Fans have already begun counting the days until Qatar’s World Cup, and the FIFA World Cup 2022 schedule is already out. We cannot wait for the next FIFA World Cup because watching the best soccer players compete is always thrilling.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 will include 32 teams and run from November 21 to December 18.
The 22nd edition of the tournament will be held in the Middle East for the first time.
We have compiled a collection of World Cup facts that will make you the most knowledgeable person at your next watch party.
29 Countries Have Played FIFA World Cup Finals
At least 29 nations have participated in at least one FIFA World Cup final. Only the United States has participated in every World Cup competition.
Uruguay hosted the FIFA World Cup From 13 to July 30, 1930. Thirteen nations participated in this tournament. From May 27 to June 10, 1934, the second FIFA World Cup was held in stadiums in Rome and Naples.
Asia as Hosts Again
South Korea and Japan initially submitted separate proposals to host the 2002 tournament. Japan subsequently rejected the plan.
However, they changed their minds and made what FIFA deemed a necessary action to demonstrate how sports can unite people despite their differences. They became co-host nations of the World Cup for the first time.
Qatar will be the first Middle Eastern nation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. In addition, this will be the second and final time the competition is held in Asia. This occurred in 2002 when Japan and South Korea hosted the inaugural FIFA event in Asia.
That Penalty Kick
Giuseppe Meazza’s penalty shootout is one of the fascinating World Cup facts. He had the opportunity to take a penalty kick against Brazil in 1938.
However, just as he was going to take the spot kick, his shorts slid down. Nevertheless, he snatched up his shorts and scored, defeating the still-laughing goalkeeper. This goal advanced Italy to the finals.
World Cup Late In the Year
The 2022 World Cup would be the first in winter if it were in the northern hemisphere. The World Cup is often held in the middle of the year. However, in Qatar, an exception has to be made.
Extremely uncomfortable temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius in Qatar, located in the Middle East. Under these conditions, it is nearly hard to organize a global event. As a result, the FIFA World Cup will not be hosted in the summer.
Air-Conditioned Stadiums
The excessively high temperatures during the day are essential aspects of Qatar as the FIFA 2022 host nation.
Qatar devised an audacious solution to the problem. A country will host the tournament in fully air-conditioned venues for the first time in FIFA World Cup history. All eight venues in Qatar will feature air conditioning, allowing fans to watch games comfortably and players to perform at their best.
First World Champions
Uruguay hosted the inaugural World Cup and went on to win the competition. In 1930, thirteen nations participated in the World Cup. The first World Cup games played simultaneously were France vs. Mexico and the United States vs. Belgium. The World Cup is the sporting event receiving the most attention globally.
FIFA President Jules Rimet organized the event, and Uruguay was selected as the host nation due to its success at the Olympic Games in Paris (1924) and Amsterdam (1928).
Qatar Hosts the Most Expensive World Cup
The amount of money the host nation spends to prepare for the event is another intriguing piece of information. Qatar spends an estimated $200 billion on facilities such as stadiums, motorways, and hotels. This means that the upcoming World Cup will be one of the most expensive in soccer history.
Qatar will host the World Cup in only eight venues, the smallest number of stadiums in recent World Cup history. Only one of the eight sites selected to host the event has been entirely renovated. The remaining seven are being constructed from scratch within the country.
Demountable Stadium in Qatar
The shipping container-made Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, popularly known as Stadium 974, will be dismantled after the event.
The objective of the detachable stadium is to reduce waste when constructing stadiums and producing its components which will be one of a kind for such a global sports event.
