EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
Winter World Cup
For the very first time in its history, the World Cup will be held in winter instead of the normal Summer that it usually hold.
The Asian country of Qatar usually experiences severe heat around May/June and FIFA had to compensate the country with staging of a winter tournament.
The WorldCup will end exactly one week before Christmas.
Most European club sides will go on a break to give room for players to represent their countries at the Mundial.
Qatar will host the tournament for the first time in its history.
It will also be the second World Cup hosted in Asia after the 2002 edition staged in South Korea and Japan.
Qatar’s Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor will host the much-anticipated ceremony. The stadium is located north of Qatar’s capital city, Doha. It has a capacity of 60,000.
November 20 Opening Ceremony
Hayya Hayya The track, performed by Cardona, Davido, and Aisha, was released in April 2022. It has been adopted as the official Qatar 2022 theme song
‘Hayya Hayya’ means ‘Better together.’ The song’s video features images of Zinedine Zidane, Cafu, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo, and other football stars.
Gims and Ozuna rapped the second song for the 2022 World Cup called ‘Arhbo,’ which means ‘Welcome.’ The song’s video features the stadiums that will host the matches.
The World is Yours to Take The third song of the tournament is ‘The World is Yours to Take,’ performed by Lil Baby. It features sounds from the famous Tears for Fears song ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World.
Light the Sky ‘Light the Sky’ is the fourth track that will ring in people’s ears between November and December. The song is performed by Balqees, Nora Fatehi, Manal, and Rahma Riad. Its lyrics speak of the world all wanting to come together.
Participating Teams And Their Groups
32 teams will be participating at the Mundial and it consists of eight groups of four countries that will slug it out in Qatar.
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
Nigeria’s Kiss Daniel and Patoranking to serenade fans at the Mundial
Nigeria’s artistes, Kizz Daniel and Pato Ranking will join other world stars to thrill fans at Qatar 2022.
Tickets Sales
The cost of tickets for the Qatar tournament varies from one stage to another. Group stage tickets cost between $70 and $220, and knockout matches between $600 and $1,600.
Qatar records highest ticket sales
As of 20th October 2022, FIFA had sold around 2.89 million tickets for the tournament. Qatar recorded the highest sale, followed by the USA and Saudi Arabia. Others are England, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, France, Brazil, and Germany.
Free Transportation on Matchdays for Fans
Before traveling to Qatar, the 1.5million expected fans in attendance will have to apply for a Hayya card. This is, essentially, ID that will allow an individual to get into the country, use public transport for free on matchdays and actually get into the games.
Meet Africa’s Representative in Qatar
Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal,Tunisia and Morocco will be flying the African flag at the soccer FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with kick off on November 20, 2022.
Ghana qualified for their fourth World Cup after edging out Nigeria on the away goal rule following a 1-1 draw in Abuja. The two sides drew 0-0 in the first leg in Kumasi last week and heading into the return fixture, the Ghanaians only needed a scoring draw to progress.
For the second time in as many months, Senegal edged out Egypt on penalties. Having beaten the Pharaohs on spot kicks to clinch their first TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations title, the Lions of Teranga repeated the same feat, this time to seal a place in the World Cup.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco were in emphatic form against the DR Congo at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, winning 4-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate to sail into their sixth World Cup appearance.
Karl Toko Ekambi swept home perhaps the most important goal of his career, scoring in the fourth minute of added time as Cameroon beat Algeria 2-1 in Blida to qualify for their eighth FIFA World Cup.
Elsewhere, Tunisia completed the roster despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Mali at home. The 1-0 victory they picked in Bamako last week proved to be vital, as the Carthage Eagles flew to their sixth World Cup appearance.
Africa’s Best Prospect
Current AFCON champions, Senegal has been tipped by soccer pundits to go the farthest in the competition.
The West African nation reached the Quarter-final of the world Cup held in Korea-Japan in the year 2022.
The number footballing nation in Africa has been tipped to make it to the Semi-Final of Qatar 2022.
List of Stadiums to be used during the World Cup
Lusail Stadium
Al Janoub Stadium
Al Bayt Stadium
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
Education City Stadium
Al Thumama Stadium
Stadium 974
Khalifa International Stadium
Warning to Fans
Fans have been warned to adhere to a particular set of rules during the world Cup
Tourists have been advised they can dress in what they are comfortable in, providing the clothing is modest. The UK government have also provided guidelines, in which they state women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts.
They add that both men and women should not wear shorts or sleeveless tops when in official Qatari areas, such as malls, health care facilities or government buildings.
Fans have also been warned to stay off display of public affection between opposite sex when around for the mundial.
Public Consumption of beer and other alcoholic drinks have been assigned to designated centers within the country.
Bad business for prostitutes
Being a highly religious Islamic country, prostitution have been banned in the country.
As it was with previous worldcup tournaments where prostitutes made a lot of gains, prostitution in Qatar will be reduced or even totally eradicated.
According to Amnesty International, same-sex relationships can lead to criminal charges and a prison sentence of up to seven years in the country.