Everything You Should Know About Qatar World Cup 2022

World Cup 2022 will be a historic edition of the tournament. It is the first to be held in the northern hemisphere winter, a switch necessitated by the extreme heat in Qatar in June and July. It is also the first World Cup to take place in the Arab world and will be the last to feature 32 teams ahead of an expansion to 48 in four years’ time.

Are you thinking about attending the 2022 World Cup in Qatar? This guide contains everything you need to know.

Key Information

When is World Cup 2022?

World Cup 2022 begins on November 20 with Qatar vs Ecuador. All 64 matches will take place over a four-week period, concluding with the final on December 18.

Major European leagues, such as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga, will take a mid-season pause while the World Cup is taking place.

Which Country is Hosting World Cup 2022?

Qatar is the host nation of World Cup 2022, the 22nd edition of the tournament. The tiny Middle Eastern country won the hosting rights in 2010, beating rival bids from the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia.

As mentioned above, this is the first World Cup to be staged in the Middle East. FIFA has made an effort to spread the tournament beyond Europe and the Americans since the turn of the century. The first Asian World Cup was held in Japan and South Korea in 2002, while Africa hosted its first competition via South Africa in 2010.

Stadiums for World Cup 2022

Stadium	City	Capacity	Number of Matches
Al Bayt Stadium	Al Khor	60,000	9
Khalifa International Stadium	Al Rayyan	45,146	8
Education City Stadium	Al Rayyan	45,350	8
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium	Al Rayyan	44,740	7
Al Janoub Stadium	Al Wakrah	40,000	7
Al Thumama Stadium	Doha	40,000	8
Stadium 974	Doha	40,000	7
Lusail Iconic Stadium	Lusail	80,000	10

Travelling to Qatar

How Do I Get to Qatar?

According to an analysis conducted by OAG, the Hamad International Airport in Doha is now the eighth busiest in the world. Opened in 2014, it is widely regarded as one of the best airports on the planet.

Doha has established itself as a major transit hub, so it is served by most major airlines - including Qatar Airways, which uses Hamad as its hub. There are direct flights to Doha from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

Qatar has a total land area of just 11,571 km², so it is easy to get around the country once you have landed. The further distance between host stadiums is just 65 kilometres.

Do I Need a Visa for Qatar?

Qatar currently offers visa-free entry to citizens from more than 85 countries. The length of the visa differs depending on your nationality. For instance, European Union citizens can stay for 90 days but travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada are limited to 30 days.

If you are from Iran, India, Macau, Pakistan or Taiwan, you will be able to obtain a visa on arrival. Football fans from other countries must apply for a visa in advance.

All visitors to Qatar must have a passport that is valid for at least three months from the date of arrival.

How Much Are World Cup 2022 Tickets?

Tickets for World Cup 2022 first went on sale in January. Be aware that tickets for most matches have now completely sold out, although the Last Minute Sales Phase will remain open until December 18, the day of the final.

Prices for the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador ranged from €55 to €616. Other group games cost between €11 and €219, which rise to €19 to €273 for the round of 16.

Quarter-final tickets are €82 to €424, semi-final tickets are €137 to €953, and a seat at the final will set you back between €205 and €1602.

World Cup 2022 Teams and Players

How Do Countries Qualify For The World Cup?

In Europe, 55 national teams were drawn into 10 groups. Each side played home and away against every other opponent in the group, and those that finished in first place automatically qualified for the tournament. 

The runners-up advanced to the play-offs, alongside two other teams that earned a place through the UEFA Nations League. Three countries qualified for the World Cup through the play-offs.

In South America, all 10 teams competed in the same group. They played home and away against every other opponent, after which the top four in the standings qualified automatically. The fifth-place finisher went through to the inter-confederation play-offs, where they faced a team from Asia.

In North America, Central America and the Caribbean, the qualification process began with a first round group stage, although some of the region’s big hitters received a bye. Thirty teams were drawn into six groups of five, with the winners going through.

The second round featured three two-legged ties to determine which three countries would advance to the final round, where they were joined by the five sides that received a bye. The top three in the eight-team group qualified for Qatar, while the fourth-place finisher took on a representative from Oceania in the inter-confederation play-offs.

In Africa, 28 of the continent’s smallest teams began their qualification campaign in the first round, which comprised 14 two-legged knockout ties. The winners went through to the second round, along with the 26 sides that received a bye in the first round.

The 40 teams were split into 10 groups of four, the winners of which progressed to the third round. Five two-legged play-offs were then held, with the victors securing a spot in Qatar.

In Asia, 12 of the continent’s weakest sides started out in the first round with a two-legged knockout tie. Thirty-five nations were split into seven groups of five in the second round, and the winners of those groups went through to the third round, where they were joined by the five runners-up with the best records.

The final 12 teams were divided into two groups of six. The top two in each group qualified for Qatar, while the two third-place finishers faced each other in a play-off game. The winner of that match went through to the inter-confederation play-offs, where they faced a side from South America.

In Oceania, eight teams were split into two groups of four, and the top two in each group went through to the semi-finals. The winners of those matches contested the final, and the victor of that went on to face a team from the CONCACAF region, which covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean, in the inter-confederation play-offs.

Which Countries Will Be Competing In 2022?

Europe	Asia	Africa	South America	North America, Central America, Caribbean
Belgium	Australia	Cameroon	Argentina	Canada
Croatia	Iran	Ghana	Brazil	Costa Rica
Denmark	Japan	Morocco	Ecuador	Mexico
England	Qatar	Senegal	Uruguay	United States
France	Saudi Arabia	Tunisia
Germany	South Korea
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Serbia
Spain
Switzerland
Wales

Who Are The Favourites To Win The World Cup?

• Brazil are the favourites with online sportsbooks to win the World Cup for a record-extending sixth time. The Selecao have a hugely talented squad and their manager Tite has been in charge of the national team since 2016.
• Argentina beat Brazil in the final of the Copa America last year. Lionel Scaloni has done a wonderful job since taking charge after the last World Cup, and Lionel Messi is in fine form at club level.
• France are the reigning champions after lifting the trophy four years ago. They probably have the strongest squad in the world, but their form of late has been patchy at best.
• England’s results have also been disappointing in recent months, but Gareth Southgate’s side were a penalty shoot-out away from winning the European Championship in 2021.
• Spain reached the semi-finals of the European Championship and have a good blend of young talent and experienced internationals. There are doubts over their ability to score goals, however.
• Germany can never be written off at World Cups and their manager Hansi Flick has developed the side since he replaced Joachim Low last year.

Who Are The Dark Horses To Win The World Cup?

• The Netherlands have never won the World Cup, but they were beaten finalists in 1974, 1978 and 2010. Louis van Gaal is back for a third spell in charge and his team are one to watch.
• Portugal have a very gifted squad, particularly in attacking areas. Fernando Santos’ tendency towards caution could be their Achilles heel, though.
• Belgium’s golden generation is probably past its best, but there is still plenty of talent within Roberto Martinez’s group - not least the superb Kevin De Bruyne.
• Denmark had a near-perfect record in qualifying and reached the last four of the European Championship in 2021. They could be dark horses in Qatar.
• Croatia were the runners-up four years ago and will be looking to punch above their weight once again.
• Uruguay, who won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, is a country which continues to produce excellent footballers.
• Senegal are the reigning African champions and that continent’s best hope of supplying a World Cup winner for the first time.

Who Will Win The Golden Boot?

• Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at World Cup 2018 and will no doubt score plenty of goals for England, provided he stays fit.
• Lionel Messi, now 35 years of age, is looking to lead Argentina to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986.
• Neymar looks set to overtake Pele and become Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer in Qatar, where he is among the leading contenders to win the Golden Boot.
• Karim Benzema was not included in the France squad in 2018 and will be looking to make up for lost time this winter.
• Kylian Mbappe will start alongside Benzema for les Bleus and may well be his country’s chief goal-getter.
• Cristiano Ronaldo helped Portugal to win Euro 2016 and six years later, he is now striving for World Cup (and perhaps Golden Boot) glory.

What Happened To Italy?

Despite winning the European Championship just last summer, Italy failed to qualify for World Cup 2022. They also missed the cut four years ago, which means the four-time world champions have not played a World Cup match since 2014.

Draws with Bulgaria, Switzerland (twice) and Northern Ireland meant Italy only finished second in their qualification group. That earned them a place in the playoffs, but they suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat by North Macedonia in the semi-finals.

World Cup History

When Was The First World Cup?

The inaugural edition of the World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. The host nation won the tournament, beating Argentina 4-2 in the final.

How Many Countries Have Won A World Cup?

Brazil	5	1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Italy	4	1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
Germany/ West Germany	4	1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
Argentina	2	1978, 1986
France	2	1998, 2018
Uruguay	2	1930, 1950
England	1	1966
Spain	1	2010

Which Country Has The Most World Cup Appearances?

Country	World Cup Appearances	World Cups Missed
Brazil	22	None
Germany	20	1930, 1950
Argentina	18	1938, 1950, 1954, 1970
Italy	18	1930, 1958, 2018, 2022
Mexico	17	1934, 1938, 1974, 1982, 1990
Spain	16	1930, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1970, 1974
France	16	1950, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1990, 1994
England	16	1930, 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1994
Belgium	14	1950, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 2006, 2010
Uruguay	14	1934, 1938, 1958, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1998, 2006

Who Are The Leading Goalscorers In World Cup History?

Player	Country	Goals
Miroslav Klose	Germany	16
Ronaldo	Brazil	15
Gerd Muller	West Germany	14
Just Fontaine	France	13
Pele	Brazil	12
Jurgen Klinsmann	West Germany/ Germany	11
Sandor Kocsis	Hungary	11

 What Countries Have Hosted The World Cup In The Past?

Country	Times Hosted	Tournaments Hosted
Brazil	2	1950, 2014
Mexico	2	1970, 1986
Italy	2	1934, 1990
Germany/ West Germany	2	1974, 2006
France	2	1938, 1998
South Africa	1	2010
Russia	1	2018
United States	1	1994
Japan/ South Korea	1	2002
England	1	1966
Chile	1	1962
Uruguay	1	1930
Spain	1	1982
Switzerland	1	1954
Argentina	1	1978
Sweden	1	1958
Qatar	1	2022

Qatar Controversies

Migrant Workers

A report by the Guardian claims that upwards of 6500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since the country was awarded the right to host the World Cup. Human rights organisations have criticised the treatment of migrant workers in the country.

Move To Winter

Qatar bid for a World Cup on the condition that it would be held in June and July, but after it won the vote, FIFA agreed to switch the tournament to November and December. This has necessitated a restructuring of domestic league seasons, most notably in Europe.

Corruption Allegations

The Garcia Report alleged that Qatar’s World Cup bid was mired by corruption and bribery, with accusations that two FIFA officials were reportedly offered $1.5m by the bid team.

Diplomatic Crisis

In 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen cut diplomatic ties with Qatar after accusing it of sponsoring terrorism in the region. The blockade was lifted, and the situation was resolved in 2021.

LGBT Rights

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, and many LGBT rights groups have consequently criticised FIFA for allowing the country to host World Cup 2022. 

Nassar al-Khater, the chief executive of the Qatar World Cup, said in September: “I would like to assure any fan, of any gender, (sexual) orientation, religion, race to rest assured that Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world - and they’ll all be welcome here.”

Women’s Rights

According to Human Rights Watch, women in Qatar are required to get permission from a male guardian to “make key decisions about their lives”. This includes getting married, studying abroad and taking a particular job.

Can I Drink And Smoke In Qatar?

It is an offence to be drunk in public in Qatar, but alcohol can be bought at licensed bars and restaurants. Smoking is legal but banned in many public areas.

Surprise Update: In a last-minute U-Turn, Qatar has announced the sale of alcohol will be prohibited from Stadiums at the World Cup 2022 super event.

"Just two days before the tournament's first match in the Muslim nation, officials made the surprise announcement that fans won't be allowed to drink beer at the country's eight World Cup stadiums — a reversal of a previously announced policy. " according to NPR.org.

Is Qatar Safe?

Qatar has a relatively low crime rate, but travellers are advised to take care of their belongings at all times.

Following the World Cup

How Can I Watch World Cup 2022?

If you cannot find your country in the table below, check out this link for more information.

Country	Rights Holder
Belgium	RTBF, VRT
Canada	Bell Media
France	TF1, beIN SPORTS
Germany	ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom
Ireland	RTE
Italy	RAI
Netherlands	NOS
Spain	RTVE, Mediapro, MovistarPlus+
United Kingdom	BBC, ITV
United States	Fox, Telemundo

Where Can I Place Bets On The Tournament?

You can find the best World Cup 2022 betting offers and bonuses here.