Sports City Stadium (Doha)

About

The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the 22nd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national football teams organised by FIFA. It took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, after the country was awarded the hosting rights in 2010. It was the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, and the second in an Asian country after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan. This tournament was the last with 32 participating teams, before increasing to 48 for the 2026 World Cup. To avoid the extremes of Qatar's hot climate in summers, the event was held in November and December, becoming the first to take place in the end of the year and outside the traditional months of May, June, and July. It was held over a reduced time frame of 29 days with 64 matches played in eight venues across five cities. Qatar entered the event—their first World Cup—automatically as the host's national team, alongside 31 teams determined by the qualification process. Morocco made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-final of a World Cup, falling short 0–2 against France. Argentina were crowned the champions after winning the final against the title holder France 4–2 on penalties following a 3–3 draw after extra time. It was Argentina's third title and their first since 1986. Argentina were the first nation from outside of Europe

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.