32 countries, including the hosts Qatar, have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022, which will begin on November 21 and last through December 18. The 22nd FIFA World Cup is expected to be the final competition with 32 teams and the first to be held in the Middle East.
The FIFA World Cup in Qatar is a special event to look forward to for a variety of reasons. Here are some intriguing facts about the much-awaited extravaganza:
1. First-ever FIFA World Cup in winter
If viewed from the northern hemisphere, the 2022 competition would mark the first-ever winter World Cup. Usually, the FIFA World Cup is held in the middle of the year, but when it came to Qatar, an exception had to be made.
Qatar tucked away in the Middle East, endures agonizingly hot temperatures that sometimes reach up to 50 degrees Celsius. Hosting any kind of international event is seen as being nearly difficult under such circumstances. As a result, the FIFA World Cup 2022 was moved from its typical summertime location.
2. The costliest FIFA World Cups ever held
An estimated $200 billion is being spent by Qatar on World Cup-related infrastructure projects, including the building of hotels, motorways, and stadiums. As a result, the forthcoming event will rank among the priciest FIFA World Cups ever held.
Fewest venues
The FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar at only eight venues, which are the fewest World Cup sites in recent memory. In actuality, only one of the eight venues chosen to host the competition underwent a complete renovation, while the other seven are being built from scratch across the nation.
Only six stadiums were used when Argentina hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1978, and only eight stadiums will be used when Qatar hosts the event this year.
Record number of spectators
The number of tourists expected to enter the nation during the event is one of the most intriguing statistics. A record number of spectators may arrive for the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 by the time the competition is over, according to estimates.
The most commutable
Qatar is a tiny nation. In actuality, it is far smaller than Russia, which hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Traveling around this small nation is not a major issue because of how compact it is.
Cities that serve as hosts, such as Doha, Lusail, Al Wakrah, and Al Rayyan, are situated close to one another. As a result, traveling from one venue to another wouldn’t be too difficult for visitors.
Another noteworthy fact is that Al Bayt and Al Wakrah, Qatar’s two most isolated stadiums, are only 90 miles apart.
Air-conditioned stadiums
The fact that Qatar experiences distressingly high temperatures during the day is one of the most crucial things to keep in mind about the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Qatar developed a bold method to address the problem. For the first time, a nation will host the FIFA World Cup in stadiums with complete air conditioning. All eight of Qatar’s venues will be fully air-conditioned, ensuring that spectators have a comfortable viewing experience and that players have favorable circumstances to compete on the field.
Second World Cup in Asia
Not only will Qatar host the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the Middle East, but it will also be the second time ever that Asia will play host to the illustrious event. Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the FIFA event for the first time in Asia in 2002.