Viewer's guide for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar
The Hindu
Here is a guide to the top ranked teams, big players, competition format, must-see matches from the group stages and injured players from this year’s FIFA World Cup
The last chance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Kylian Mbappé is back on the biggest stage of all. Brazil bidding for a record-extending sixth title.
One of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups in memory — as much for off-the-field reasons as those on it — begins Sunday in Qatar.
Thirty-two teams, 64 matches, 29 days. The first World Cup in the Middle East.
League play around the world has paused and now soccer's focus is on Qatar, whose national team opens the tournament with a match against Ecuador.
Here are a few things to watch when group games get going in the smallest country ever to host a World Cup, where some fans will be staying in floating hotels when they head over to take in the action:
#1 Brazil: Neymar, Vinícius Júnior and the rest of the flair-filled Selecao are peaking at the right time. Is a first World Cup title since 2002 on the horizon?
#2 Belgium: The “Golden Generation” is gradually breaking up but there’s still Kevin De Bruyne leading the Belgian charge. There is a doubt about the fitness of Romelu Lukaku, however.