Qatar 2022

[Durban Sandshark]

We got confirmation from EA Sports that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia-New Zealand) is in the upcoming FIFA 23 video game, the final part of the 30-year partnership between Electronic Arta and FIFA due to the former's disagreements and not renewing over rising contractual money fees and other contractual demands before FIFA strikes on its own henceforth starting with FIFA 24. Something to the tune of $250 million annually in licensing starting with FIFA 24 EA balked and rejected over and will rebrand its soccer video game title as EA Sports FC. The FIFA World Cup trophies appear in morphing mode at 1:30-1:33. But it doesn't provide any details and info on those modes or the jerseys the teams will be sporting, which will all be detailed very soon in due time. I sincerely hope, unlike the 2018 installment, EA Sports and FIFA will fully go all out in their confederation qualification realms with both men and women even with nations that start out qualifying but not finishing (excluding Russia, of course) and the intercontinental playoffs teams. More comprehensiveness this time, hopefully. Women's club teams and leagues will be included too for the first reflecting with the first female global cover co-endorser in Australia's (and Chelsea's) Sam Kerr with Kylian Mbappe:  

 

[Durban Sandshark]

We'll also could expect some future World Cup and Women's World Cup features forthcoming as DLC very soon after FIFA 23's release this fall.

Back to the Doha, Qatar-based intercontinental playoff games that I promised to return to at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium near Doha at one of its suburbs in All Rayyan. Seems as though that the nearly 4-hour Australia-Peru one, the first one, just a couple of months ago is somehow making its way into the annals of Australian soccer lore just like the great November 2005 playoff match between the Socceroos and Uruguay's Celeste at Sydney's ANZ Stadium that also underwent a thrilling penalty shootout that also Australia going through--the upcoming vid makes references on that and the start of the Socceroos building a consistent World Cup appearance pedigree streak. One that was, at the time, in serious jeopardy again for Australia. One notable common denominator from both intercontinental World Cup qualification games is play-by-play commentator Simon Hill. In 2005 versus Uruguay, he called for SBS with Craig "Fozzie" Foster that set new Australian soccer TV viewing records. This time, it's with Andy Harper for Network 10's/Paramount+'s Ten Sport. Also, I made a mistake in the identification of the studio team, the ones who eventually sported those white Give It 100 (with Back to Back to Back to Back to Back on the, um, back) Socceroos T-shirts like the Aussie players immediately did afterwards--Tara Rushton and former Socceroo captain Mark Milligan were there but it's also Luke Wilshire at the Sydney studio. Hill and Harper were NOT on location as I previously stated but home down under. Scott McKinnon worked the sidelines and informed about the atmosphere. There was actually a John Aloisi 2005 Nike Socceroos jersey sighting at the stadium. Was like revenge for what happened in the final group game back in Russia four years ago for Australia versus Peru. Here's the full game with Graham Arnold's "masterstroke" to install the Grey Wiggle Andrew Redmayne as goalie at the 120th minute with his dance-like movements and capitalized later with that very meme-worthy expression of delight (see below) that may have saved his coaching bacon to send them to see Denmark, France, and Tunisia coming this November. Had my doubts when watching the live viewing reaction on Leich's Coast Watch Football YouTube channel but obviously worked.  

 

(BTW, on a side note, Tony Armstrong, the former AFL player turned ABC News Breakfast sports presenter whose celebration at Melbourne's Federation Square after the Socceroos went through with his new friends and nearly lost his scarf went viral, won the Graham Kennedy Most Popular New Talent TV Logie days later in June at the Gold Coast)

This is the Peruvian reaction to the game in highlight form that everything stopped abruptly for Peru when the Peruvians got eliminated following an energetic and enthusiastic warmup from just the commentators alone. Even when they started signing Seven Nation Army with their own lyrics for the soccer as both emerge out to the field. Peruvian fans, almost all of them clad in white with the red diagonal, really turned out in Doha in the hotels they and the team stayed in to being at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium. Dwarfing the Australian ranks in Doha by nearly around 10,000. It was around 15,000 Peruvians in total there being totally festive acting like typical South American soccer fans with many watching back home on TV. But all they came away from their Aussie encounter with heartbreak. The Peruvians surprisingly just didn't perform well--focusing on being defensive and not taking charge. You could only such a moment will not eventually become the start of another heartbreaking World Cup drought they just emerge out of four years ago, even with the expansion of the field to 48 teams starting in 2026. Ironically, Ricardo Gareca, Peru's coach now since left on July 14, scored the winning goal for Argentina against Peru back in 1985 that sent the nation into the World Cup wilderness until 2018. Despite this, he didn't make Argentina's final Mexico-bound 1986 World Cup roster. But he did make amends in 2017 versus New Zealand in the home and home series in Wellington and Lima after Peru finished 5th in South America.    

 

[Durban Sandshark]

Correction: No, it wasn't actually Tony's scarf. But his mom's ("my mum's") scarf as I mentioned earlier on that video in his celebration.

[Palette86]

Qatar tournament will start a day earlier than initially planned on November 20

Date:2022/8/11

News source: sky sports

 

[Davidrose]

I would love to tell you all, I am lucky enough to have got tickets for the Soccer World Cup 2022. Anyone from Qatar who would like to give some important suggestions before I start packing for my dream journey!!!

[SportLightning]

We still only have two months left for the long 12 year march to Qatar 2022.

[POV]

World Cup 2022: Qatar opened its massive Lusail Stadium and the reviews were ... not great (yahoo.com)

Two months before Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, problems have already emerged on the country's newest and biggest venue.

Lusail Stadium, which has a capacity of 80,000 and cost a reported $767 million to build, hosted its first match Friday — the Lusail Super Cup between Al Hilal of the Saudi Professional League and Zamalek of the Egyptian Premier League. Once the match ended, the stadium received a litany of poor reviews from fans who attended, according to Reuters and Doha News. Lack of hydration stations and bathrooms, poor air conditioning and long public transportation lines were the biggest issues fans had with the stadium where the World Cup final will be played on Dec. 18.

[AustralianFan]

Another report on conditions at the Qatar 2022 test event

 

[fusilli]

Nothing that can't be fixed in 2 months time, really. Just willing to do it. And eventually, the heat is going to normalise by then.

[stryker]

Final alcohol policy revealed. 

Fan zones will be able to sell beer from 6pm to 1am (Fridays will be dry)

Alcohol will be sold just outside the stadiums (not on the concourses) two hours before games and two hours after games. During games, only Budweiser Zero will be sold and it`s questionable whether matches held on Fridays will even allow this. Officially, Budweiser has acknowledged having to adapt to local culture. Unofficially, I`m sure they are furious.

I saw a comment on an article about this where someone said given that Qatar has clearly backtracked on their promises regarding the availability of alcohol and angered Budweiser, why can`t FIFA just up and move to WC to England? Frankly, FIFA drank the kool aid. They bought everything hook line and sinker from the Qataris (along with accepting the bribe money). But the Qataris know that as you get closer to the tournament, knowing that a relocation is not possible, you can call the shots on logistics. That`s exactly what they`ve done here. And if there`s any criticism they can simply play the race card.

I`m sure privately FIFA is relieved Israel did not qualify. 

[StefanMUC]

Well, if thousands of dead slaves didn‘t stop fans from booking their tickets, maybe at least this does.

Guess I‘m putting too much hope in there though.

[AustralianFan]

“Amnesty International has confirmed the results of a poll which revealed that 73 per cent of respondents said they would support a FIFA compensation scheme amid concerns over human rights abuses, with 10 per cent opposing the move.”

 

[Quaker2001]

13 hours ago, stryker said:

Final alcohol policy revealed. 

Fan zones will be able to sell beer from 6pm to 1am (Fridays will be dry)

Alcohol will be sold just outside the stadiums (not on the concourses) two hours before games and two hours after games. During games, only Budweiser Zero will be sold and it`s questionable whether matches held on Fridays will even allow this. Officially, Budweiser has acknowledged having to adapt to local culture. Unofficially, I`m sure they are furious.

I saw a comment on an article about this where someone said given that Qatar has clearly backtracked on their promises regarding the availability of alcohol and angered Budweiser, why can`t FIFA just up and move to WC to England? Frankly, FIFA drank the kool aid. They bought everything hook line and sinker from the Qataris (along with accepting the bribe money). But the Qataris know that as you get closer to the tournament, knowing that a relocation is not possible, you can call the shots on logistics. That`s exactly what they`ve done here. And if there`s any criticism they can simply play the race card.

I`m sure privately FIFA is relieved Israel did not qualify. 

The day that envelope was revealed saying Qatar, there was no turning back.  Let alone as we got closer to tournament time.  And yea, they'd immediate scream "you hate Muslims" if there was any hint of it.

This was a bad idea from when it was first announced.  Everyone involved knows it and FIFA should thank their lucky stars that the IOC ensured this wouldn't be the most controversial event location of 2022.  They just need to hope the media and especially the fans go easy on them because unlike China where no one will want to say a bad word for fear of retribution, I doubt those feelings are the same about Qatar

[Quaker2001]

8 hours ago, StefanMUC said:

Well, if thousands of dead slaves didn‘t stop fans from booking their tickets, maybe at least this does.

Guess I‘m putting too much hope in there though.

Probably too late at this point.  2 months out from the start of the tournament, I doubt there's too many people on the fence about whether or not they want to go.  It's not as if this came out of left field.  I know plenty of people who have been to past World Cups in Brazil and South Africa.  They skipped Russia since there was no US team there.  Totally understandable they want no part of this event.  And I say that as someone who is Jewish and has been to Israel where they specifically DON'T stamp your passport so it doesn't raise a red flag to other countries

[Faster]

7 hours ago, Quaker2001 said:

Probably too late at this point.  2 months out from the start of the tournament, I doubt there's too many people on the fence about whether or not they want to go.  It's not as if this came out of left field.  I know plenty of people who have been to past World Cups in Brazil and South Africa.  They skipped Russia since there was no US team there.  Totally understandable they want no part of this event.  And I say that as someone who is Jewish and has been to Israel where they specifically DON'T stamp your passport so it doesn't raise a red flag to other countries

Been to Israel, I damn well made sure they stamped my passport. 

Sucks that this is the first World Cup for Canada in my lifetime. I would never. I mean given everything that has happened, it would have been hugely better to have had the Americans win. But oh well.

[Comped]

21 hours ago, stryker said:

Final alcohol policy revealed. 

Fan zones will be able to sell beer from 6pm to 1am (Fridays will be dry)

Alcohol will be sold just outside the stadiums (not on the concourses) two hours before games and two hours after games. During games, only Budweiser Zero will be sold and it`s questionable whether matches held on Fridays will even allow this. Officially, Budweiser has acknowledged having to adapt to local culture. Unofficially, I`m sure they are furious.

I saw a comment on an article about this where someone said given that Qatar has clearly backtracked on their promises regarding the availability of alcohol and angered Budweiser, why can`t FIFA just up and move to WC to England? Frankly, FIFA drank the kool aid. They bought everything hook line and sinker from the Qataris (along with accepting the bribe money). But the Qataris know that as you get closer to the tournament, knowing that a relocation is not possible, you can call the shots on logistics. That`s exactly what they`ve done here. And if there`s any criticism they can simply play the race card.

I`m sure privately FIFA is relieved Israel did not qualify. 

Frankly, the UK (or even just England) could easily be told they had to host on short notice. Teams and fans would be pissed, and although the UK is proving they know how to police one-in-a-lifetime events currently (and doing amazingly well at it), it's their hotel infrastructure that would be questionable (at least in London). As every sod in Europe supporting a European team would want to come over - not to mention far cheaper flights from NA. But their stadiums are, in my opinion, even better than the ones in Qatar, and they know how to run a game of football.

Fairly sure if a list like the one the IOC keeps for emergency Olympics hosting existed for FIFA, the UK would be on top.

[yoshi]

There's a lot that doesn't work in the UK but if there's one thing we are good at, it's big events - even at short notice  Shame FIFA would never come, it'd be great to have a World Cup here... still think the FA have really cocked up their events strategy. 

[Quaker2001]

33 minutes ago, Comped said:

Frankly, the UK (or even just England) could easily be told they had to host on short notice. Teams and fans would be pissed, and although the UK is proving they know how to police one-in-a-lifetime events currently (and doing amazingly well at it), it's their hotel infrastructure that would be questionable (at least in London). As every sod in Europe supporting a European team would want to come over - not to mention far cheaper flights from NA. But their stadiums are, in my opinion, even better than the ones in Qatar, and they know how to run a game of football.

Fairly sure if a list like the one the IOC keeps for emergency Olympics hosting existed for FIFA, the UK would be on top.

No such list exists.  The IOC made have a contingency plan they're thinking about, but if there's an emergency (i.e. 1972), they'll cross that bridge when they get there.  It's not something they spend a lot of energy on.

As for FIFA.. no, they can't just tell a country they're hosting and think it's automatic.  If something had happened with Qatar, would the UK have chosen to step in?  That's the question.

These events take years of planning.  It's easy for us to say that England has the stadiums and most of the infrastructure already in place.  It still needs to be organized and executed.  That takes a lot more work than most of us tend to think about

[stryker]

10 hours ago, Quaker2001 said:

The day that envelope was revealed saying Qatar, there was no turning back.  Let alone as we got closer to tournament time.  And yea, they'd immediate scream "you hate Muslims" if there was any hint of it.

This was a bad idea from when it was first announced.  Everyone involved knows it and FIFA should thank their lucky stars that the IOC ensured this wouldn't be the most controversial event location of 2022.  They just need to hope the media and especially the fans go easy on them because unlike China where no one will want to say a bad word for fear of retribution, I doubt those feelings are the same about Qatar

Actually, when the Garcia investigation went down and evidence began to mount that Qatar bought the WC, the Qataris did play the "you hate Muslims" card and it worked. And that was their ace card. I`ve said before, had FIFA attempted to remove the WC from Qatar it`s likely the Qataris would have thrown every possible legal lawsuit at FIFA and probably would have done so to bankrupt FIFA. It`s the whole if I go down I`m taking you with me strategy.

As for the IOC, a while back I posted an editorial from Insidethegames where the author said Qatar should now be considered a serious contender for 2036 on the heels of hosting the World Cup. I thought the reasoning was completely ridiculous but one bit that was in the editorial that raised my interest was Doha`s 2016 bid. Bach said the reason the Doha bid was discarded wasn`t the weather or proposed dates of the games (though that turned out to be a convenient excuse) but rather there was serious fear inside the IOC of the Qataris` financial muscle which one could assume could lead to them buying the Olympics just as they did the WC. 

FIFA had no problem taking the money and running.

[Quaker2001]

22 minutes ago, stryker said:

Actually, when the Garcia investigation went down and evidence began to mount that Qatar bought the WC, the Qataris did play the "you hate Muslims" card and it worked. And that was their ace card. I`ve said before, had FIFA attempted to remove the WC from Qatar it`s likely the Qataris would have thrown every possible legal lawsuit at FIFA and probably would have done so to bankrupt FIFA. It`s the whole if I go down I`m taking you with me strategy.

Nothing "worked".. the World Cup was awarded to Qatar by FIFA.  They could only be stripped of the World Cup by.. FIFA.  Qatar has all the leverage here.  They know it would be a horrible look for FIFA if they backed out of their agreement.  And doing so in the first place would be an admission on FIFA's part that they did something wrong.  That was never going to happen, investigation or otherwise.

42 minutes ago, stryker said:

As for the IOC, a while back I posted an editorial from Insidethegames where the author said Qatar should now be considered a serious contender for 2036 on the heels of hosting the World Cup. I thought the reasoning was completely ridiculous but one bit that was in the editorial that raised my interest was Doha`s 2016 bid. Bach said the reason the Doha bid was discarded wasn`t the weather or proposed dates of the games (though that turned out to be a convenient excuse) but rather there was serious fear inside the IOC of the Qataris` financial muscle which one could assume could lead to them buying the Olympics just as they did the WC. 

There's plenty of reasons to not entertain Doha.  I don't buy the narrative that the IOC is ready to take them seriously.  It's one thing to have 8 stadiums (even if they don't have air conditioning).  How much more infrastructure is required for an Olympics?  To say nothing of an influx of 10,000 athletes and however many media.

I have a feeling the aftermath of this World Cup is that no large scale sporting event should ever be there again.  If they want to bid for a world championships or some other singular event, that I could see.  But I doubt the IOC is dumb enough to want anything to do with Qatar.  How much blood would be on their hands from a new influx of migrant work deaths when they have to build a whitewater venue

[stryker]

22 hours ago, Quaker2001 said:

Nothing "worked".. the World Cup was awarded to Qatar by FIFA.  They could only be stripped of the World Cup by.. FIFA.  Qatar has all the leverage here.  They know it would be a horrible look for FIFA if they backed out of their agreement.  And doing so in the first place would be an admission on FIFA's part that they did something wrong.  That was never going to happen, investigation or otherwise.

I have a feeling the aftermath of this World Cup is that no large scale sporting event should ever be there again.  If they want to bid for a world championships or some other singular event, that I could see.  But I doubt the IOC is dumb enough to want anything to do with Qatar.  How much blood would be on their hands from a new influx of migrant work deaths when they have to build a whitewater venue

I should have been cleared. When the Qayaris played the race card it dulled the criticism of how Qatar won er should I say bought the World Cup. I'm in total agreement that there was no way FIFA could back out. If they did, Qatar would bankrupt them through every available lawsuit.

On your second point, I sincerely hope that is true. Unfortunately I think the Qayaris, much like the Saudis, have this sport washing concept down to an art and you will continue to see the limes of the Asian Games, maybe a F1 race, and other world championships coming to Qatar ( they are hosting the FINA World Championships) but I think the likes of something as big as the Olympics will continue to remain out of reach.

[baron-pierreIV]

On 9/18/2022 at 5:43 PM, stryker said:

I should have been cleared. When the Qayaris played the race card it dulled the criticism of how Qatar won er should I say bought the World Cup. I'm in total agreement that there was no way FIFA could back out. If they did, Qatar would bankrupt them through every available lawsuit.

On your second point, I sincerely hope that is true. Unfortunately I think the Qayaris, much like the Saudis, have this sport washing concept down to an art and you will continue to see the limes of the Asian Games, maybe a F1 race, and other world championships coming to Qatar ( they are hosting the FINA World Championships) but I think the likes of something as big as the Olympics will continue to remain out of reach.

Who are the "Qayaris"?  Is that a new nationality?? 

[AustralianFan]

“The stadium is topped with a "spoke-wheel" cable net roof that provides shade for fans and players. The 307-meter-diameter structure is one of the largest to be installed in a stadium, and along with the facade was designed to help reduce its energy consumption.”

"The outer compression ring is connected to a central tension ring by a complex cable system," explained the studio. "This method creates a wide-expanse roof without the need for supporting columns."

 

[stryker]

On 9/22/2022 at 2:29 PM, baron-pierreIV said:

Who are the "Qayaris"?  Is that a new nationality?? 

A new nationality when you type after a couple capirinhas

[SportLightning]

Another FIFA World Cup song is released after "Hayaa Hayaa (Better Together)" by Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha and "Arhbo" by Ozuna and Gims, this time it's Grammy award winner Lil Baby performing his song "The World Is Your To Take" as the Budweiser anthem worldwide. The song contains sample of Tears for Fear's "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".

 

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1128427/world-cup-song