Sunday will mark the official start of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar when the hosts Qatar plays Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

Here is all the information you need to know about the quadrennial competition.

The World Cup is when?

The competition begins on November 21 and lasts until the championship game on December 19.

On December 3, the eight pools of four in the group stage come to an end, and the round of 16 gets started the following day. December 10–11 sees the quarterfinals, and December 14–15 the semifinals.

The competition is held in November for what reason?

In order to avoid the extreme summer heat in Qatar, the World Cup was controversially relocated from its customary June–July window, which interfered with the European season.

Despite the fact that the Qataris were awarded the hosting rights in 2010 under the condition that they would hold the competition during the northern summer and construct enclosed, air-conditioned stadiums to withstand the heat.

Why does Qatar make for such a contentious host?

Since being unexpectedly chosen to host the 2022 World Cup in December 2010, the tiny Gulf nation of Qatar has been beset by controversy.

First, the process by which the oil-rich Qataris won the vote came under examination amid allegations of corruption and Fifa delegates being bought off.

Then, when Qatar was given permission by Fifa to transfer the competition to winter, despite winning with a bid that promised to hold it during the summer after Europe’s rich domestic leagues had ended, there was outrage in Europe.

However, the majority of the criticism of Qatar has centered on the reprehensible human rights record of the conservative Muslim nation, whether that be in regards to its anti-LGBT laws (being homosexual is a crime punishable by three years in prison or even death), women’s rights, or its treatment of migrant workers.

An estimated 6500 migrant workers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka who were employed in Qatar to build stadiums and other infrastructure for the competition perished in the previous ten years.

The government of Qatar has come under harsh criticism from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, for its exploitation of migrant labor. Qatar rejects this, claiming that just 38 deaths have been attributed to work.

Concerns regarding the treatment of LGBT spectators at the competition were stoked after a Qatari World Cup ambassador recently described homosexuality as a “disease of the mind” in an interview with German TV.

Additionally, there will be severe regulations on the sale of alcohol and a crackdown on intoxicated behavior, which will add to the concerns of traveling fans used to having a good time at World Cups.

Which nations qualified?

In Qatar, 32 countries competing for glory are split into eight groups of four. In four years, when Canada, Mexico, and the United States co-host the 2026 edition, the competition will grow to 48 teams.

Only Qatar is making its World Cup debut after automatically qualifying as the host country. The All Whites would have been in Group E with European heavyweights Germany and Spain as well as Asian powerhouse Japan had they defeated Costa Rica in a June playoff in Doha.

After winning the CONCACAF qualifying division ahead of Mexico and the United States, Canada, led by former Football Ferns coach John Herdman, is making its first participation since 1986. Wales finally reached the finals after a 64-year wait, ending an even longer wait.

Three-time runners-up the Netherlands also return after failing to qualify in 2018, as do Ghana, the United States, Ecuador, and Cameroon.

Group A: Ecuador, Netherlands, Qatar, Senegal

Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales

Group C: Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia

Group D: Australia, Denmark, France, Tunisia

Group E: Costa Rica, Germany, Japan, Spain

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Morocco

Group G: Brazil, Cameroon, Serbia, Switzerland

Group H: Ghana, South Korea, Portugal, Uruguay

Who are the favourites?

Five-time winners Brazil, Argentina, England, and the reigning champions France are the betting favorites.

The Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and other European powerhouses are predicted to compete for the coveted championship.

How often does the World Cup come around?

With two exceptions, the World Cup has been held every four years since 1930, when Uruguay won the inaugural competition and served as the host nation.

World War II and its aftermath forced the cancellation of the 1942 and 1946 seasons. In 1950, the competition would recommence in Brazil, where it has continued without a break since.

Teams proceed in the World Cup in what ways?

Each nation must play each of the other three teams in their group once, with a win earning three points, a tie receiving one point, and a defeat earning zero points. The top two teams from each pool move on to the round of 16, then the semifinals, quarterfinals, and final. A third-place playoff is also held between the two eliminated semifinalists.

Where are the games going to be held?

Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Education City Stadium, and Al Janoub Stadium are the eight stadiums in Qatar where the group matches will be played.

Which nation has the most World Cup trophies?

The most World Cup championships of any men’s team have been won by World No. 1 Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002).

Italy, which missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the second time in a row, and Germany are next best with four each, while France, Argentina, and Uruguay each have two.

Spain (2010) and England (1966) round out the list of eight champions.

How are the World Cup groups chosen?

At the World Cup draw in Doha in April, the eight groups were chosen.

Based on their world rankings, teams were grouped into four pots before the draw, from best to worst. As usual, despite having a low ranking, the hosts Qatar were listed alongside the best teams.

Teams were then placed into eight groups of four in a draw guided by rules that prevent too many teams from the same region from being placed together.

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