2022 FIFA World Cup

Lore & Background

Argentina were crowned the champions after winning the final against the title holder France 4–2 on penalties following a 3–3 draw after extra time. It was Argentina's third title and their first since 1986. Argentine captain Lionel Messi was voted the tournament's best player, winning his second Golden Ball. Morocco made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-final of a World Cup, falling short 0–2 against France.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed over a pitch that smelled of cut grass and diesel from the distant generators. In the stands, a grandmother in a hand-painted jersey pressed her palms together, murmuring to a saint she'd carried in her purse since 1986. Beside her, her grandson — seven years old, a Lozano sticker still shiny on his shin guard — bounced on his toes. The kickoff whistle cut the air. For ninety minutes, the boy's hands never left his mother's fingers. When the final whistle blew and the scoreboard read 1-2, he didn't cry. He just looked up and said, 'Mamá, next time we go through.' She kissed his hair. The crowd began the slow, shuffling walk toward the exits, and somewhere in the tunnel, a goalkeeper with silver-streaked hair peeled off his gloves one finger at a time, already calculating the next cycle.

Reader's Guide

The group stage began on 21 November, with the Qatar vs Ecuador game moved to 20 November after Qatar lobbied FIFA. The final was played on 18 December 2022 at Lusail Stadium. Eight venues across five cities hosted 64 matches over 29 days. Groups A, B, E, F were allocated to Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, and Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. Groups C, D, G, H were allocated to Lusail Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium, and Al Janoub Stadium.

Did You Know?

• This was the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.
• French player Kylian Mbappé became the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in the 1966 final and won the Golden Boot with eight goals.
• Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez won the Golden Glove, and Enzo Fernández won the Young Player Award.
• The tournament set a record for the highest number of goals scored in the 32-team format, with 172 goals and every participating team scoring at least one goal.
• Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand suffered a concussion in his country's opening match against England, the first use of a dedicated concussion substitute during a World Cup.