A country located right at the center of the world and boasting of its fine Arabian hospitality, Qatar is set to host the FIFA World Cup 2022 as it gears up for a month-long spectacle of the footballing carnival. 32 teams, millions of fans, and 8 world-class stadiums, the FIFA 2022 promises to be an experience of a lifetime.
With an estimated $200 billion USD spent on infrastructural projects in the wake of the upcoming event, the excitement for FIFA 2022 is telling. So if you're a footballing fanatic ready to cheer your favorite team at the world cup in Qatar, we've compiled a detailed guide for you to provide all the information you need regarding the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022.
When Will The World Cup Begin?
The biggest football festival as it always is, the FIFA 2022 will begin on 21st November on a Monday with the host country Qatar involved in the tournament opener. Likewise, the tournament final would be held on 18th December 2022, just a week before Christmas.
As surprising as it is, the tournament was shifted from its usual summer slot as the temperatures in Qatar during the months of June and July can be unbearable. This is the time when the country records extremely hot temperatures that are not suitable for any event to take place.
In fact, whenever a major event like the 2022 World Cup has happened in June and July, it has been hosted in the Southern Hemisphere as this is the time when the region experiences winter. However, keeping the extreme temperatures of Qatar in mind, the Doha FIFA World Cup is set to be the first-ever winter world cup.
What Will The Broadcast Timings Be For FIFA 2022?
The Doha FIFA World Cup will be broadcast all around the world, and below are the kickoff timings as per the different time zones.
1 pm (1000 GMT)
4 pm (1300 GMT)
7 pm (1600 GMT)
10 pm (1900 GMT)
As for the final round group of games and the knockout games of the tournament, the timings will differ slightly. Here are the timings set for the same.
6 pm (1900 GMT)
10 pm (1900 GMT)
Facts Around FIFA 2022
Here's our take on certain facts worth noticing about the upcoming grand event of football.
1.Lowest Number Of Stadiums
The Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 will be the first-ever World Cup to have the lowest number of venues. The country is set to host the world cup in only 8 stadiums, and out of those eight stadiums, seven will be newly built and one stadium will be revamped.
The best part? Every stadium will be equipped with world-class facilities that will enhance the viewing experience of the viewers coming to watch.
2. Record Visitors
The FIFA 2022 World Cup is set to receive a record number of visitors, and it is mainly owing to the location of the country. Located right at the center of the Earth, Qatar is equally distant from all corners of the world, making it one of the most accessible countries in the world.
In fact, as per an estimate, the country is set to receive more than 1.2 million visitors for the FIFA 2022. As per the experts, the number may even go higher since the location of Qatar would compel travelers to visit the country.
Surprised? Well, if the figures turn out to be true, the number of visitors in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup would be double the number of visitors that arrived in Brazil for the 2014 world cup.
Suggested Read: Advice For The Visitors Traveling To Qatar For The FIFA World Cup 2022
3. The Question Of Commuting
Now here's a fact, Qatar is a small country, and commuting from one place to another here isn't a big hassle. In fact, it is an estimated 1478 times smaller than the size of Russia, who was the last host of the FIFA World Cup.
Having said that, the Doha metro network connects all the venues of the world cup with one another. The 300 km network has 100 stations along the way and is set to play a massive role in making the Doha FIFA World Cup commutable for the visitors. Besides, here's a take on how approachable the world cup in Qatar is set to be.
- According to an estimate, the metro network in Qatar is expected to ferry about one million visitors during the FIFA World Cup 2022.
- Qatar's two most remotely located stadiums, Al Bayt, and Al Wakrah are only 90 miles apart.
Hence, it just goes to show how commutable FIFA 2022 will be. Particularly for the ones with certain conditions who have to keep the geographical conditions in mind while booking travel, this means a whole lot more.
Suggested Read: Question Marks in Front of Qatar Ahead of FIFA 2022
4. Record Number Of Flights
Being one of the largest transit gateways for overseas travelers in the world, Qatar is well-connected with just about every popular destination in the world. Travelers can easily book a flight to Qatar without any hassle.
Besides, having said that, the Hamad International Airport and Qatar Airways are set to join hands to bring a whopping 1300 flights into the country which would last for a full month.
In fact, as per the experts, the number may even be higher owing to the fact that the location of Qatar is central and makes it a perfectly commutable destination for the 2023 World Cup.
The Match Schedule For FIFA World Cup 2022
One of those things that every footballing fan would be keeping a track of once the world cup kicks off, here's the match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The event will kick-off on November 21st with the group stage that will last until December 2nd. The event will then move on to the last 16 stage. There will be 2 games played in a day for this stage on 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th December.
Once the last-16 stage is concluded, there will be a two days break, post which, the quarter-finals will be held on 9th and 10th December.
Likewise, once the quarter-final stage is over, there will be a two days break, post which, the semi-finals will be played on 13th and 14th December.
Once the competition reaches this stage, and we know the finalists, the third-place play-off game will be unveiled on 17th December with the grand final being scheduled for 18th December.
Where Will The FIFA 2022 Matches Be Played?
Another significant point to note as far as the matches for the Doha FIFA World Cup are concerned, the tournament opener will be played at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor on November 21st. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 60,000 seats.
Likewise, the final of FIFA 2022 is set to be played at the Lusail Stadium in Doha on December 18th. The stadium has a maximum seating capacity of 80,000.
As for the other significant fixture for the third-place, the match will be played on December 17th at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Suggested Read: A Detailed Guide to the Stadiums in Qatar
Talking about all the venues set for the World Cup, there are eight stadiums in total where the matches will be played. Have a look at the ones on the list-
- Al Bayt Stadium
- Lusail Stadium
- Khalifa International Stadium
- Al Janoub Stadium
- Al Rayyan Stadium
- Al Thumama Stadium
- Education City Stadium
- Ras Abu Aboud Stadium
Considering the fact that Qatar is a small country, no air travel will be required to get from one venue to the other. Hence, for the first time ever, organizers of the FIFA World Cup would be able to customize the match experience in order to benefit the fans.
Suggested Read: A Take on the Host Cities of the FIFA World Cup 2022
How To Buy Tickets For The FIFA World Cup 2022?
Last but not the least, footballing fans around the world would wish to know when the sale of the ticket will go live. So, here's a thing, as per a statement by FIFA, the hospitality sales are set to go live by the end of 2020 itself for those who are eager to make a booking.
As for the other tickets, the sale would be conducted on the official FIFA website only with details like the timeline, phases, categories, and prices set to be communicated along with it.
Closing Thoughts
One of the biggest sporting events in the world, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be a whole new spectacle and promises to receive a record number of visitors. The hotels, restaurants, bars, and even tourist places around the country continue to gear up for welcoming millions of visitors.
As for the stadiums, the infrastructural projects surrounding the FIFA 2022 continue with pace and are set to meet the deadline. So why not book your seat for the FIFA World Cup in 2022?
FAQs
The tickets for the FIFA 2022 will go live on FIFA's official website only and fans will be notified through a statement when the tickets go live for sale.
The Doha FIFA World Cup will commence on November 21st and conclude on December 18th.
The infrastructural projects set for the FIFA World Cup continue with full toll and the country is expected to meet its deadline for the preparation.
Speaking in terms of the stadiums, FIFA has strict guidelines which says that stadiums should have a capacity of at least 40,000 for group stage matches, 60,000 for quarter-finals, and at least 80,000 for the opening ceremony and final.
Qatar is the country that is set to host the FIFA World Cup 2022.
