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The most controversial decision in World Cup history?

From the very beginning, Qatar was the favorite to host the 2022 World Cup. Five candidates (including the USA, South Korea, Japan and Australia) had submitted their bids by February 2, 2009, and it was these countries that were competing in the final stage against the Middle Eastern magnate. Initially, as many as 11 candidates were considered, but Mexico and Indonesia, among others, dropped out during the initial selection phase. On December 2, 2010, the FIFA Executive Committee decided in Zurich to award Qatar the right to host the 2022 World Cup. The small Asian country received respectively 11,10,11 and 14 points in the vote, thus securely overtaking the United States' bid.

There has been much controversy surrounding the decision of the world football federation's governing body. In 2013, France Football published an investigative report that uncovered the backstory behind Qatar's World Cup award. The public perception was that the sheikhs had 'bought' the rights to host the 2022 World Cup in return for investment, albeit in French club Paris-Saint Germain. It has also been established that the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, is a resident of Qatar, which has only inflamed the mood around the tournament and undermined the credibility and status of the organization.

First World Cup to be held in autumn

Although the World Cup has been organized during an astronomical winter in the past, this will be the first time that the event will take place during the calendar autumn (November/December). The choice of these months to host the most important football tournament in the world has aroused extreme emotions from the very beginning. Due to the high temperatures in Qatar in summer, it would be impossible to organize matches in this period as the players could suffer health problems. On the other hand, it is a drastic change from the norm, which always saw the championship being played between the end and the start of the new league season. This time, there will be an emergency situation whereby players will be released by their clubs in the middle of the season in order to be able to attend training and national team matches.

Which stadiums will host the World Cup in Qatar?

The first five proposed venues for the 2022 World Cup were unveiled in early March 2010, a few months before Qatar officially became the host of the tournament. It was also pointed out that all stadiums would be provided with cooling systems, and that their shape and form would relate to the country's history and culture. In the end, eight arenas were decided upon, each with a capacity of at least 40,000 fans. Among these, as many as seven had to be built from scratch. The only venue that existed before is Khalifa International Stadium, which was rebuilt for the championships. It is here that the match for 3rd place will take place. Interestingly, only two stadiums can be fully covered during a match. Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor and Al Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah both feature a retractable roof.

All venues are located within a radius of just 75 kilometers, which will make commuting to matches a minor inconvenience. As many as five of the eight stadiums are located in the capital itself, Doha, or its suburbs. The opening match of the championship was originally scheduled to take place on November 21, 2022 at Al Thumama Stadium, but following the FIFA decision, it will be the Qatari national team that will kick off the tournament on November 20 (a day earlier than scheduled) with a clash against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium. Since 2006, it has been a tradition for the hosts to play the first match of the World Cup. This has been the case for Germany, South Africa, Brazil and Russia. The last time a different team played the opening match was in 2002, when France took on Senegal. The grand final is scheduled to take place on December 18 at the biggest stadium of the tournament – Lusail Stadium in Lusail City.

Seven matches, including six group stage games and one Round of 16 clash, will take place at both Al Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah and Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, as well as at Stadium 974 in Doha. One more match will be played at Education City Stadium, which will additionally be the venue for one quarter-final. However, the profile of the inconspicuous Stadium 974 is the most interesting here. The 40,000-seater, located in the eastern part of the capital, was built, as the name suggests, from 974 shipping containers. It is also an area code for Qatar. The arena, sitting on an artificial promontory, is a temporary structure that will be dismantled after the tournament. This is the first time in history that a World Cup stadium will be taken down immediately after the final.

What does World Cup 2022 stadiums look like?

All tournament matches

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

3rd place game

Final