There’s no greater competition in the world of football than the FIFA World Cup. Every four years (for now, it brings the world together in celebration of the planet’s most popular sport, allowing people to put their differences aside and enjoy the beautiful game.
It helps to create images like those we saw during the 2018 tournament in Russia when supporters of several countries packed together into the metro trains below the streets of Moscow to sing, chant, and even dance together in their respective national dress.
As we begin 2022, the countdown to the next running of the World Cup is now edging closer to the final whistle. While there’s plenty going on in the meantime, here’s what fans can look forward to when the tournament finally kicks off in Qatar.
A Later Schedule to Create an Unpredictable Tournament
In any other World Cup year, supporters would have just a handful of months left to wait before they could see their team taking part in the group stage games. However, football fans will have to wait a little longer than usual as this year’s tournament has been moved to November and December.
While every other running of FIFA’s flagship competition has taken place in the summer, the mid-year heat in Qatar has been deemed too hot for players to compete safely and comfortably.
The autumn scheduling won’t be chilly in any respect. While the mercury won’t be reaching the June highs in excess of 40 degrees celsius, average temperatures for November and December are 26 and 21 degrees respectively.
This will still favour players that are used to playing in warmer climates, especially those that will be taking part in games in northern Europe before jetting off to the Middle East. Normally, the tournament takes place in the height of summer, meaning most players from the northern hemisphere don’t have such a large difference to acclimatise to.
On top of the temperatures, the late running interrupts the domestic seasons for most players, giving them less time to prepare and rest.
Several Contenders
With many unknowns ahead of the competition in Qatar, there is going to be a lot of focus on what the bookmakers think. Betway, the online betting site, has already begun taking wagers on some futures markets like the outright winner of the World Cup. Currently, it has Brazil as the favourite with France, England, and Spain close behind.
Teams that are more accustomed to playing in warm climates are likely going to be at an advantage in 2022, which could favour Brazil over its European rivals. Though other factors like the timing of the tournament could also influence how teams perform and, therefore, how bookies change the odds.
But while the oddsmakers aren’t currently showing Italy as one of the main contenders, their victory in the Euro 2020 tournament last year makes them a threat to any other nation hoping to get their hands on the most prestigious prize in football.
Unique Stadiums
In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on the environmental impact of competitions like the World Cup and the Olympics. Traditionally, tournaments have used specially-built facilities that have often fallen into states of disrepair after the athletes, fans, and journalists have all gone home.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be making steps forward in this regard. Firstly, it will be hosting some games in the Khalifa International Stadium, a venue that was first built in 1976 and upgraded in 2005 and 2014.
In addition to reusing an existing facility, Qatar is building the first temporary stadium to host a World Cup game.
Known as Stadium 974, this venue has been constructed from 974 recycled shipping containers, many of which will house amenities like toilets and concession stands. After the final match has been played, the containers and the seats in the grandstands will be dismantled and shipped to under-developed regions in Africa to support projects there.
While most fans will be watching from home rather than in person, shots of the stadium will stand out quite dramatically and will be an interesting sideshow to the main event on the pitch.
