The 2022 World Cup is almost here.
Twenty-nine teams have qualified and been drawn into groups, with the remaining three to be decided in June. Each continent produced stories and drama around the clock, and it wasn’t a simple campaign - the qualifiers were harassed by the pandemic, forcing changes to the schedule, venues and formats.
Yet, every confederation can take away some key points from this four-year tournament cycle.
It’s right around the corner. The FIFA World Cup in Qatar (Photo: FIFA World Cup official Twitter account)
Asia
In Asia there was an extension of gaps between the leading pack and the rest of the continent. Iran, South Korea and Saudi Arabia walked through the third stage, highlighting why Asia were given only 4.5 spots in the finals. Japan and Australia appear to be going through their own transitional periods. While the Japanese got their stuff together on time, and improved dramatically, the Australians looked lost and directionless. Still, they could find themselves in the finals for the fifth consecutive time through the play-offs. The United Arab Emirates had a lousy campaign, but will face Australia in that game, reaching the play-offs for the first time since 2002. The lack of quality outside Asia’s “Big 6” is clear.
Africa
Things were toughest in Africa. The path one team has to go through to reach the World Cup is probably the hardest, with two group stages and a cruel play-off doubleheader that eventually determines which five teams will represent the continent in the finals. Five out of 54 national teams. Teams like Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria, who can add a lot of quality, spice, talent and atmosphere to a World Cup, won’t be part of the competition due to this overly hard path. Africa must have at least one more representative in the World Cup finals, otherwise this lack of representation will profoundly influence a game that is already going backwards on the continent.
Hello, World!
Europe
Europe is, once again, enjoying the most significant number of participants in the World Cup. No less than 13 European teams will be in Qatar, but the big stories came from those who won’t be there. European champions Italy will miss a second straight World Cup, and reach 18 years since their last knockout round victory - dating back to their winning 2006 campaign. The second one is Russia, who were expelled over the war with Ukraine. Europe is sending a few contenders to Qatar and there’s an excellent chance one of them will be crowned champions yet again.
South America
South America has seen a significant decline in the strength of its sides, if you discount Brazil and Argentina that is. Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile struggled immensely to qualify, with the latter two staying at home. Peru managed to nab a play-off spot, but even World Cup stalwarts Ecuador haven’t won a qualifier since November 2021. Covid has run riot on the sub-continent.
North America
CONCACAF experienced probably the most refreshing story of them all. Canada rocked the North American football gods, produced a rare historical campaign, and finished first in the Octagonal. It is always good to have new players come in, which is the same in national teams. Canada were drawn into a group with Belgium, Morocco and Croatia. The United States and Mexico, who struggled throughout most qualifiers, got interesting draws too, with the USMNT playing Iran, England and the winners of the European play-off. Mexico, meanwhile, were drawn into a group with Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
Oceania
The OFC tournament in Qatar was one of the most bizarre football competitions the world has seen in a while. The confederation impacted the most by the pandemic had to put on a show, despite two completely non-functional years. Teams and players are testing positive, games are getting cancelled, and eventually, New Zealand qualified for the intercontinental play-offs. Playing Costa Rica doesn’t provide a simple path to the finals, but also is not an impossible task.
The schedule is ready, with three teams still on the way, but the World Cup in Qatar, the first-ever in the Middle East, is right around the corner. With a new ball (Al Rihla - the journey), a new mascot and a new song, we are starting to understand how it will look and feel, and it is exciting as it gets.
Edited by Alex Smith.
Photo via FIFA World Cup official Twitter account.
