The world cried with him as CR7 (Cristiano Ronaldo) walked out of the stadium with tears in his eyes after Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-finals. I sat in my lounge with conflicting emotions, trying to make sense of what had happened. On one hand, I was beaming with pride that Morocco had made history after becoming the first Arab-African Muslim nation to have qualified for the semifinals, while it ached to see Ronaldo leaving the stadium with tears in his eyes, knowing this was his last World Cup match. Such was the power of this year’s World Cup that it consumed you to its entirety.
A World Cup of many firsts, a farewell to the legends who revolutionized the game, and a reason that unified millions around the globe, the month-long FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is nearing its end, concluding on Sunday night in Lusail, Qatar, followed by the last showdown between Argentina and France.
With billions of people watching the matches, all eyes were on Qatar and the 32 teams participating in the game as they strived to take home the most expensive sports award in the world.
The World Cup 2022 was one of a kind. For Qatar, it is a monumental milestone that puts them on the map, and for football fans, it is a nostalgic and emotional time as the most celebrated football players in the world play their last World Cup. A brew of conflicting emotions and an array of might and tradition here is why FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is unforgettable.
A World Cup of many firsts
Since the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, 22 tournaments have been hosted by various countries with a gap of four years. However, this is the first time a Muslim Arab country has hosted the World Cup. Not only this, but as the host country, Qatar’s national football team automatically qualified for the World Cup 2022, making it the first time the football team played in the tournament.
In addition, according to CNN, this is the first time that the World Cup is held in November and December instead of May, June, or July. This is due to the extreme weather conditions in Qatar during summer. Though Qatar has relatively cooler weather in November, all eight stadiums in Qatar are fully air-conditioned.
Moreover, to the dismay of people worldwide, the British media outlet BBC didn’t broadcast the opening ceremony, which invited a lot of backlash to the publication. This is the first time that BBC has not broadcasted an international event on such a large scale.
Farewell to the legends of the game
Messi and Ronaldo (Credits: Instagram @louisvuitton)
This year’s World Cup will remain memorable for all football fans and will be rewatched for years to come as it is, unfortunately, going to be the last World Cup played by football legends and arguably the most debated players in soccer history, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Other celebrated players who might retire this year are Pepe, who plays center-back for Porto and the Portugal national team, Croatia captain Luka Modrić, Guillermo Ochoa of Brazil, and Spanish player Sergio Ramos.
Although it was rumored that it was also the last world cup of Brazil’s legendary player Neymar, he denied these rumors after Brazil lost against Croatia in the quarterfinals.
The unexpected wins and loses: The underdogs make it to the semifinals
This world Cup shocked the world after each match led to an interesting turn of events. As reported by CNN, this World Cup is only the fourth edition in the tournament’s 92-year history where no team won all its group games – and the first since 1994.
First, Qatar’s national team automatically qualified for the tournament but lost to Ecuador, making it the first host team to lose its first match. Following that, Belgium lost to Morocco, making Morocco the undefeated team until the semifinals. Other expected twists came in the knockout matches of Group E, in which Japan beat both Germany and Spain to top the group. Germany did not qualify even after winning over Costa Rica as Japan secured its place in the round of 16. However, they were knocked out by Croatia, who then qualified for the quarterfinals. Croatia also defeated the five-time World Cup winner, Brazil, eventually securing their place in the semifinals.
Morocco’s player Sofiane Boufal celebrates with his mother after defeating Portugal
Morocco made history after defeating Portugal to become the first Arab-African Muslim country to qualify for the semifinals.
A shocking win against Saudi Arabia against Argentina also made it to the news. However, Argentina managed to recover and now are one of the finalists of this year’s edition of the World Cup.
Rising amidst the controversies: Qatar- an underdog that won hearts
The World Cup 2022 sparked many controversies and debates as Qatar was determined to make history. Not only is Qatar the first nation to make its tournament debut since 1934, following Italy, but it is also the first Muslim, Arab country to host the World Cup. Since it won the bid to host FIFA 12 years back, according to reports, Qatar has spent a whopping sum of $220 billion to revolutionize the whole architecture of the country. Within 12 years, seven stadiums from scratch have been built for the tournament, alongside the expansion of hotels, the country’s airport, rail networks, and highways.
With Qatar under the spotlight as people looked forward to hosting one of the most significant sports events, the country had to face a lot of scrutinies, especially from Western media. Qatar has been surrounded by controversies after reports confirmed the ill-treatment of migrant workers. Moreover, it received backlash due to its rules on the LGBT community and strict social restrictions. Also, just two days before the opening ceremony, Qatar announced that alcohol would not be available for consumption in the stadiums but would be available in ‘selected areas’ such as hotels.
All these regulations invited criticism to the small gulf country. However, Qatar proved to be a gracious host. The opening ceremony was one of a kind that reflected Qatar’s rich culture. The Bedouin-themed opening ceremony was hosted by the Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman and Qatari social media influencer Ghanim al-Muftah who gave a message of inclusivity followed by the recitation of the Holy Quran. In addition, a South Korean boy band BTS member, Jung-kook performed his solo single ‘Dreamers’ for the World Cup.
Jung-Kook at the opening ceremony in Qatar
In addition, social media reports reflect how people find the non-availability of alcohol a blessing in disguise. Women feel more comfortable walking around the city and stadium, and fewer fights break out. This has even sparked a discussion online about whether this practice should be followed for other sporting events.
Some hotel rooms in the country also offer visitors QR codes to learn about Islam. This gives an opportunity for people to learn about the religion at a time when Islamophobia is at its peak. Qatar also allowed the raising of the Palestine flag, which translated into their show of support for the nation.
Hosting the World Cup in a Muslim nation reflects inclusivity and diversity. This World Cup has revolutionized football for years to come. Undoubtedly, it has united people around the globe who cheer for the same team and players. The game enabled people to connect globally and sparked friendly debates.
