World football's greatest competition, the FIFA World Cup, is scheduled to kick off in Qatar. The qualifiers for the event are on as excitement grows around the first world cup due to be held in the Middle East. So, we bring to you all the latest insights and updates around the FIFA World Cup 2022 as they come.
Latest Updates Around FIFA World Cup 2021
Read below to know about the latest developments and news around the upcoming Qatar World Cup in Qatar.
Qatar Assures An Affordable World Cup For Fans In Times Of Pandemic
There is high anticipation in terms of what to expect from the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As per the reports, the host nation is all set to host the most compact version of the competition in 2022. Fans coming to watch their team play will not have to change accommodation or spend too much on travel. Why? Well, the longest distance between the venues is only about 70 KM which too is connected with the metro line. Hence, fans would be able to watch travel in a single day and watch multiple games with ease.
Here's what Fatma Al Nuaimi, executive director of communications, Qatar Supreme Committee, has to say about the affordability of FIFA 2022,
“For a football fanatic, this will be a very intensive and compact World Cup.”
Against the view that Qatar only has five-star hotels and accommodation here is expensive, fans would be able to choose from multiple budget options like three-star (accommodation), service apartments, camps in the deserts, cruise ships, and so on.
Updates On The Ongoing European Qualifiers For The World Cup
As the world cup edges closer, qualifying stages are in full flow with 55 European nations going head-to-head to book their place in the world cup finals.
Groups
All 55 teams have been split into 10 groups with 5 groups having 5 teams each and the rest of the 5 groups having six teams each. The winners of all groups would earn automatic qualification for the world cup while the rest of the three spots would be decided via playoffs. Teams that finish runners-up in the groups will go head-to-head along with the two highest ranked teams in the Nations League to compete for the last three spots. This stage of the qualifiers will contain a knockout round.
Dates For The Remainder Of European Qualifiers
The European Qualifiers were scheduled to be played between March and November 2021. Here are the dates for the remaining match days in European Qualifiers.
Matchday 8: October 11-12 2021
Matchday 9: November 11-13 2021
Matchday 10: November 14-16 2021
Note:- The play-off stage for the remaining three spots in European Qualifiers would be played in March 2022. 12 teams would go head-to-head for the remaining three spots in the finals of the world cup.
Suggested Read: Top Stadiums In Qatar That Will Host The Upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022
FIFA Plans To Postpone Club World Cup
Hosting an event has been a challenge during the pandemic and now FIFA has plans to postpone the Club World Cup until next year due to the hosting challenges. The host nation is again expected to be Qatar and FIFA is now exploring staging the event in January or February.
Although the competition was due to debut in China this time around with an extended format, that seems unlikely to happen now and Qatar may well get to host it again.
The tournament will still be played in a seven-team format with the West London Club Chelsea qualified as Champions League winners. The Club World Cup is also seen as yet another preparation for the major world cup as participation of clubs like Chelsea would attract a global fanbase.
Unvaccinated Fans And Players Could Be Allowed At The FIFA World Cup
There have been reports recently that said that unvaccinated fans, players, or officials would not be allowed at the next year's world cup in Qatar. However, that may not be the case. There are alternative solutions being considered for this purpose and unvaccinated fans, players and officials could still be allowed to attend the world cup. Alternative ways are being considered at meetings between FIFA and the national health authorities.
In fact, providing proof of having recovered from the virus, or evidence of negative tests may well be required in such a case. Since the situation is being closely monitored around the COVID-19 pandemic, more development is expected in this case in the coming days and months.
Suggested Read: FIFA World Cup 2022 Predictions Every Football Fan Should Know
Xavi Hernandez To Inaugurate The New Al Thumama Stadium On October 22nd, 2021
The Al Thumama Stadium will soon be the sixth world cup venue to be inaugurated ahead of the competition in 2022. The inauguration ceremony would place on October 22nd during the Emir Cup final where Xavi Hernandez's Al Sadd would take on Laurent Blanc's Al Rayyan in the fight for the title.
Once the stadium gets Inaugurated, there will only remain two more venues - the Ras Abu Aboud and the Lusail Stadium, to officially open their doors.
Qatar To Greet Fans In Western-Style During The World Cup
Something that worldwide would be excited about, the host nation for the FIFA World Cup, Qatar, is now planning to greet football fans in western style. Football fans may end up seeing big musical acts such as Lady Gaga, Abba, Andrea Bocelli, and Aerosmith perform at the start of the world cup.
Qatar is in talks with FIFA and the Universal to make this possible. As stars like Lady Gaga, Abba, Andrea Bocelli, and Aerosmith are all A-listers signed by Universal, a musical showdown may well be a reality for the fans in Qatar.
A footballing spectacle every sporting fan dreams for, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be unlike any other world cup in the past. There are major developments and perks expected for the fans ahead of the competition as the nation prepares to welcome the world.
For more such updates on the upcoming FIFA event, don't forget to stay connected and plan your world cup trip. This is a spectacle you'd want to be part of.
FAQs
All 55 teams to compete have been split into 10 groups with 5 groups having 5 teams each and the rest of the 5 groups having six teams each. The winners of all groups would earn automatic qualification for the world cup while the rest of the three spots would be decided via playoffs. Teams that finish runners-up in the groups will go head-to-head along with the two highest ranked teams in the Nations League to compete for the last three spots. This stage of the qualifiers will contain a knockout round.
The Al Thumama Stadium will soon be the sixth world cup venue to be inaugurated ahead of the competition in 2022. The inauguration ceremony would place on October 22nd during the Emir Cup final where Xavi Hernandez's Al Sadd would take on Laurent Blanc's Al Rayyan in the fight for the title. Once the stadium gets Inaugurated, there will only remain two more venues - the Ras Abu Aboud and the Lusail Stadium, to officially open their doors.
Yes, hosting any event has been a challenge during the pandemic and now FIFA has plans to postpone the Club World Cup until next year due to the hosting challenges. The host nation is again expected to be Qatar and FIFA is now exploring staging the event in January or February. Although the competition was due to debut in China this time around with an extended format, that seems unlikely to happen now and Qatar may well get to host it again.
Yes, as per the reports, the host nation is all set to host the most compact version of the competition in 2022. Fans coming to watch their team play will not have to change accommodation or spend too much on travel as the longest distance between the venues is only about 70 KM. In fact, against the view that Qatar only has five-star hotels, fans would be able to choose from multiple budget options like three-star (accommodation), service apartments, camps in the deserts, cruise ships, and so on.
The European Qualifiers were scheduled to be played between March and November 2021 while the play-off stage for the remaining three spots in European Qualifiers would be played in March 2022. Here are the dates for the remaining match days in European Qualifiers.
Matchday 8: October 11-12 2021
Matchday 9: November 11-13 2021
Matchday 10: November 14-16 2021
There have been reports recently that said that unvaccinated fans, players, or officials would not be allowed at the world cup in Qatar. However, that's not the case. Alternative solutions are being considered for this purpose and unvaccinated fans, players and officials could still be allowed to attend the world cup. Alternative ways are being considered at meetings between FIFA and the national health authorities. In fact, providing proof of having recovered from the virus, or evidence of negative tests may well be required in such a case.
Although there were suggestions that the 24-team club world format will come into play in the upcoming edition, such is not the case for now. The tournament will still be played in a seven-team format with the West London Club Chelsea qualified as Champions League winners. The Club World Cup is also seen as yet another preparation for the major world cup as participation of clubs like Chelsea would attract a global fanbase.
Something that worldwide would be excited about, the host nation for the FIFA World Cup, Qatar, is now planning to greet football fans in western style. Football fans may end up seeing big musical acts such as Lady Gaga, Abba, Andrea Bocelli, and Aerosmith perform at the start of the world cup. Qatar is in talks with FIFA and the Universal to make this possible. Hence, a musical showdown may well be a reality for the fans in Qatar.
