2022 World Cup in Doha at 11pm, Thai time.
The world is eagerly awaiting a football extravaganza — but who will be lifting the Fifa trophy come the evening of Dec 18 in Doha? Can defending champions France win it again? Is football “coming home” to England? Can controversial superstar Cristiano Ronaldo help Portugal claim the top prize? Will Germany, Spain or the Netherlands be crowned champions? Is it time for Brazil’s Neymar or Argentina’s Lionel Messi to lift the coveted trophy? It’s going to be an exciting month.
FANS OF THE DAY
Build-up to Qatar 2022
A fan from Indonesia plays football along the waterfront in Doha this week ahead of the 2022 World Cup which kicks off tomorrow. (Photo: AFP)
THE FACTS
- The 2022 tournament will be the 22nd Fifa World Cup, 92 years after the inaugural edition in Uruguay (1930) and for the first time in Qatar.
- This is the first World Cup in the Middle East and the most expensive ever at about US$220 billion.
- Italy are the only one of eight past champions to miss the 2022 finals — they also failed to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.
- The 64 matches at Qatar 2022 will be held in five cities with all venues located within a 55km radius of the capital city of Doha. The stadiums all are air-conditioned.
- The opening match of Qatar 2022 will take place at Al Bayt Stadium on Nov 20, and the final at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Dec 18.
- Brazil are the most successful team in the World Cup, being crowned winners five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
- Brazil’s Pele is the only player to win three World Cups: in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
- The original World Cup trophy, commonly known as the Jules Rimet trophy, was permanently given to Brazil after winning the tournament three times in 1970. Unfortunately, the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen in 1983 and has not been recovered since.
- The highest scoring game in World Cup history was in 1954, when Austria defeated Switzerland 7-5.
- Russia’s Oleg Salenko holds the record for most individual goals in a single match, netting five goals against Cameroon in 1994. He scored a total of six goals at USA 1994 and shared the Golden Boot award with Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov.
- India withdrew from the competition in 1950 when they weren’t allowed to play barefoot in the tournament.
This file photo taken on June 21, 1970 shows Brazilian forward Pele (top) celebrating with his teammates (from left) Tostao, Carlos Alberto and Jairzinho during the World Cup final between Brazil and Italy in Mexico City. (Photo: AFP)
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