It's back, but like you've never seen it before

Salam Alaykum, Keef Halak?  Arabic culture is very big into welcoming guests and so is this blog as we approach the opening of the 2022 World Cup to be played in the independent emirate of Qatar.  Only a year and a half has passed since Euro 2020 (delayed due to Corona) when we last embarked on a joint journey into the depths of the football world.

As usual, the world is beset by challenges and the upcoming month will be an opportunity for people to forget, even if only for a fleeting moment, the energy crisis, the rising cost of living issues and the war in Ukraine.

After this opening introduction, which is always somewhat serious in its tone, we shall revert to the irreverence and not politically correct statements which will hopefully also bring a smile to those who still dare (in private) to admit to enjoying such things in this very changed world. If that is not for you, then I bid you farewell now and hope you enjoy the tournament and the boring drivel you can read elsewhere. Not to say that this blog will not be drivel but hopefully it will not be boring.

One thing that has not changed is the structure of the tournament.

The format is the same as last time, but it is good to recap it here for new readers or for those who may have forgotten because they do not really care. It is actually the last time we shall see this format as the next World Cup which will be held in 2026 (if the world has not been ruined by a nuclear conflagration in Ukraine) will be spread across Canada, the US of A and Mexico and will consist of 48 nations instead of 32, which is just another way for FIFA to make more money and who cares that the quality of the tournament will be diluted.

There are five teams from Africa, four from South America, two each from Central and North America, six from Asia and Australasia with thirteen countries from Europe rounding out the thirty two.

In the first round, the teams are divided into eight groups of four. Each team will play one game, against the other teams in their group, with there being three points for a win and one for a draw. If two teams finish level on points, the places will be determined by what is known as goal difference, i.e. how many goals scored for, against goals conceded.

The top two sides from each group will proceed into the last sixteen which is a straight knockout, the equivalent for our American readers of the sweet 16 in college basketball. We then have eight teams left in the quarterfinals (elite 8) which will be whittled down to four who will play in the semifinals (final 4) and then two who will contest the final.

Unbelievably, there is still the rather arcane game between the two losers of the semi-finals to see who will finish third, who cares, even I cannot remember who that dubious honour went to four years ago.

Four years ago, the World Cup took place in Russia and I wrote the following,

Unfortunately, as is often the case these days, the host Nation be it in the World Cup or the Olympics sometimes has, let us say some image issues. Things that they would rather not have the world's attention drawn to, such as poor Human Rights, (China) very high murder and crime rates (S Africa) or massive poverty at home (Brazil) and therefore a huge effort is put on by the host to deflect the world from these issues by controlled media and photo opportunities.

Russia’s issues tend to be of a more foreign nature, the contretemps with Ukraine and their recent annexation of Crimea, the list is too long for this article, and it is not really the point here.

Those words are as true today as they were then.

The fact that this World Cup is taking place in Qatar in November which is bang in the middle of most countries domestic seasons is bad enough and stinks of corruption and baksheesh (the greasing of palms for those who do not recognise the term).

Qatar is not known as a particularly liberal regime when it comes to such issues as LGBQT+ or freedom of the press. No one is actually sure how many foreign workers died in the building of all the stadia and infrastructure needed to host the tournament. The number six thousand has been bandied about, but I think that is probably on the low side. Those workers were basically just a slave labour force.

It will be interesting to see how the Qataris are going to deal with all the foreign fans who have a penchant for quenching their thirst with certain liquids which are usually forbidden in this strictly Muslim country. They might not have an official morality police such as those in Iran or Afghanistan, but it probably exists in an ad hoc form.

Drinking will not be allowed in public, only in hotel bars or designated fan zones. Fans will not be allowed to remove their tops in celebration which is probably a good idea anyway for two reasons, firstly, the fans would probably burn to a crisp very quickly and secondly, we, the viewers will not be subjected to the sight of too many pasty fat bellies. I wonder if the players will receive more than a yellow card if they take their shirts off to celebrate scoring a goal.

Over the next few days, we will preview the eight groups, so stay tuned for the first of the group previews starting with Group A which consists of the hosts Qatar, Ecuador, the lions of Senegal and the Orangemen of the Netherlands to be followed by another seven posts. one for each group.

I will then return with previews of the deciding games in the group stages and all the games in the knockout rounds.  

Inshallah, we will have a fun tournament with plenty of incidents to chew over and discuss both on and off the field of play.

As ever feel free to comment and please please, share the blog with others.