2022 FIFA World Cup: What to look for & How to Support Your Team

Background of the FIFA World Cup

The senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the world's governing body of association football, compete in the FIFA World Cup, commonly referred to as the World Cup.

Since the first competition in 1930, the championship has been given out every four years, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, when it was postponed due to the Second World War. France, who won their second championship at the 2018 competition in Russia, are the current champions.

The qualification phase of the present structure determines which teams advance to the tournament phase, and it occurs over the previous three years. 32 teams, including the host nation(s), which automatically qualify, compete for the championship over the course of around a month at sites within the host nation(s).

Twenty-one championship matches, with 79 national teams, have been played as of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Eight national teams have claimed the prize as their own. Brazil is the only team to have competed in every event and has won five times. Germany and Italy are the other World Cup champions, each with four titles; Argentina, France, and Uruguay, first-place finisher, each with two titles; and England and Spain, each with one title.

The World Cup is not only the most renowned association football competition ever, but it's also the most watched and followed sporting event ever. An estimated 715.1 million viewers, or a tenth of the world's population, watched the World Cup final, bringing the total number of viewers for the tournament to an estimated 26.29 billion.

The World Cup has been hosted by 17 nations. While Uruguay, Switzerland, Sweden, Chile, England, Argentina, Spain, the United States, Japan and South Korea (jointly), South Africa, and Russia have each hosted once, Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, and Mexico have each hosted twice. The 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar, and the 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, making Mexico the first nation to host matches in three World Cups.

What is Unique About the 2022 World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup is set to take place for the 22nd time in 2022. Qatar will host it from November 20 through December 18, 2022. After the event in South Korea and Japan in 2002, this will be the second World Cup wholly held in Asia and the first World Cup ever to be contested in the Arab world. Additionally, the tournament will include 32 teams for the final time; the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026 will have 48 teams instead.

This World Cup will be the first to not be hosted in May, June, or July and to take place in the northern autumn; it will be played in a shorter timeframe of roughly 29 days due to the extreme summer heat in Qatar. The tournament will take place from late-November to mid-December. At Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, the opening game of the tournament will be played between Qatar and Ecuador. The final is scheduled for December 18, 2022, which also happens to be Qatar National Day. France is the reigning World Cup champion. 

2022 World Cup Schedule

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held in November and December instead than the traditional June and July dates in order to escape the stifling summer heat in Qatar. Due to the unusual scheduling of the World Cup, it will take place in the middle of domestic football leagues' seasons that begin in late July or early August. This includes all of the major European leagues, which were forced to add extra breaks to their domestic schedules to make room for the World Cup. Domestic leagues, on the other hand, will be able to wrap up their seasons prior to the commencement of the tournament because they normally begin their seasons in the northern spring and continue through the summer.

FIFA announced the fixture schedule on July 15, 2020. The group stage was originally scheduled to start on November 21 with four matches each day. However, after Qatar successfully pushed FIFA to allow their team to open the tournament, the schedule was changed to move the Qatar vs. Ecuador game to November 20. The first two rounds of the group stage take off at 13:00, 16:00, 19:00, and 22:00, and the final round and knockout stage matches simultaneously at 18:00 and 22:00. The final will be played at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on December 18, 2022, and the third-place game will be played at the Khalifa International Stadium on December 17, both at 18:00. 

What Teams are Competing This Year?

The following 32 teams will be competing in the men’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar:

• Argentina 
• Australia 
• Belgium 
• Brazil 
• Cameroon 
• Canada 
• Costa Rica 
• Croatia 
• Denmark 
• Ecuador 
• England 
• France 
• Germany 
• Ghana 
• Iran 
• Japan 
• Mexico 
• Morocco 
• Netherlands 
• Poland 
• Portugal 
• Qatar 
• Saudi Arabia 
• Senegal 
• Serbia 
• South Korea 
• Spain 
• Switzerland 
• Tunisia 
• United States 
• Uruguay 
• Wales 

How do I cheer for Team USA?

There are many ways to support Team USA while they compete at the 2022 World Cup.

If you are able to, you can watch and attend the games! This is a large way to support Team USA from wherever you are!

Buy their merchandise! The sale of men’s soccer jerseys directly supports Team USA. Find the jerseys here!

Perhaps the largest way you can show your support for the USA men’s soccer team is by displaying an American flag that is made in America! Carrot-Top has a wide selection of Made in America American flags that are sure to look great and put your pride in the USA on display! 

How to Show my Support to Other International Teams?

Show your support for additional countries by displaying an International Flag today! Carrot-Top is proud to have over 180 official international flags for sale. We sell flags for every nation in the world, from France and Germany to Vietnam and Afghanistan. We provide a variety of globe flags in various sizes and designs, including small flags, fringed flags, and sturdy nylon flags, depending on the nation. We take pride in providing high-quality international flags for sale, just like the rest of our flags. Carrot-Top sells world flags, so you know you're receiving a high-quality item for a reasonable cost. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the World Cup

Is it safe to attend the World Cup?

There are very few places in the world that are completely crime-free and 100% safe. Western media have labeled the locations of the most recent men's competitions (in Russia, Brazil, and South Africa) as "unsafe," and 2022 in Qatar won't be any different.

Did some folks previously experience issues with crime? Yes. Did the vast majority of individuals leave with a fresh outlook on life, priceless memories, and an amazing adventure? Yes.

The World Cup is one of the safest times to travel to a new country since everyone is concerned for your safety. Even in the midst of hardship and criminality, there could be positive aspects. I recall meeting a family in South Africa who paid thousands of dollars in advance for their lodging before learning they had been duped when they arrived in Johannesburg. A group of villagers intervened, completely disturbed, to salvage the day and set up free housing (granted, they had technically spent thousands already).

Every narrative and point of view contains some truth, but you shouldn't accept everything you read or hear. 

What are “Fan Fests?” 

Fan Fests are essentially private street celebrations that are sanctioned by FIFA.

Tens of thousands of spectators, enormous televisions, and huge queues for food, drink, and restrooms welcome you after you pass through security.

Each host city typically hosts a Fan Fest, which is an alternative method to join the mayhem without possessing a real match ticket.

Will Qatar sell beer and alcohol in 2022?

Qatar has reported that beer and alcohol will be permitted to celebrate the 2022 Men’s World Cup