The much awaited and the most popular sports mega event , the FIFA World cup soccer is starting at Qatar from today . The soccer fans from worldwide is waiting for the mega event to start . Mostly the football world cups are held in the months of June – July at four year intervals but this I’d for the first time that the world cup is held in November December mainly to avoid the steaming desert heat of Qatar during June- July .
There are 32 teams participating in this mega event final stages after 2 years of qualifiers across the globe and the first game will be between Qatar and Equador at 6.30 IST .
After the group stages finish, the knockout stages will start with 16 teams reaching the pre quarters and 8 teams reaching the quarters subsequently and then culminating in the semis and the grand finale on December 18th 2022 .
People’s favourite Brazil has the highest number of world cup titles which is 5 but the last time they won was in 2002 in Japan. Germany and Italy have 4 titles each , Argentina, Uruguay and France have two titles each while Spain and England have won once . This is the 22nd edition of the World Cup football and France are the reigning champions
This world cup could well be the last of Messi & Ronaldo , the two modern day greats whose age are on the wrong side of 30s
Players to watch out will be Messi, Ronaldo, Neymer, Suarez, Mbappe, Lukaku , Sterling, Kane etc.
France, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, England and Italy are big contenders this time but World cups never cease to surprise
Like all the fans , the cricketers are also very excited about world cup soccer and Team India have many cricketers who are absolutely mad about soccer .
MS Dhoni plays the game very well and has participated in many exhibition matches in which he showed good skills and reading power of the game . Dhoni reportedly likes Portugal and follows the number 7 Jersey Ronaldo. Dhoni is also a Manchester United fan.
Virat Kohli is another passionate soccer fan . He reportedly supports Germany and likes to follow Ronaldo
Sachin Tendulkar has been an owner of Kerala Blasters in the ISL in the past . He reportedly likes Argentina and Messi
Gautam Gambhir is another football lover and he supported Croatia passionately in last World cup .
Former captain & bcci head Sourav Ganguly comes from Bengal where football is a passion . Dada loves to follow Brazil, Argentina and is obsessed with Diego Maradona. Currently he likes Messi and follows the game very closely
The off-spinner Ravi Ashwin is a massive fan of Spain. Ashwin had told Sports18,
“I have always been a fan of Spain. Not sure how they are going to do this year. But yes, looking forward to watching how Spain does, the other football teams have picked up the standard of play and the last World Cup was amazing.”
However, his favorite footballer is the rising sensation of France, Kylian Mbappe. Ashwin said,
“I enjoyed watching Kylian Mbappe last time around, so I am looking forward to seeing a lot of new stars jump onto the scene. I am looking forward to the FIFA World Cup Qatar, 2022.”
The former cricketer Pragyan Ojha usually supports Portugal, and his favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo. His dream match to watch is Portugal vs Uruguay. Pragyan is also leaving for the prestigious tournament held in Qatar. He said,
“Yes, I am going to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup, 2022. I am going to watch Portugal vs Uruguay, the only reason behind this is Cristiano Ronaldo. I just want to see him play live.”
The football World cup will by streamed live in viacom spots18 & Jio Cinema.
The groups & full schedule is as under
Group stages
- 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
Sunday, November 20
- Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador – 9:30 PM IST
Monday, November 21
- Group B: England vs Iran – 6:30 PM IST
- Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands – 9:30 PM IST
Tuesday, November 22
- Group B: United States vs Wales – 12:30 AM IST
- Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia – 6:30 PM IST
- Group C: Mexico vs Poland – 9:30 PM IST
Wednesday, November 23
- Group D: France vs Australia – 12:30 AM IST
- Group F: Morocco vs Croatia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group E: Germany vs Japan – 6:30 PM IST
- Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica – 9:30 PM IST
Thursday, November 24
- Group F: Belgium vs Canada – 12:30 AM IST
- Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon – 3:30 PM IST
- Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea – 6:30 PM IST
- Group H: Portugal vs Ghana – 9:30 PM IST
Friday, November 25
- Group G: Brazil vs Serbia – 12:30 AM IST
- Group B: Wales vs IR Iran – 3:30 PM IST
- Group A: Qatar vs Senegal – 6:30 PM IST
- Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador – 9:30 PM IST
Saturday, November 26
- Group B: England vs United States – 12:30 AM IST
- Group D: Tunisia vs Australia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia – 6:30 PM IST
- Group D: France vs Denmark – 9:30 PM IST
Sunday, November 27
- Group C: Argentina vs Mexico – 12:30 AM IST
- Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica – 3:30 PM IST
- Group F: Belgium vs Morocco – 6:30 PM IST
- Group F: Croatia vs Canada – 9:30 PM IST
Monday, November 28
- Group E: Spain vs Germany – 12:30 AM IST
- Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group H: South Korea vs Ghana – 6:30 PM IST
- Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland – 9:30 PM IST
Tuesday, November 29
- Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay – 12:30 AM IST
- Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar – 8:30 PM IST
- Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal – 8:30 PM IST
Wednesday, November 30
- Group B: Wales vs England – 12:30 AM IST
- Group B: IR Iran vs United States – 12:30 AM IST
- Group D: Tunisia vs France – 8:30 PM IST
- Group D: Australia vs Denmark – 8:30 PM IST
Thursday, December 1
- Group C: Poland vs Argentina – 12:30 AM IST
- Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico – 12:30 AM IST
- Group F: Croatia vs Belgium – 8:30 PM IST
- Group F: Canada vs Morocco – 8:30 PM IST
Friday, December 2
- Group E: Japan vs Spain – 12:30 AM IST
- Group E: Costa Rica vs Germany – 12:30 AM IST
- Group H: South Korea vs Portugal – 8:30 PM IST
- Group H: Ghana vs Uruguay – 8:30 PM IST
Saturday, December 3
- Group G: Cameroon vs Brazil – 12:30 AM IST
- Group G: Serbia vs Switzerland – 12:30 AM IST
Round of 16
Saturday, December 3
- Group A winner vs Group B runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Sunday, December 4
- Group C winner vs Group D runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
- Group D winner vs Group C runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Monday, December 5
- Group B winner vs Group A runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
- Group E winner vs Group F runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Tuesday, December 6
- Group G winner vs Group H runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
- Group F winner vs Group E runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Wednesday, December 7
- Group H winner vs Group G runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
Friday, December 9
- Quarter-final 1 – 8.30 PM IST
Saturday, December 10
- Quarter-final 2 – 12.30 AM IST
- Quarter-final 3 – 8.30 PM IST
Sunday, December 11
- Quarter-final 4 – 12.30 AM IST
Wednesday, December 14
Semi-finals 1 – 12.30 AM IST
Thursday, December 15
Semi-final 2 – 12.30 AM IST
Saturday, December 17
Third place match – 8.30 PM IST
Sunday, December 18
Final – 8.30 PM IST