Every FIFA World Cup has its share of excitement. However, it is not every edition that we are already celebrating so many unique aspects of the tournament. The Qatar 2022 World Cup promises to be unlike any other before. Here are some of the biggest factors making it stand out, and what that is doing to the ability to predict a winner.
The Location
This World Cup will be held in Qatar, marking the first time the tournament is to be held in the Arab World. It is part of FIFA’s pledge to host major tournaments in the region. This marks a big shift for the football governing body.
A total of seventeen countries have hosted the tournament. Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, and Mexico have each hosted the tournament twice. The 2010 FIFA World Cup was held in South Africa, which was the first nation in Africa to host the tournament.
The location of Qatar has come with a good deal of controversy. For example, the Danish team has pledged to wear a toned down version of their jerseys as a form of protest for migrant workers rights in Qatar. Another controversy has been the decision to move the tournament to the end of the year in order to avoid the scorching temperatures of the Qatari summer.
The World Cup following the one in Qatar will be jointly held between three countries–the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This three-way hosting will be another first for the tournament.
The Timing
FIFA voted to move the tournament to November and December. The first ball will drop at Al Bayt Stadium on Nov. 20. Given the heat of that region’s summer, it seemed dangerous for athletes and implausible for fans to make it out.
The local league, the Qatari Stars, runs from August to April, and the temperatures at the end of that season run around 32 degrees Celsius. The average maximum temperature in August is over 40 degrees.
Luckily, in November and December, the temperatures drop to reasonable levels. Average temperatures in the region hover around 24 degrees during those months.
All eight stadiums in which the World Cup will be played are open air. There are not domes, but rather stadiums. The host nation is developing creative ways to keep the stadiums cool. It turns out the air will not only be air conditioned, but also purified, making it safe and comfortable for people with allergies. The chilling fans that bring in and cool outside will use solar energy. This cooling system was part of the agreement that awarded Qatar the bid to host the World Cup.
This solar energy is part of Qatar’s claim to be hosting the first carbon-neutral World Cup. This claim, however, is disputed by groups like Carbon Market Watch. This group claims that Qatar has underestimated the carbon dioxide of constructing the stadiums by a factor of eight.
Predicting Who Will Come Out On Top
With so much novelty in this edition of the FIFA World Cup, it is becoming even harder to know who will make it to the finals or win it all. While everyone wants their favourite team to win, having a clear idea of who will win is harder than ever. While Brazil is the current favorite, there is no telling how long that will last.
To get a better idea, check out this guide to the Qatar World Cup betting odds. This guide will provide you with key World Cup info, including the schedule for the knockout stage. In addition to recommending online sports betting sites with the best World Cup odds, they provide help in building your own World Cup betting strategy. If you are looking to get a grip on who will be the football World Cup favourite, this guide is a great place to start.
Prediction markets for the World Cup continue to multiply, with fans debating across forums who will win each group, who will make it to the semi-finals, the finals, and who will win it all! Given all the controversies and novelties, this year, it is anyone’s game! Expect more movement in who the favourite is from week to week.
