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FIFA World Cup 2022

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FIFA World Cup 2022
Year2022
Other titlesQatar 2022
CountryQatar
Dates20 November – 18 December
Num teams32
ChampionArgentina
Runner-upFrance
ThirdCroatia
FourthMorocco
Matches64
Goals172
Attendance3404252
Top scorerKylian Mbappé (8 goals)
PlayerLionel Messi
GoalkeeperEmiliano Martínez
Young playerEnzo Fernández
Prev2018
Next2026

FIFA World Cup 2022 was the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup, held from 20 November to 18 December 2022. It was the first World Cup hosted in the Middle East and the Arab world, and only the second held entirely in Asia after the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. The tournament was staged in Qatar, a nation with a small geographic footprint, necessitating a compact event across eight stadiums in five host cities.

Host selection

The host nation was selected by FIFA on 2 December 2010, marking the culmination of a contentious bidding process that also included proposals from the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. The decision to award the tournament to Qatar, made by the FIFA Executive Committee under then-president Sepp Blatter, was immediately controversial due to the country's extreme summer heat and lack of existing football infrastructure. Allegations of corruption surrounding the bid process led to major investigations by entities like the FBI and Swiss authorities, significantly damaging FIFA's reputation. In response to climate concerns, the event was rescheduled for the Northern Hemisphere winter, a first for the World Cup, disrupting the traditional calendars of major European leagues like the Premier League and La Liga.

Participating teams

A total of 32 national teams qualified for the final tournament, with Qatar participating automatically as hosts. The qualification process, governed by FIFA's six continental confederations including UEFA and CONMEBOL, saw the return of traditional powers like the Netherlands and the United States, while notable absentees included four-time champion Italy. The tournament featured debutants Qatar and Canada, and a historic qualification for Wales, their first appearance since the 1958 FIFA World Cup. Other qualified nations ranged from Brazil and Argentina to Senegal and Cameroon.

Venues

All matches were played in eight state-of-the-art stadiums constructed or extensively renovated for the tournament, all located within a 55-kilometer radius of the capital, Doha. The venues included the iconic, tent-inspired Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, which hosted the opening match, and the traditional Lusail Stadium, the site of the final. Other notable arenas were the modular Stadium 974 built from shipping containers, the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, and the Khalifa International Stadium, which was renovated and expanded. This compact footprint allowed fans to attend multiple matches in a single day, a unique feature in World Cup history.

Format and schedule

The tournament retained the 32-team format used since the 1998 FIFA World Cup, with an initial group stage followed by a knockout round. The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the Round of 16. The knockout phase then proceeded through the quarter-finals and semi-finals to the final. The match schedule was condensed into 29 days to accommodate the winter calendar, with four matches played per day during the group stage. The opening match featured the hosts against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium.

Summary of the tournament

The group stage produced several major surprises, including a stunning loss by Argentina to Saudi Arabia and the early elimination of Belgium. The knockout stage was defined by underdog stories and dramatic finishes. Japan defeated former champions Spain and Germany to top their group, while Morocco made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals, eliminating powerhouses like Portugal and Spain along the way. Croatia repeated their 2018 success by reaching the semi-finals, defeating Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Final

The final was contested on 18 December at Lusail Stadium between Argentina and defending champions France. In a match widely considered one of the greatest in history, Lionel Messi opened the scoring before Ángel Di María doubled Argentina's lead. Kylian Mbappé scored twice in two minutes late in the second half to force extra time. Messi scored again in extra time, only for Mbappé to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot, sending the match to a penalty shootout. Argentina prevailed 4–2 in the shootout, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez making a crucial save, securing Argentina's third title and Messi's first World Cup trophy.

Statistics

The tournament saw 172 goals scored in 64 matches, an average of 2.69 per game. France's Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final. Argentina's Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball as the best player, while his teammate Emiliano Martínez claimed the Golden Glove. The Best Young Player award went to Argentina's Enzo Fernández. Notable team achievements included Morocco's historic semi-final run and the record number of penalties awarded in the group stage. The average match attendance was 53,111, with the final at Lusail Stadium drawing 88,966 spectators.

Category:FIFA World Cup Category:2022 in association football Category:International sports competitions hosted by Qatar Category:2022 in Qatar