2022 FIFA World Cup

Notes

First WC in the Arab world; first played in winter (November-December) due to Qatar's summer heat. Argentina's third title — Messi finally won the WC at his fifth attempt; the final (Argentina 3-3 France, 4-2 pens) is widely called the greatest WC final ever. Mbappé's hat-trick — first in a final since Hurst in 1966. Saudi Arabia's 2-1 upset of Argentina in the opener was one of the great upsets. Morocco became the first African team ever to reach a WC SF (also first Arab nation in any SF). Squad sizes increased to 26. New record for goals: 172. Sphere-shaped stadium 974 made of shipping containers; Lusail Stadium hosted the final (88,966).

Awards & marks

Best player

Lionel Messi

Best young

Enzo Fernández

Best GK

Emiliano Martínez

Ball

Adidas Al Rihla

Mascot

La'eeb

Top scorers

1. 1.Kylian MbappéFrance· Forwards8
2. 2.Lionel MessiArgentina· Forwards7
3. 3.Julián AlvarezArgentina· Forwards4
4. 4.Olivier GiroudFrance· Forwards4
5. 5.Cody GakpoNetherlands· Forwards3
6. 6.RicharlisonBrazil· Forwards3
7. 7.Gonçalo RamosPortugal· Forwards3
8. 8.Marcus RashfordEngland· Forwards3
9. 9.Bukayo SakaEngland· Forwards3
10. 10.Álvaro MorataSpain· Forwards3

Argentina's road to the title

1. r16vs Australia2-1
2. qfvs Netherlands2-2 (4-3 pens)
3. sfvs Croatia3-0
4. finalvs France3-3 (4-2 pens)

Confederation breakdown

• UEFA13
• CONMEBOL4
• Concacaf4
• CAF5
• AFC6
• OFC0

📚 Trivia (6)

• firsts2022 was the first World Cup ever played in winter (November-December), shifted from the traditional June-July window because of Qatar's summer heat. It was also the first WC in the Arab world.
• championsLionel Messi finally won the World Cup at his 5th attempt (age 35), scoring 7 goals + 3 assists. Argentina's 3rd title (1978, 1986, 2022). He won Best Player for the second time (also 2014). The final — Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens) — is widely considered the greatest WC final ever played.
• finalsMbappé scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final — the first in a WC final since Geoff Hurst in 1966. He won the Golden Boot with 8 goals, but France lost 4-2 on penalties. He became the first player to win the Golden Boot at age 23 or younger and lose the final in the same tournament.
• matchesSaudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina, 22 November 2022 — one of the great World Cup upsets. The eventual champions Argentina lost their opener; only Spain (1950) and Spain (2010) had previously gone on to win the title after losing match one. Saudi declared a national holiday.
• firstsMorocco became the first African team — and first Arab nation — ever to reach a World Cup semi-final. Their run included beating Belgium, Spain (on pens), and Portugal before losing 2-0 to France in the SF.
• format2022 was the first WC with 26-player squads (up from 23, which had held since 2002). The change accommodated the winter timing and the more compressed 28-day tournament window.