By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The 2022 FIFA World Cup being staged in Qatar is the first-ever edition of the competition where the opening goal was scored from the penalty spot.
Enner Valencia of Ecuador struck from the spot in the 16th minute in their match against Qatar in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup.
Valencia scored twice to give Ecuador the win over the host nation, Qatar in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup.
The match began in controversial fashion, with Valencia having a goal ruled out for offside.
But it was only the focus for a few minutes, as the former West Ham United and Everton striker put the disappointment of having that goal disallowed behind him.
He scored twice more before half-time to put his side into a very comfortable position.
Qatar thus become the first host nation to lose an opening match of a World Cup, while Ecuador become the first nation to beat a host nation two goals to nil in an opening game within the first 45 minutes.
Some interesting facts about Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup
SIGNS/SYMBOLS OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP, QATAR 2022
Official Mascot Name: La’eeb
Official Matchball Name: Al Rihla
Official Music Album released
1. Hayya Hayya by Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha
2. Arhbo by Gims and Ozuna
3. Light the Sky by Nora Fatehi, Manal, Rahma Riad and Balqees
Three female referees will be at the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022
1. Stèphanie Frappart from France
2. Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda
3. Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan.
There will also be three (3) assistant female referees
FIFA WORLD CUP, QATAR 2022 OFFICIATING OFFICIALS
There will be 36 Centre Referees and here are the make-up: Asia- 6, Africa- 6, South America- 7, North America- 5, Oceania- 1 and Europe- 11
Assistant Officiating Officials
There will be 69 Assistant Referees and here are the composition: Asia- 10, Africa- 10, South America- 15, North America- 12, Oceania- 2 and Europe- 20
Video Assistant Referees
There will also be 24 Video Assistant Referees and the composition is: Asia- 3, Africa- 2, South America- 5, North America- 3 and Europe- 11
Note there will be no VAR referee from England.
The Stadia
There will be eight stadia in all hosting all the 64 matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup
The stadiums are: Al Bayt Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, and Al Janoub Stadium.
The rest are: Al Thumama Stadium, Education City Stadium, Stadium 974, and Khalifa International Stadium
The Al Bayt Stadium which hosted the opening ceremony and the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador will be the venue for 9 World Cup games
The Khalifa International Stadium will host the 3rd place match. The Lusail Iconic Stadium, an 80,000 capacity stadium, will host the closing ceremony as well as the final. It will also be the venue for 10 World Cup games.
Khalifa International Stadium will host eight (8) WC games, Education City Stadium- 8 games, Al Thumama Stadium- 8 games, Al Janoub Stadium- 7 games, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium- 7 games and Stadium 974 will also host seven (7) games in total.
Right to host
The right to host the FIFA World Cup 2022 received criticism after Qatar was awarded the hosting rights.
It went through 4 stages before Qatar was eventually selected.
Australia, Japan, Qatar, USA and South Korea bid to host.
Australia, Japan and South Korea were eliminated after 3 rounds.
Qatar and USA reached the final round and Qatar [14/22] were selected to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar were awarded the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in February 2009.
13 years on, patrons of football finally witness a first Mundial in the winter and in the Middle East and the 2nd to be hosted by an Asian country after Japan and South Korea co-hosted 20 years ago in 2002.
Monetary benefits
Group stage prize money
All 32 nations participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup will receive $9m at least.
Round of 16
Any nation that progresses to the Round of 16 will receive additional $4m making a total of $13m (Last 16 exit)
Any nation that progresses to the Quarter Finals will receive additional $4m making a total of $17m [Quarter Final exit]
The semifinal nations will have their prize money determined by where they finish.
1st to 4th Positions
Fourth placed finish will receive an additional $8m to the already received $17m making a total of $25m
Third placed finish will receive an additional $10m to the already received $17m making a total of $27m
Runner up/Second Placed finish will receive an additional $13m to the already received $17m making a total of $30m
Winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will receive an additional $25m to the $17m already received to go home with a total of $42m
FIFA also announced that each of the 32 nations will receive $1.5m before the tournament to cover preparatory expenses
In total, a prize money worth $440m will be distributed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar
All 32 nations had their hotels and training sites prepared ahead of the World Cup, in 15 days’ time.
Here are some lodging places for the 32 nations participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
For instance; Argentina will be lodging at Qatar University Hostel 1 and will train at Qatar University Training Site 3.
Brazil will be at The Westin Doha Hotel and Spa and will train at the Al Arabi SC Stadium.
England will be at the Souq Al Wakara Hotel and will train at Al Wakara Stadium.
Ghana will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton Doha in Al Sadd (where Andre Dede Ayew plays) and will train on Aspire Zone Training Facilities 1.
France will be at the Al Messila Resort and Spa, Doha and will be training at the Al Sadd Stadium.
Hosts Qatar will be at the Al Azizyah Boutique Hotel and will be training at the Aspire Zone Training Facilities 3.
The following are partners and sponsors of the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022: Adidas, Coca-Cola, Hyundai-Kia, Qatar Airways, Qatar Energy, Visa, Wanda Group, and Anheuser-Busch InBev
The rest are: Byju’s, Hisense, Crypto.com, McDonald’s, Mengniu Diary, and Vivo
Match Day Fixtures for the first round matches
Nov 20: Qatar vs Ecuador – 9:30 PM
Nov 21: England vs Iran – 6:30 PM
Nov 21: Senegal vs Netherlands – 9:30 PM
Nov 22: USA vs Wales- 12:30 AM
Nov 22: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia – 3:30 PM
Nov 22: Denmark vs Tunisia – 6:30 PM
Nov 22: Mexico vs Poland- 9:30 PM
Nov 23: France vs Australia- 2:30 AM
Nov 23: Morocco vs Croatia- 3:30 PM
Nov 23: Germany vs Japan- 6:30 PM
Nov 23: Spain vs Costa Rica- 9:30 PM
Nov 24: Belgium vs Canada- 12:30 AM
Nov 24: Switzerland vs Cameroon- 3:30 PM
Nov 24: Uruguay vs South Korea- 6:30 PM
Nov 24: Portugal vs Ghana – 9:30 PM
Nov 25: Brazil vs Serbia- 12:30 AM
Nov 25: Wales vs Iran- 3:30 PM
Nov 25: Qatar vs Senegal- 6:30 PM
Nov 25: Netherlands vs Ecuador- 9:30 PM
Nov 26: England vs USA- 12:30 AM
Nov 26: Tunisia vs Australia- 3:30 PM
Nov 26: Poland vs Saudi Arabia – 6:30 PM
Nov 26: France vs Denmark- 9:30 PM
Nov 27: Argentina vs Mexico- 12:30 AM
Nov 27: Japan vs Costa Rica- 3:30 PM
Nov 27: Belgium vs Morocco- 6:30 PM
Nov 27: Croatia vs Canada- 9:30 PM
Nov 28: Spain vs Germany- 12:30 AM
Nov 28: Cameroon vs Serbia- 3:30 PM
Nov 28: South Korea vs Ghana- 6:30 PM
Nov 28: Brazil vs Switzerland – 9:30 PM
Nov 29: Portugal vs Uruguay- 12:30 AM
Nov 29: Netherlands vs Qatar – 8:30 PM
Nov 29: Ecuador vs Senegal – 8:30 PM
Nov 30: Wales vs England- 12:30 AM
Nov 30: Iran vs USA- 12:30 AM
Nov 30: Tunisia vs France – 8:30 PM
Nov 30: Australia vs Denmark – 8:30 PM
Dec 1: Poland vs Argentina – 12:30 AM
Dec 1: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico- 12:30 AM
_Dec 1: Croatia vs Belgium- 8:30 PM
_Dec 1: Canada vs Morocco – 8:30 PM
_Dec 2: Japan vs Spain – 12:30 AM
_Dec 2: Costa Rica vs Germany- 12:30 AM
Dec 2: South Korea vs Portugal – 8:30 PM
Dec 2: Ghana vs Uruguay- 8:30 PM
Dec 3: Cameroon vs Brazil – 12:30 AM
Dec 3: Serbia vs Switzerland – 12:30 AM
