DOHA: The pandemic scare might not have fully subsided, but the year 2022 promises to end on a top note, with the stage set for the first ever World Cup soccer festival in the Arabian desert. 

Truly the globe’s biggest sporting spectacle, apart from the Olympic Games, the Fifa World Cup 2022, to be hosted by Qatar, has its own uniqueness unlike the previous editions.

To be held for the first time in the Gulf nation – Doha, Qatar from November 20 to December 18 – Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) has incorporated changes in the usual format, even deviating from the normal schedule, to have the tournament in winter to escape the summer heat. 

In addition, the format of the so-called ‘Desert Spectacle’ has been reduced to just 29 days – the shortest format since the 1978 edition. 

For a change, this tournament allows each participating team to have more players in the squad, due to the fear of the pandemic. Fifa has decided to allow 26 players in a squad, which is three more than the permitted numbers.

Besides, the draw for the tournament has also thrown up some fascinating matches in the group stages, though the fan favourites still remain the same, with Brazil being the top pick, followed by defending champions France, England, Spain, Argentina, Germany, etc. 

This edition will also be the last to feature 32 teams, as Fifa has decided to increase the number of finalists to 48 from the 2026 edition.

What is more, the build-up towards Doha edition was also not without controversies – right from the bidding process to human rights and migrant labour issues, the hosts have managed to overcome all hiccups. 

However, things have changed for the good and the focus now is only football and nothing else. 

RECORDS ON THE CARDS

The focus of Qatar World Cup will indeed be on two stalwarts of present times – Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. Both these record-breaking footballers are set to rewrite some more records during the Arabian showpiece.

LIONEL MESSI is the fan favourite; he is on threshold of a record. Two more match appearances in World Cup will put Messi in level with Diego Maradona’s record of 21 match appearances for Argentina at World Cup finals. If Messi and Argentina reach the final at Qatar 2022, and he plays in all seven matches, he will join Lothar Matthaus on a tournament-record 26 match appearances. This will also be Messi’s fifth World Cup appearance; he has scored six goals in 19 matches.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has scored goals at four separate World Cups, a feat also achieved by Pele, Uwe Seeler, and Miroslav Klose. If the Portuguese star scores in Qatar, he will be out on his own as the only player to have scored at five editions. So far, Ronaldo has scored seven goals during his World Cup career. Incidentally, CR7 is the highest overall men’s international goal scorer in history as of now – way ahead than Lionel Messi. 

THE SILVERWARE THAT HAS ELUDED THE DUO

If anyone asks whether Messi or Ronaldo (CR7) has won the World Cup ever in their careers, the straight answer is ‘NO’…

The duo has never won a World Cup despite having laid their hands in all big events globally. 

The Ballon d’Or awards have confirmed their best player status in current times. Messi has won the award seven times and Ronaldo five times, but they have failed to takes Argentina or Portugal to the World Cup podium respectively.

Can they do it in Qatar? This is a million dollar question as this edition certainly could be their last with both of them crossing the mid-thirties mark. 

Well for both of them, their fans and nations, it will be crowning glory before signing off their careers, respectively. 

However, we must wait till December 18, the date of the final at the sprawling Lusail Stadium to see who will have the fairy tale ending. 

TRIVIA

1. Qatar 2022: This is the first World Cup to be played during the winter months, deviating from the usual June-July calendar
2. This edition will be the first World Cup to be played in the Middle East and also the second in Asia.
3. At just 29 days long, this edition will be the shortest since the 1978 tournament.
4. This edition is also the last to feature 32 teams; from next World Cup, 48 teams will be in the fray.
5.  In a first, this World Cup will witness women referees officiating games at a major men’s event.
6. Italy, who has won World Cup four times and also the current European champions, failed to qualify for a second successive World Cup for the first time in their history.
7. The previous hosts, Russia, were disqualified from competing due to the invasion of Ukraine.
8. Egypt, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Iceland and Sweden, all of whom who played in the previous edition, also have missed out on making the finals this time in Qatar.