FIFA Men’s World Cup is fast approaching. The inaugural match kicks off on November 20, almost 12 years since Qatar was awarded the rights to host the tournament.
The event will feature 32 teams and attract more than 1.2 million visitors to Qatar, becoming the first country in the Middle East to host football’s biggest tournament.
Here is a list of some other highlights from this year’s World Cup
Offside technology
In July, soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, announced the use of a semi-automated offside system at the World Cup to help make quick and accurate offside calls.
A player is in an offside position according to the rules of the governing body. If “any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponent’s half (excluding the halfway line) and any part of the head, body or feet is closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the other end. Opponent” .
The technology uses a sensor in the ball and a limb-tracking camera system to track players’ movements. To help fans and viewers at home understand the referee’s decision, the data will be used to project 3D images onto stadium screens.
Twelve cameras will be installed above each of the eight host stadiums to provide player movement data to the video assistant referee system. [File: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters]
Alternatives
Teams will be allowed. Five substitutions per game in the last three World Cups in Russia in 2018.
The regulation was introduced in 2020 by football’s rule-setting body, the International Football Association Board, following what it said was “the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on football, as well as a number of key stakeholders in the football community”. A Global Analysis of Representation”.
:Zoran Tosic of Manchester United comes on as a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo
If a World Cup game goes into extra time, one additional substitution will be allowed.
Several soccer leagues, including Spain’s La Liga and Major League Soccer in the United States, have implemented the change in the past two years.
Beginning of November
Unlike previous tournaments, Qatar 2022 will be held in the months of November and December.
Previously, the World Cup was always held during the Northern Hemisphere summer, often in June and July. This change is made to avoid high temperatures in Qatar, which can reach 50C (122F) during this period.
Temperatures are predicted during the tournament. To range from 14C to 31C (57F to 88F).
Expansion of squad lists
In November, participating nations will name squads with a maximum of 26 players, three more than at the World Cup in Russia.
According to FIFA, the change was made due to the “unique timing” of the tournament being held in November and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initial World Cup squad list has also been increased from a maximum of 35 players to 55 players.
Female referees
For the first time in a men’s World Cup, three women are among the 36 referees selected for Qatar 2022.
Referee Tori Penso
France’s Stéphanie Freipart, Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita and Rwanda’s Salima Makansanga have previously officiated in men’s tournaments, including the UEFA Super Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
“This is a strong signal from FIFA and the authorities of female referees in this country,” Freipart said. “I’m not a spokesperson for feminism, but if it can make things happen…”
She will be joined by three other women who will be among the 69 assistant referees.
The most ‘compact’ World Cup ever
With an area of just over 11,500 square kilometers (4,440 sq mi) and a population of around 2.9 million, Qatar will be the smallest country ever to host FIFA’s flagship tournament.
All eight stadiums are located within a 50 km (31 mi) radius of the capital Doha. During the group stages, there will be four games on most days.
While Qatar and FIFA say the “compact” nature of the tournament will allow people to watch more than one match a day, critics say the influx of more than 1.2 million people could lead to overcrowding on the streets. , which will make it more difficult for people. Move around the country.
Tournament organizer Abdulaziz Ali Al-Malawi of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said that having four matches in one day in a city like Doha is a challenge. said last month. “… Of course, we’re expecting the streets to be congested.”
Schools will remain closed in Qatar during the World Cup while office hours have been reduced
