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The World Cup in Qatar will be sport’s highlight of the season and the best that football can offer will meet in the Middle East for the first time in history. Qatar allegedly spent over 220 billion US dollars to build the infrastructure required to host a tournament of this size. This is by far the biggest expenditure ever for a World Cup tournament. Even though there was a lot of controversy regarding FIFA’s choice of Qatar for the hosting of the World Cup, it seems that Qatar will make sure to have the best possible tournament.
This will be the first time that the World Cup is being played in November and December, but in some ways, we could witness the best that football has to offer because it’s the middle of the season, and players should be in top form.
Qatar is a country of only 2.7 million people, and it will be the smallest country ever to host the World Cup.
Some of the teams that made it will find themselves on the world’s biggest stage for the first time in decades, and one of those countries is Wales. After Gareth Bale secured the Dragons’ spot by scoring a free-kick against Ukraine in June, Wales broke a deadlock that had lasted for 64 years. The first and only appearance for Wales at a World Cup was in 1958 when they finished the tournament in the quarterfinals. The Welsh will feel like they can escape the first stage and get to the playoff round in a group that features England, USA, and Iran. Somehow, it feels like its meant to be for Gareth Bale who was once one of the world’s most exciting players, and now in the twilight of his career will finally get a chance to play at the World Cup.
Canada’s wait is over after 36 years
Wales are not the only team that will find themselves at the World Cup for the first time in a while. Canada’s wait wasn’t as long as Wales, but 36 years is still a lot of time not to compete at the World Cup. In 1986, during one of the most memorable tournaments ever in Mexico when Diego Armando Maradona shocked the world of football, Argentina won the title, and Canada ended its participation in the group stage losing all three matches against France, Hungary, and the Soviet Union. This time, they expect things to be different, and Canada is ready to make history.
The wealth of celebration for Canada’s football fans started when they demolished Jamaica 4-0 in March during their final qualification match. Canada will face Belgium, Morocco, and Luka Modric-led Croatia in their World Cup 2022 group.
There are other noticeable participants in this year’s World Cup. Ecuador and Ghana didn’t play at the World Cup four years ago but are now returning. Ecuador will open the tournament against the hosts Qatar on November 20th.
When it comes to Asian teams, South Korea and Japan are regulars at the tournament and with the ever-expanding investments in football from both of those rich nations, their future looks bright.
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