FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview - PART ONE

After months of drama, deaths, and crazy stories, we are finally here, just weeks away from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This tournament is one of the least anticipated World Cups in recent history, likely due to the location which has made this year’s tournament unique. The tournament will take place in November and December, rather than the traditional summer months due to the dangerous summer heat in Qatar. Not only is this an unusual change, but realistically, Qatar is unfit to hold a tournament of such a large scale. Up until the past few years, they had very little infrastructure. There were seven new stadiums built in the country to hold the matches, which came at the cost of human life with over 5,000 workers passing away due to the extreme weather and working conditions. This has been a cause of boycott for many fans, along with the national laws and regulations. Fans in Qatar will have to follow the local laws, which ban homosexuality, non-“modest” clothing, smoking, public display of affection, and the ban of the sale of alcohol inside the stadiums. In addition to these restrictions and all of the drama, some fans will have to stay in outdoor tents in the desert due to hotel rooms being sold out. These circumstances are limiting excitement among fans regarding the tournament, but soccer-wise, it will be an interesting one.

*For those who are unclear of the tournament format*

The World Cup features thirty-two national teams, each competing to win the prestigious trophy. Each of the countries is put into one of four pools of eight teams, based on what region they are from and their international ranking. After the pools have been decided, there is a “group draw” ceremony, where eight groups of four teams are created, with one team from each pool. This was decided in April, which has left many months for fan predictions to brew. When it comes time to compete, each team plays the other three teams in their group one time, earning three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. Then, the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stages (single-elimination games), starting with the round of sixteen and ending with the world’s largest sporting event, the World Cup Final. 

GROUP A:  

Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands 

Group A is a group that lacks much competition and looks like it is pretty clear which teams are strong and which teams are weak. The Netherlands has a very strong squad (some people predict them making the final), and they are the heavily favored team in Group A. With international stars such as Virgil Van Dijk, Memphis Depay, and Frenkie De Jong, it is likely that the Netherlands will come out on top in their group. Next up is Senegal, a country that has had success in recent years winning the 2022 AFCON (African Cup of Nations), a tournament with every national team in Africa. Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy, Senegal lead a skillful squad that could surprise fans and have success. The next team in the group, Ecuador, likely will struggle. They have only competed in the world cup three times before, the last one being in 2014. They have some talent, with players like Enner Valencia and Jordy Caicedo, but they likely don’t have enough to make it out of the group stage. The host nation in the World Cup automatically gets a qualification, which is why Qatar is able to compete. They most definitely would not have qualified otherwise with a weak roster and very little international success. It will be between Ecuador and Qatar for last place, but Group A looks like it will be an easier one to predict.

GROUP B:

England, Iran, United States, Wales

While Group A appears easy to predict, Group B is surrounded by debate and speculation. Realistically, England is likely the favorite to win the group with the most valuable squad in the tournament (1.3 billion euros). With a young core featuring Jude Bellingham, Saka, and Rashford alongside veteran goalscorer (and leading scorer at the 2018 World Cup) Harry Kane, England undoubtedly has the talent to be a successful team. However, they are known to underachieve and are poorly coached, and they could be susceptible to surprising results. Iran has an underrated squad, and they have been poorly coached in the past. With a good coach, Iran could click and make something happen, but they are unlikely to reach the knockouts. Wales, a squad led by thirty-three-year-old Gareth Bale, could also throw a wrench in the plans of England or the United States. They are known to grind out results in tough-fought games, and they could also pull off surprises. Finally, the United States: a team with a high ceiling but a low floor. The expectations for the USMNT are extremely low, especially after two disappointing results in friendly matches in September against Japan and Saudia Arabia. With young stars like Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Weston Mckinnie, and Tyler Adams all performing at the highest level in Europe, talent is present in the team. However, the lack of a true veteran and leader, and arguably the lack of a strong head coach, leave question marks surrounding the team's potential. While a non-educated fan would likely predict the group to unfold with England on top, the U.S second, Wales third, and Iran fourth, the teams could end up in almost any combination. Group B will be entertaining, and it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. 

GROUP C:

Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland 

Group C will attract eyes internationally thanks to Lionel Messi. Fans are eagerly anticipating watching Messi compete in his final world cup (most likely) with Argentina - a favorite to win the tournament. After beating Brazil to win Copa America in 2021, Argentina is a strong team, and they are highly likely to finish atop their group. The Argentina national team has gone unbeaten in thirty-five straight games since July 2019, and they are looking to keep the streak alive. Mexico is a team full of passion, but they are limited in terms of talent. They are capable of gaining traction and making a run, but they will likely be an early exit, and probably not make it out of the group stage. Poland is a team that plays well together, led by star Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski has averaged more than a goal per game (at the highest level) for the last four seasons and is a threat against any team. Poland could give teams some trouble, but will also likely be an early exit. Poland and Mexico will likely fight for the second qualifying spot in the group stages. When it comes to Saudi Arabia, there isn’t much to say. They never have truly had international success, and they have no players that are internationally well-known. They will likely finish fourth in their group and struggle to win a game. Overall, Group C is a decent one, and the race for second place will be interesting to watch.

GROUP D:

France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia

Group D raises the question: Will the World Cup Curse continue? Five out of the last six teams to win the World Cup did not make it to the knockout stage of the following World Cup. France, coming off of one of the most dominant World Cup runs in history remains with a loaded squad of superstars. Can they manage the egos? Can they make magic happen again? On paper, it’s easy to predict that they’ll win their group. However, they may fall victim to the curse once again. Denmark comes to Qatar as a potential underdog. While people know that they’re a competitive team due to their strong EURO 2020 performance, they can be real contenders to make a deep run. Despite having an aging squad featuring Kasper Schmeichel, Christian Eriksen, and Simon Kjær, they have younger talents as well such as Tottenham star Pierre-Emile Højberg and Kasper Dolberg. Denmark is a team capable of great things this year, and they are a team to watch. When it comes to the other two teams in the group, it is unlikely that Tunisia or Australia will reach the knockout stage. Tunisia won a game at the 2018 World Cup and gave England some trouble, and they have the potential to pull off an upset. However, it is unlikely that they have what it takes to make a run. Australia on the other hand barely qualified for the tournament, and it is fair to assume that they will struggle heavily. 

Groups E, F, G, and H also will provide many primetime games and heated matchups. To read more… stay tuned, part two coming soon.

By Ellis Balser