The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is only a couple of months away. Years in the making, this is set to be one of the most unique World Cups we have ever seen, and one that could throw up some of the biggest surprises.
If you haven’t been in the loop, or you’re trying to finalize your predictions for world cup 2022, here are 8 things you need to know before the first whistle is blown.
First World Cup in the Middle East
This is the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, and that hasn’t come without its problems. Considering the heat of the country's experiences, Qatar opted for a Winter World Cup, a decision many critics lambasted.
However, it means the weather will be better for both fans and players alike, especially for the Northern hemisphere teams who don’t experience severe heat.
The Hosts
Since Qatar is the host, their team received automatic entry into the competition. While Qatar isn’t a footballing giant, along with Saudi Arabia and Iran, they have proven to be much stronger than anyone thought.
They find themselves in Group A with Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands, and while they may be the weakest of the four, they have a strong chance of getting through their group if results go their way.
The Favorites
In this World Cup, Brazil is widely regarded as the favorite. While England and Belgium are strong, and you can’t write off any team that has Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in it, Brazil looks way too dominant.
They will field a team that includes Neymar, Allison, Ederson, Marquinhos, Eder, Roberto Firmino, Antony, Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinicius Jr, and many other of the world’s best players; right now, Brazil is the team to beat.
Italy
One of the biggest shocks of this World Cup is that Italy won’t be there. The 2006 World Cup winners failed to qualify for this year's competition, creating the first major shock of the tournament.
Players to Watch
The usual list of suspects will be the players to watch. Ronaldo and Messi are most likely playing their last World Cups and will want to go out with a bang. Kylian Mbappe is one of the best strikers on the planet and will be looking to put France on the front foot from the first game.
Harry Kane will be looking to lead England to their first win in over 50 years, while players like Neymar, Son Heung-Min, and Achraf Hakimi will want to get their respective teams to the knockout stages with ease.
Underdogs
There are always going to be several underdogs at a World Cup, but this year the teams that could surprise everyone are Iran and the USA. Both teams have been making their way up the FIFA rankings and proving to be exceptionally strong teams.
Iran, in particular, while they don’t play in many highly-competitive competitions, not only have the ability to pull off sneaky 1-0 victories over the giants but could also power their way to the knockout stages and even beyond.
On the other hand, the USA has been underachieving over the past few World Cups. They don’t have a group of superstars, but they have the talent to work together and win, much like Iceland did when they reached the Euro quarter-finals in 2016; the USA can be that team.
Surprise Teams
There are a few surprise entries into this World Cup that are sure to throw a few spanners in the works. Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Canada may not be able to get too far, but they could be the teams to derail the chances of the favorites. If you want to watch a few possible World Cup shocks, tune into their games.
New Offside System
Finally, this World Cup will be using new offside technology that uses multiple cameras and data points to track players and the ball. Considering VAR has been inconsistent with these calls, this system will be used to make quicker and more accurate calls.
While many want to keep technology out of the game, offside has been a point of contention for too long, and the sooner a reliable and fast system is in place to determine offside, the better.
