On November 20,2022 to December 18,2022 we shall the the biggest sporting event that grips the world every four years, the FIFA world cup. Where countries send their greatest footballers to bring home the coveted world cup trophy. Along with the overall prestige of the world cup trophy For 2022, FIFA will pay out $440 million in prize money. The winning team alone will pocket a whopping $42 million. The runners-up will take home $30 million, while third-place and fourth-place teams will earn $27 million and $25 million, respectively. Payouts continue based on placement. And each of the 32 teams gets a piece of the prize money—even those who finish in the bottom half will take home $9 million each. Each participating team also receives an advance of $1.5 million to cover expenses. Not to mention the overall publicity that both countries and players will get from going to the event and showcasing their talent and possibly winning some of the individual prizes such as the Golden Ball(awarded to the best player, the Golden Boot(awarded to the player who has scored the most goals in the tournament), and the Golden Gloves Award(awarded to the best goalie in the tournament). Yet this specific world cup is different in several aspects as well one of them simply being the fact that it is being hosted in Qatar, the first time a Middle Eastern country is hosting the tournament, and it has made several rule changes to the tournament. Then there is the astounding number of players who have announced that this will most likely be their last world cup, or in some cases last international game they will play for their countries.
Qatar World Cup Changes
There has been several changes made to the 2022 world cup that have occurred to overall internal changes that FIFA decided to make but also changes made to the tournament being held in Qatar. One of these changes is the fact that now the squad that countries may bring to the world cup has been expanded from the usual 23 all the way to 26 players now, a change that has been used in other recent football tournament but the first time it is being used for a world cup. Then there is the change that now managers can make up to five subsitutions in a game, they are only allowed to make the changes in three windows during the game, but this is higher than what is usually allowed in games. The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar is set to have a new addition in gameplay with the use of semi-automated offside technology for the first time in a World Cup.The final change game wise is the fact that this will be the first world cup to have women referees for the first time in the competition’s history, women referees will officiate games at a major men’s tournament.
There are also other changes based on the simple fact that the game is in Qatar this year. One of the most notable of these changes being that the world cup will begin in November and end in December, the world cup is usually set in the summer months from June-July. The reason for this being that the extreme heat and humidity in Qatar during the summer months. Then there is the very recent development, ruled November 17,2022 FIFA confirmed that no alcohol will be sold at the eight stadiums which will host the tournament’s 64 matches.Qatar is a very conservative Islamic nation and alcohol is for the most part prohibited in the faith. Then there are the overall controversies from this world cup although most world cups have controversies such as if it actually hurts nations, the vast money that must be spent to create the infrastructure needed to host the tournament. Qatar is a nation that has been for the longest been steeped in controversy due to several issues, including human rights abuses accusations, LGBTQ rights issues, workers rights/treatment, and women’s rights in the nation as well. With celebrities such as Dua Lipa and Rod Stewart boycotting the tournament due to Qatar’s past, Dua Lipa did say she would cheer for her home country of England from afar.
Final World Cup
Several of what many people consider the greatest players in the world have stated that this will be their last world cup. Including Karim Benzema(2022 UEFA Champions League Winner), Luka Modric (2018 World cup Golden Ball Winner), Neymar, Thomas Mueller(2010 World Cup Golden Boot Winner), Kevin De Bruyne, Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Dani Alvez, and Thiago Silva. Although all of these are amazing players in their own right the two that the world is going to be the most saddened are the two players who have both been called the G.O.A.T’s(Greatest of all Time) of football, Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentinian Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has even gone on to say that he plans on retiring when he is 40, which is only three years away. Both players are reaching an age where they won’t be able to play at the highest level of football anymore, Messi 35 and Ronaldo 37. Both players have broken several records in their careers and won several honors.
- 5 Balon D’or Awards
- 5 UEFA Champions League Wins
- 7 League Title Wins
- 2016 European Football Championship winner
- First Football Player to win League titles in 3 seperate leagues (Premier,La Liga, Serie A)
- Most Championship goals(140)
- Most International Goals( 115)
- Current Record Holder for Most Goal Scored for a Football Player (807)
- 7 Balon D’or Awards
- 1 Golden Ball at 2014 Fifa World Cup
- Runner Up 2014 FIFA World Cup
- 1 Gold Medal 2008 Olympics
- 4 UEFA Champions League Wins
- 10 La Liga Wins
- 7 Copa Del Rey Wins
- 1 Copa America Win
- Most Goals in La Liga (474)
Both players have an impressive roster of awards and records there is one award that eludes both players and that is holding the world cup. Although Messi was very close to winning the award in 2014 against Germany, they lost although Messi won the Golden Ball award at the tournament he looked visibly angry that his team did not win. The world cup in football is seen as the award that all players strive for and want to win, brining home glory for their team and their nation. Messi and Ronaldo are the captains for both of their respective teams and both team are looking stronger than ever, the final game may be down to one of these two teams or past winner France who appear just as strong. All that can be said is that this will be an interesting world cup.
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