The recent news, articles, feedback, and reactions on the venue of FIFA World Cup 2022 have been dampening the spirit of players as well as spectators. There seem to be countless vantage points and issues that various organizations have raised that have taken away the focus on what’s important.
Finally, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino stood his ground and staked his claim, “Let football take the stage,“ he wrote to all 32 competing nations and urged them to consider this thought as the event inevitably marches on to start on the 20th of November.
This also shows the world how political and human rights concerns are decimating the spirit of why the games are being held in the first place. These unresolved issues raised by FAs and non-governmental organizations really do have to be set aside first.
Infantino included in his letter attempts to defuse concerns over the staging of the tournament in Qatar pointing out that, “there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world”, but football should not be expected to have an answer for everyone.
There are also concerns that are focused mainly on the safety of traveling fans in the country. Infantino further digressed and reassured a promise that “everyone is welcome regardless of origin, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality”, a more detailed commitment than that currently made by the hosts.
Since 2016, Infantino has been FIFA President but was not so when the decision to award this year’s FIFA tournament was awarded to Qatar. Infantino has also openly praised and complemented Qatar that the country will deliver the “best ever” World Cup and indicated that the event will help bring about lasting change in the country.
The issues hounding the event include a variety of appeals related to the tournament providing funds to alleviate the harm experienced by migrant workers as the World Cup stadiums were built; Welsh, English and Dutch FAs, including the US Soccer Federation, are awaiting FIFA’s commitment on players wear rainbow armbands during matches in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Backgrounder on FIFA World Cup and Qatar
The FIFA 2022 World Cup was awarded the rights back in 2010. This was after Qatar won the ballot of FIFA’s 22 executive members. The other bids defeated came from the US, South Korea, Japan and Australia. Qatar is the first Arab nation to host the event.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup is scheduled in the months of November and December — very different from the usual June-July window. This is to help combat the summer heat which can reach 40°C during June-July. This comes down to an average of 24°C in November and 21°C in December
Update on players most likely to be off the field
The upcoming FIFA World Cup has had many challenges but the nitty-gritty of the game comes as there are several favourites who are unable to make it to the games.
- French midfielders N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, and Portuguese forward Diogo Jota still have injury problems to miss the tournament.
- Erling Haaland from Norway, Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – are also the other big names to miss the Qatar 2022 as their nations were eliminated in the qualifying rounds.
- Reigning world champions France were dismayed over two regulars’ injuries.
- Chelsea’s French midfielder Kante, who was the 2018 World Cup champion, was ruled out of the Qatar 2022 after Chelsea confirmed in October that the 31-year-old is expected to be sidelined for four months following surgery due to a hamstring injury.
- Juventus’ French midfielder Paul Pogba, one of the main pillars of Les Bleus, will not play for his nation in Qatar due to a knee injury.
- Pogba, 29, who won the world title in Russia four years ago, underwent knee surgery in September, months after his return from Manchester United. Pogba has not played any games for Juventus and is still in a healing period.
- This week his agent Rafaela Pimenta said the experienced player “will still need recovery time from his surgery.”
- Dutch midfielder Wijnaldum breaks his leg in August
- This year’s World Cup will not feature Roma’s Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum as the 31-year-old broke his leg during training in August.
- Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, 25, suffered a serious calf injury
- Germany’s Werner has an ankle injury
- German forward Timo Werner will be out for the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to an ankle injury.
- Werner, 26, was injured in a UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday.
- “Timo Werner suffered an ankle injury last night in the win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
- Dybala, Varane doubtful for Qatar 2022
- Argentine star Paulo Dybala’s sustained a hamstring injury in October and is expected to return to the game in late November.
- Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Raphael Varane was injured in his team’s Chelsea clash in late October.
- Egypt was another team that will not compete in Qatar.
I’m still waiting for football to gain more ground when it comes to its popularity in the Philippines. Hopefully, there won’t be any more wrinkles in how the FIFA World Cup 2022 will captivate fans the whole wide world over. We also provided an early list of players here for you guys to help your sports betting wagers. Unfortunately, injuries can happen at any time so be on alert for real-time updates.
Let us know if you are also looking forward to the day that football will capture the Pinoy sports-lover’s heart as well. Hope to hear from you soon!
