Qatar 2022
The World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will be the first time the tournament has been held in the country and the first time for the World Cup to take place in the Middle East.
The tournament faced problems in terms of heat and all of the matches would have had to be played at night, if a summer tournament had gone ahead. In 2015 the decision was made to switch the tournament from summer to winter and the confirmed dates for World Cup 2022 are now 21 November to 18 December 2022. With a minimal time difference with Europe (GMT + 3 hours) the event promises to be perfect for broadcasters.
New stadiums will be built in Al Shamal, in the north of Qatar close to Al Ruweis, in Al Khor and in Al Wakra. The country also plans to upgrade the existing stadiums in Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan.
The new stadiums will be the first air-conditioned outdoor stadiums - but not at a cost to the environment. Utilising solar power, carbon zero cooling technology will ensure that the temperature is never more than 27 degrees Celsius.
Overall the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar has been surrounded by controversy with doubts cast of the validity of the bidding process surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups following the suspension of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini and the earlier arrest of several high-ranking Fifa officials accused of bribe-taking and corruption. The large number of deaths and injuries among South Asian workers building Qatar's World Cup infrastructure has also raised doubts over the wisdom of awarding the tournament to the country in the first place.
A World Cup Like No Other
Qatar 2022 - a look back - A month or so has now passed and the dust has begun to settle on the World Cup, the greatest show on earth.
Qatar 2022 had a truly fantastic climax that will live long in the memories, the sort of final we never dared dream of, after the dire conclusions of Italia '90, USA '94 and South Africa 2010.
The wonderful tussle between Argentina and France in Lusail and the sight of the sport's most famous player holding the cup at long last left such a warm glow across the planet that we conveniently forgot the tournament's awkward winter staging in a nation with a paltry football heritage but plenty of shocking laws.
FIFA & the organising committee must have been delighted - their most controversial World Cup choice had passed the finish line intact. We should not overlook those negatives of course, nor should history forget the bribery or geopolitical shenanigans involved in the initial bidding race, a testament to the larcenous reign of Sepp Blatter in Zurich.
World Cup 2022 Stadiums
See guides to all the 2022 World Cup Stadiums including capacities, special features, how to get there and plans for them post-tournament.
World Cup 2022 Schedule & Results
Qatar 2022 World Cup Schedule & Results - see the full fixture list, kick off times and stadiums.
Qatar Stadiums
Qatar stadiums aim to impress.
The Al-Janoub arena in Al-Wakrah is the early frontrunner, from the stable of the late Zaha Hadid, who designed London 2012's Aquatic Centre.
Its expressive exterior has all the flowing dynamics synonymous with the Iraqi-born starchitect, who died in 2016.
Hadid was also known for her playful sense of humour and some have interpreted nods to female pudenda in the roofline, a feminist joke amid a largely male tournament in a decidedly patriarchal country.
Maybe she did have the last laugh but her firm insists the design comes from upturned hulls of Arab dhows - traditional pearl fishing boats.
Al-Janoub has an external aspect alternatively mollusc-like or recalling internal musculature, a uniquely organic language for a genre normally functional or inspired by fortresses.
It would also sit happily with sci-fi and its space age form will make it the must-visit stadium for groundhoppers in Qatar, proof perhaps that great architecture can be judged by the numbers of sightseers it attracts.
While its stunning façade will wow the public, the Al-Janoub's interior seems tame and a little claustrophobic by comparison, although if as it claims it can reduce the heat in the stands to a cool 18C, all will be forgiven.
But there is some competition in the 2022 aesthetic league table from Doha's Education City Stadium, whose shell, inspired by chiselled diamonds, looks like a giant pixelation, a wonderfully apt metaphor for this digital age.
The Khalifa International Stadium is part of the larger Doha Sports City complex in Al Rayyan, 10 km from the center of the Qatari capital of Doha. The complex includes Aspire Park, The Torch Doha and Villaggio Mall. The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum is also adjacent to the stadium.
The last eye-catching arena Qatar is presenting is the one selected to host the final - the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium from Foster & Partners, architects of Wembley Stadium.
The Lusail is also inspired by the local heritage - in this case traditionally woven Arab wicker baskets and like England's home field is a uniform design without a true focal point, a valid criticism when comparing the new Wembley to old twin towers, which were indeed iconic.
Most of the Qatari venues will downsize after the tournament or be recycled elsewhere, which not only ticks the green boxes but serves as confirmation of the World Cup as an ephemeral show with the arena the once to be worn party dresses.
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium has a capacity of 45,000 spectators for the 2022 World Cup. This will be reduced to 21,000 after the tournament is over. It is the home ground of Al-Rayyan Sports Club and Al-Kharitiyath Sports Club.
Al Thumama Stadium with a capacity of 44,400 spectators is located not far from Hamad International Airport. The inspiration for the design is the taqiyah or gahfiya cap, worn by men and boys all over the Middle East.
Stadium 974 had a capacity of 44,000 spectators for the Qatar World Cup. The stadium is to be dismantled after the tournament. 974 was the first temporary venue ever used at a World Cup.
All of Qatar's stadiums are within easy reach of a metro station on the Doha Metro. The Doha Metro opened between 2019 and 2020. There are presently 3 lines and 37 stations.
Groups
The groups for the 2022 World Cup have been decided.
The 8 seeded teams are hosts Qatar in Group A, England, Argentina, France, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, and Portugal.
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* To be decided between Wales, Scotland and Ukraine. Wales met the winners of the delayed Scotland v Ukraine match won by Ukraine 1-3. Wales then qualified with a 1-0 win over Ukraine in Cardiff.
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Qatar A-Z
World Cup 2022 Mascot
La'eeb is the Official Mascot the FIFA World Cup 2022. The meaning of 'La'eeb' in Arabic means super-skilled player. The digitalized design draws its inspiration from the ghutra - the traditional Qatari and Arab headdress.
World Cup 2022 Emblem
The 2022 FIFA World Cup Emblem represents Qatar's sweeping sand dunes and deserts and has aspects of Qatar's traditional national dress. Like previous emblems the shape is also reminiscent of the World Cup trophy itself.
World Cup 2022 Poster
The 2022 World Cup Poster was designed in close collaboration with famed Qatari artist Bouthayna Al Muftah. The defining feature of the poster is the agal - a traditional head piece worn in Qatar along with imagery of the large crowds expected to be at the games.
Hotels in Qatar
Qatar offers a range of accommodation to suit most budgets. The majority of the places to stay are in the capital Doha. However, there are also several possibilities outside the main urban area along the coast in often luxury beach resorts.
Images of Qatar
See images from Qatar - the host nation of the 2022 World Cup. See photographs of Qatar's World Cup stadiums, Doha Metro, architecture, food and people.
World Cup 2022 Football Shirts
Top 5 World Cup Jerseys - the top five football jerseys at Qatar 2022.
Weather in Qatar
The weather in Qatar in November will reach a high of around 26° Centigrade during the hottest part of the day and cool during the evening. December will be cooler and feel more pleasant for football with highs around 21° Centigrade.
Previous World Cups
World Cup Korea/Japan 2002 - relive all the best from a great tournament.
World Cup Germany 2006 - all the action from one of the best World Cups ever.
World Cup South Africa 2010 - the first ever World Cup tournament in Africa.
World Cup Brazil 2014 - Germany triumph in South America.
World Cup Russia 2018 - France win their second World Cup.
Look forward to all the action from the qualifying rounds, full results and team profiles on the competing nations, player profiles and World Cup stats.
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