World Cup 2022: Listing 50 reasons to be excited for Qatar

By Doug McIntyre
FOX Sports activities Soccer Author

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is now simply 100 days away, and the joy surrounding the event is beginning to really feel palpable.

Listed below are 50 issues, in no explicit order, that we’re wanting ahead to or hoping to see when play begins in Qatar, beginning Nov. 20. 

1. Christian Eriksen to steal the present

An on-field coronary heart assault throughout final summer season’s Euros practically value the Danish midfielder his life, however Eriksen made a full restoration and is now again atop his sport. He is additionally the centerpiece of essentially the most gifted Denmark World Cup entry in many years, one able to making a deep run.

2. Can Mexico lastly win a knockout sport? 

El Tri has survived the group stage and superior to the second spherical at seven straight tournaments. Seven straight instances, Mexico misplaced their first knockout sport. Will both streak finish in Qatar? 

3. Younger USMNT to advance to quarterfinals

Attending to Qatar was Job 1 after the USMNT did not qualify for 2018. Advancing is now the purpose for the youngest crew within the area. Christian Pulisic & Co are aiming lots greater, however reaching the final eight for the primary time since 2002 could be a smashing success.

4. Lionel Messi to raise the World Cup 

In contrast to in 2018, the revamped Albiceleste is able to profitable all of it this time. That will be some swansong for the GOAT; at 35, it is absolutely Messi’s ultimate activate the worldwide stage.   

5. Cristiano Ronaldo to show again the clock  

Few gamers have a greater sense of event than CR7. Even at 37, do not be shocked if the Portuguese celebrity manages to muster a couple of weeks of magic at his final World Cup.  

6. Germany to contend for the title 

Die Mannschaft has loads to show after going three-and-out as defending champs 4 years in the past.  

7. Senegal to make historical past 

No African crew has reached a World Cup semifinal. Headlined by Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane, the Lions of Teranga have the very best probability of any of the continent’s entries this 12 months.

8. Christian Pulisic to change into a family identify  

The USMNT frontman was alleged to change into a mainstream darling in his house nation in 2018. He needed to wait 4 years, however that point is coming in November.

9. That huge U.S.-England match 

The Black Friday matchup between the favored Three Lions and upstart Yanks guarantees to attract report viewership within the U.S.

10. Thanksgiving Day Futbol 

There are 4 Turkey Day matches: Switzerland-Cameroon, Uruguay-South Korea, Portugal-Ghana, Brazil-Serbia. 

11. Qatar taking part in within the opener  

The hosts ought to’ve had the World Cup opener from the start. Now they’ll, with FIFA formally deciding to maneuver Qatar-Ecuador up a day, to Nov. 20. 

12. The Iran-U.S. rematch  

Workforce Melli shocked the Individuals 2-1 again in 1998. Will the U.S. return the favor this time? 

13. Iran‘s followers  

Apart from the hosts, no crew will probably be higher supported by touring supporters in Qatar.  

14. Canada’s first look in 36 years  

After topping CONCACAF qualifying, the Reds wish to make noise at their second World Cup.  

15. The Netherlands again the place they belong  

The three-time finalist Dutch completed third in 2014 earlier than lacking 2018 fully. The World Cup is best with the Oranje in it.   

16. Spain-Germany on Nov. 27 

By way of sheer soccer high quality, this could be the very best matchup of the group stage.  

17. Robert Lewandowski‘s objectives  

Poland will go so far as their all-world striker will take them. 

18. France’s title protection 

Whereas Les Bleus have a behavior of taking each different World Cup off, France may even have higher crew now than they did 4 years again.

19. Luka Modric‘s goodbye  

The Croatian maestro nonetheless has it at 36, having simply helped Actual Madrid win the UEFA Champions League but once more.  

20. A one-city World Cup 

That is principally what Qatar 2022 will probably be, with each crew and its followers based mostly both within the capital of Doha or its outskirts, this World Cup may have extra of an Olympic really feel.  

21. No in-country flights  

After enduring grueling journey in each Brazil and Russia, Qatar’s small dimension ensures that gamers and followers will not need to get on a airplane once more till they go away.  

22. Adidas’ Al Rihla match ball  

Arguably the prettiest World Cup ball for the reason that Jabulani in 2010.

23. Concussion spotters  

Whereas FIFA stopped wanting approving concussion substitutions for 2022, officers will probably be looking out for head accidents.  

24. The 26-player rosters  

Three additional gamers per crew will earn a World Cup journey this 12 months. Who can argue with that?  

25. The final 32-team occasion  

The sector will broaden to 48 when Canada, Mexico and america co-host the 2026 World Cup.

26. Ghana’s return 

The Black Stars had been a lot enjoyable to look at in 2006, 2010 and 2014. It is good to see them again after lacking out final time.

27. 5 obtainable substitutes  

We have gotten so used to seeing 5 subs at membership stage over the past two years, it is onerous to imagine this pandemic-era impressed rule change will probably be in use at a World Cup for the primary time.  

28. One other first-time finalist  

Two of the final three World Cup finals featured a crew that had by no means been there earlier than: Croatia in 2018 and Spain in 2010. Will we see one other on Dec. 18?  

29. Girls referees  

By no means earlier than has a lady officiated a males’s World Cup sport. That can quickly change, with Stéphanie Frappart of France, Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita among the many 36 refs headed to Qatar. 

30. Semi-automated offside expertise  

Whereas VAR was a success 4 years in the past, reviewing offside choices took too lengthy. The brand new tech’s goal is to hurry these checks up.

31. “Foot on the road” rule for keepers 

The three-year-old requirement that goalies preserve at the least one foot on the road till a penalty is taken will make its debut at a males’s World Cup.

32. New iconic kits 

It is going to be onerous to high Brazil’s Jaguar-inspired shirts.

33. Brazil’s attacking mixtures 

With Gabriel Jesus, Neymar, Raphinha, Richarlison, Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior and others to select from, Brazil coach Tite cannot actually go improper.  

34. Group E 

With Costa Rica and Japan rounding out a foursome that additionally options European heavyweights Germany and Spain, this one has all of it relating to completely different taking part in types.  

35. The chip on England’s shoulder 

The Three Lions and their followers fancy themselves an elite crew however lack the silverware to show it. England hasn’t even reached a World Cup ultimate since their controversial lone win in 1966. 

36. A correct sendoff for Belgium’s Golden era 

The Purple Devils got here shut in 2018, reaching the semis earlier than shedding to eventual champ France. With Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard all now of their 30s, this might be their final, finest probability.  

37. A rebirth of Spain’s magic midfield 

It is not the Iniesta-Xavi duo of La Roja’s iconic title profitable 2010 squad, however Koke and Rodri are the very best combo since — and so they nonetheless have Sergio Busquets cleansing up behind them.

38. Gregg Berhalter’s bounce passes 

In the event you suppose the U.S. coach’s unorthodox technique of throwing the ball to his gamers has gotten plenty of consideration already, simply wait.

39. A scrappy Serbian crew 

Do not sleep on the Serbs, who may emerge from a tough group that additionally comprises Brazil, Cameroon and Switzerland.  

40. An older Son Heung-min 

The Premier League’s main scorer final season is primed for large event for the Taegeuk Warriors. 

41. World Cup-worthy celebrations 

Even with out the Colombians, there are certain to be loads of cellies value remembering  

42. Darwin Nunez’s first main worldwide event 

Liverpool’s $100 million man might be a breakout star for Uruguay.  

43. World-class goalkeeping 

Targets get a lot of the glory, however an otherworldly save may be simply as necessary and a sizzling keeper can take a crew deep (see Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas in 2014).  

44. Breakout stars 

Who will probably be this event’s Kylian Mbappe? 

45. Wales on the World Cup 

Led by LAFC star Gareth Bale, Wales will play its first World Cup sport in 56 years after they meet the U.S. on Nov. 21. 

46. World Cup commercials 

Greater than 4 years later, the music from that ubiquitous Pepsi advert remains to be caught in our heads.

47. Controversial calls 

Similar to on the final World Cup, the usage of VAR does not imply there will not nonetheless be choices to gripe about.  

48. The memes 

Simply be grateful you will not see Joachim Löw choosing his nostril on the sideline this time round.

49. Golazos 

From the mazy solo runs by Pele and Messi to bangers like Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick towards Spain in 2018, essentially the most superb objectives scored at World Cups stay within the reminiscence ceaselessly.

50. The surprising 

Every thing about this World Cup is completely different. Do not be shocked if what occurs on the sector is, too.

One of many main soccer journalists in North America, Doug McIntyre has lined United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, he was a employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

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