By Samuel A. December 19, 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was awarded to Qatar after their bid beat that of South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States. The awarding of this World Cup to Qatar created a lot of concerns regarding their suitability to host such a prestigious competition.
Criticism of human rights in Qatar from all over the world focused on their treatment of migrant workers, women, and position on LGBTQ rights, leading to several allegations of ‘sportswashing’. Others have highlighted Qatar’s intense summer climate and lack of a recognized football culture, as well as evidence of bribery for hosting rights and wider FIFA corruption. A Petition to boycott the event was declared by several countries, clubs, and players, while former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has twice said that giving Qatar hosting rights was a “mistake”. Match attendance figures have also come under scrutiny as reported crowd attendances have exceeded stadium capacities despite games having visible empty seats.
However, the competition turned out to be quite the opposite with several, several interesting fixtures, results and shockers as well. The golden generation of Belgium bowing out in the group stage, Germany getting another early elimination shock, Morocco reaching the Semifinals, conceding only once from an own goal, Brazil quarter final heartbreak, and football not “coming home”, amongst others. The 2022 World Cup rather proved to be quite interesting and dynamic, and the criticisms died down slowly based on the success of the competition. Well, after 64 matches, a record 172 goals, one of the best (and most evenly priced) finals in history and the prior 12 years of existential footballing crisis, the Qatar 2022 World Cup finally reached its crescendo. In many ways, the footballing gods treated us to a fairytale like no other. Lionel Messi, the best to ever lace the cleats, lifted the one prize that always seemed to allude to him and extinguished any doubt that he sits alone in the pantheon of football greatness. Although you get the inkling, Kylian Mbappe will give his title a challenge in the coming years after pushing the ‘little magician’ all the way on the greatest stage.
In addition to being swept up in the Messi romantic narrative, the tournament was dripping in spectacular games and goals, scintillating talents and teams. It was the first global tournament where the gap between confederations was significantly closed. Both Asia and Africa stamped their brand onto the world stage. For the first time ever, the Asian Confederation saw three sides reach the Round of 16, producing major upsets throughout their campaigns. We saw Japan top Group E, ahead of previous world champions Spain and Germany, as well as Australia, beating 10th world-ranked Denmark and Tunisia in both respective games, to make the knockout stage. Africa, subsequently, particularly Senegal and Morocco, equalled the continent’s best-ever group stage performance in 2014 when Algeria and Nigeria reached the knockout rounds. But it was Morocco who stole our hearts. The first African and Arab nation to make the final four despite having been written off. 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, as well being the first nation from South America to win the tournament since 2002. French player Kylian Mbappé bagged the first hat trick in a world cup final since 1966 and won the Golden Boot as he scored the most goals during the tournament (8). Argentine captain Lionel Messi was voted the tournament’s best player, winning the Golden Ball. Teammates Emiliano Martínez and Enzo Fernández won the Golden Glove, awarded to the tournament’s best goalkeeper, and the Young Player Award, awarded to the tournament’s best young player, respectively.
In my opinion the 2022 World Cup will go down as one of the best world cups ever played in history and that is a testament to all the wonderful players that made this tournament one that we will never forget.
