22nd FIFA World Cup 2022 kick starts in Al Khor, Qatar

22nd FIFA World Cup 2022: On November 20, a colourful ceremony held at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, officially declared the 22nd FIFA Men’s World Cup open.  It is for the first time that an Arab country is hosting the football tournament. 32 teams will play for the most coveted prize in international football, with the final scheduled to take place on December 18 at the Lusail stadium, the biggest one among the eight stadiums being used to host the World Cup. The inaugural match between Qatar and Ecuador takes place in Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on December 18, 2022, which is Qatar’s National Day.

November 2022 Current Affairs Quiz

FIFA World Cup 2022: Key Points

• Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup from November 20 to December 18, 2022.It is the first time that an Arab country will host the tournament.
• It is the second world cup to be held in Asia after the 2002 World cup which was jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea.
• 32 teams in total will participate in the world cup.
• La’eeb is the official mascot of the Cup. It is inspired by the keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men.
• The name of the football to be used during the world cup is Al Rihla. Al Rihla means “Journey” in Arabic. It has been made by the German multinational company Adidas. It is the 14th successive time that a ball made by Adidas will be used in the FIFA world cup. Al-Rihla is the first FIFA World cup ball to be made exclusively with water based inks and glues.

Which stadiums are being used to host the FIFA World Cup in Qatar?

• Al Bayt Stadium
• Lusail Stadium
• Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
• Al Janoub Stadium
• Al Thumama Stadium
• Education City Stadium
• Khalifa International Stadium
• Stadium 974

FIFA World Cup 2022 Groups:

• Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
• Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
• Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
• Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
• Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
• Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
• Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
• Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

What is the prize money of the Qatar World Cup?

Apart from winning the most prestigious trophy in football, there are substantial financial incentives for the teams in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

• The winner of the World Cup in Qatar will receive 38 million euros (INR 344 crores).
• The runner-up of the Qatar World Cup will get 27.27 million euros (INR 245 crores).
• The third-placed team will pocket 24.45 million euros (INR 220 crores).

Who is the mascot of the Qatar World Cup?

The official mascot of the Qatar World Cup is La’eeb. The adventurous, fun and curious La’eeb was unveiled during the Qatar 2022 Final Draw, which took place in Doha on April 1, following a tradition that was initiated in England 1966. It is inspired by the keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men. In anticipation of the hundreds of soccer players that are going to arrive in the country, the Arabic word “la’eeb” means “super-skilled player.” It is made of a piece of clothing.

FIFA Upcoming Event

• FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar (32 Teams)
• FIFA World Cup 2026: Canada, Mexico, USA (48 teams)
• FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2022: Costa Rica
• FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022: India
• FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2023: Australia and New Zealand