With a record-breaking investment and cutting-edge technology, the Qatar World Cup is the most anticipated sports event of 2022. The 22nd edition of the biggest football competition in the world is expected to be the most innovative international tournament of all time. Join us as we go over some of the reasons that make the Qatar World Cup so unique.
Tournament Overview
Qatar will host 32 teams in 8 different venues from 21 November to 18 December 2022. The peninsular Arabic country, which has a population of fewer than 3 million people, has reportedly spent over $200 billion in the preparation for the tournament. Some of the top national teams in the world will compete for the most important international trophy in the sport. Currently, according to sports betting online, France and Brazil are the top contenders to win the first World Cup of the 2020s at odds of 6/1. Other strong challengers include England, Spain and Germany.
Indeed, if the sports betting tips are right, France would be the third country to ever win a back-to-back World Cup title, after Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962. However, if past editions of the World Cup have taught us anything is that fans should expect the unexpected. A good example of this was Croatia’s run in the 2018 World Cup or Turkey’s surprise third place in 2002.
For now, the tension is already building. It has been confirmed that either the current European Champions, Italy, or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, will miss out on the event.
First World Cup Held During the Last Months of the Year
Since its inaugural edition in Uruguay in 1930, all World Cups have been held during the middle of the year. However, since temperatures in Qatar can reach over 40°C during the summer months, it was decided that it was best if the tournament was held during the winter. Nonetheless, all stadiums will be equipped with cooling systems as even during the winter period temperatures can reach highs of 25°C.
A City with no Population
With an area of 38 km2 and an investment of $45 billion, Lusail is located 20 km north of Qatar’s capital, Doha. What stands out about this city is that it is was made from scratch. What was once a desert is set to become one of the most luxurious and modern cities on the planet. Construction began in 2006, but the city is only expected to be completed by 2030. Located at the heart of the immense Qatari desert, Lusail is expected to have an estimated population of 450,000 people.
The Lusail Iconic Stadium, located in the city, was built specifically for the event and is now the biggest stadium in the country. With a seating capacity of up to 80,000 people, the venue will host 10 games, including both the opening game and the final.
Last Edition with 32 Teams
The 2022 World Cup will be the last world cup edition to feature 32 teams. Ahead of the tournament, FIFA has already revealed that the next edition, secluded for 2026, in Mexico, the United States and Canada, will bring together 48 countries.
This is not the first time that the number of teams participating in the World Cup has increased. In fact, this has happened twice before. It happened first in the 1982 edition when the number of participants rose from 16 to 24 teams, and once again in the 1998 World Cup, when it increased to 32.
Regardless of which team comes out on top, this edition of the World Cup is set to be one of the most ground-breaking and competitive in the history of the competition.