The FIFA World Cup is the most viewed and followed sporting event in the world. It is watched by billions of people in over two hundred countries.

The 2022 World Cup has been going on since November 20 and will end on December 18. This year, the tournament is taking place in Qatar, which is why it is happening now instead of in the summer as it normally does.

The World Cup is a soccer tournament that has been held every four years since 1930 (except in 1942 and 1946 because of World War II). Men’s national soccer teams from all over the globe compete in qualifying tournaments in order to see which thirty-two teams will make it to the World Cup. 

Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, and the fact that they are hosting has not come without controversy. Many people were upset by the fact that the tournament is being held later in the year. The reason that decision was made is that in the summer months when the tournament is normally held, the average temperature in Qatar is 106 degrees Fahrenheit. While it is still almost eighty degrees on average in November and December, it is much cooler and safer for both the players and the fans. The weather was not the only concern raised about hosting in Qatar. The stadiums for the tournament were built by immigrant workers whose passports were taken by the government so they could not leave. These workers were paid almost nothing, and they were treated horribly. According to Qatari officials, an estimated fifty to four hundred workers died while constructing the stadiums, but many other sources estimate death tolls in the thousands.

Thirty-two teams qualified for the World Cup this year, but only half of them made it past the group stage. In the group stage, each team is placed into a group of four teams. They all play against each other once, and the top two teams in each group go into the knockout round. In the knockout round, if a team loses a game, they are out of the tournament for good. 

The tournament has provided many exciting matches with several upsets and many games going into overtime and penalty shootouts. Some of the favorites to win the tournament have already been eliminated. The four teams remaining in the semifinals are Argentina, Croatia, France, and Morocco, which is the first African country to ever reach a World Cup semifinal. The last game will be held on December 18 and will determine the winner of the 2022 World Cup. 

The next World Cup will take place in 2026 and will be held across North America, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America. Because they are the host nations, all three countries are guaranteed a spot in the World Cup. Next World Cup, there will also be an additional sixteen teams who will qualify, bringing the total number of teams from thirty-two to forty-eight.

Be sure to tune in on Sunday, December 18 at 10 am to watch the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France.