The name “Qatar” may sound familiar to you, but definitely not in the football world. But the unique Arab country is setting out to be the first Arabian country and the smallest country to ever host the prestigious men’s international grand stage in football, which happens every four years. This World Cup is also the first to be played during the winter. As unique as the event is, so is the host country.
Qatar Airways is arguably the best in the world. It is the second fattest country in the world. They also boast of the best airport in the world (Hamad International Airport). Qatar is the second safest country in the world. It is one of the richest countries in the world. Burj Doha and Doha Metro are beautiful places with unique designs for tourists to behold.
The Changed Rules in Qatar 2022 World Cup
As special as this World Cup is, the rules of the game seem to have changed. It was rumored that the football governing council in Qatar had released some rules that are to be strictly followed if the offender does not want to be jailed. While it may not be possible to place bets physically in person, it may be possible to use a site like sinlicencia.org, a website that explicitly lists and explains the benefits of various online betting platforms.
FIFA, the governing body of World football, also introduced the following rules;
- Squad expansion to 26 players but only 23 can be presented for a game
- Women referees are introduced for the first time
- Five substitutions are allowed
Who is the favorite to win Qatar 2022 World Cup?
The last four editions have been won by European countries, with France winning the last one hosted by Russia in 2018. Unlike their South American counterparts, the European countries participating this year do not appear to have sides strong enough to fight for the trophy again.
The start of the competition in a matter of weeks will reveal how true this is. All eyes will be glued to the screens to know who will be the winner of this year’s edition. Interestingly, as fans are watching on their TVs and online, they can also make money by betting on countries that will win.
The Guide to the World Cup 2022
The group stages of this prestigious competition, to be played by 32 teams, will kick off on November 20, 2022, while the winner of the competition will be decided by the final match on December 18, 2022. As opposed to getting a visa, the passport for participants has been given the name “Hayya”. It replaces every visa and it is obtained by the purchase of a ticket for any of the games and validated by a hotel reservation.
Hotels in Qatar will offer official accommodation for 80 euros per night while alcohol consumption is restricted to several times and places. Transportation will be made free to the different eight venues for those with tickets. The cities that will play host to the matches include Doha, Al Khor, Lusail, Al Rayyan, and Al Wakrah.