The Road To Qatar: The World Cup Teams Who Qualified For The 2022 Championships
The World Cup is one of the biggest events in all of sports. Held every four years, it is a global event that brings together the best teams from all over the world. And this year, it was Qatar’s turn to host the tournament. Qatar’s bid to host the World Cup was met with some controversy, but they ultimately won out. And with that came the responsibility of qualifying for the 2022 championships. In this blog post, we will explore the teams who qualified for Qatar and their road to qualification. From Europe’s dominant teams to some surprising qualifiers, read on to learn more about what made these teams successful.
World Cup 2022 groups
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Brazil
The 2014 World Cup is finally here and with it comes the excitement of watching some of the best football players on the planet compete for glory. Who will be crowned champions?
Brazil are one of the teams who have qualified for this year's championships, which takes place in Brazil. The Seleção are no strangers to World Cup success, having won the title twice (1970, 1994) as well as being runners-up once (1978). However, they haven't made it past the group stages in recent years and were beaten in a penalty shootout by Chile at the Copa América Centenario last year.
This year is different though; they've been bolstered by some top signings, most notably Neymar from Barcelona. The 26-year-old was voted player of the year in his homeland last season and is now looking to add World Cup glory to his collection. Neymar's arrival has injected some much-needed dynamism into Brazil's midfield, which was previously weak spot. With other new recruits such as Hulk, Philippe Coutinho and Dani Alves also playing their part, Brazil are definitely one of the favourites going into this year's tournament.
But can they win it? They'll need to avoid any injuries and play their best football if they're going to achieve anything more than a third-place finish – something that has eluded them in recent tournaments. Despite their lack of success at past tournaments, Brazil have always produced some great footballing
Belgium
Belgium is the first country to qualify for the World Cup. The Belgians finished second in their group, behind Mexico. They were able to do this by beating Tunisia and drawing with Japan. Belgium has a very experienced team, with players like Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois playing in Major League Soccer. Their coach, Roberto Martinez, is also experienced, having won titles with both Wigan Athletic and Everton. Belgium will be looking to challenge for the title in Russia this year.
Argentina
Argentina is one of the teams that qualified for the World Cup championships in Russia this year. The team made it through a tough qualifying process, but they will be facing tough competition from all over the world.
Despite their lack of international experience, Argentina has some great players. They have veterans like Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria, as well as young talents like Paulo Dybala and Alejandro Sabella.
The Argentinians will need to play smart if they want to make it far in Russia. They will likely face off against teams like Belgium, Chile, and Uruguay in Group C. If they can win their group, they could potentially face Portugal or Spain in the knockout stages.
France
France qualified for the World Cup as one of the lucky winners of the play-off. In a group with Denmark, Peru and Honduras, they topped their group with six points and clinched their place in Russia with a 1-0 win over Honduras. They will face Argentina in their first match of the tournament on June 18.
France is one of the most successful teams in World Cup history and have reached the final twice (2006 and 2010) as well as being runners-up once (1998). They are known for their defence-oriented style of play which has seen them concede only seven goals in ten matches this year. Their main threats come from forwards Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud. Griezmann has been outstanding for club and country this year, scoring 26 goals in 36 appearances for Atlético Madrid while Giroud has scored 20 goals in 38 appearances for Arsenal.
Although France are favourites to win their group, they will face some tough opposition in Russia including Belgium, Nigeria and Colombia. However, with a strong squad led by experienced stars like Paul Pogba and Hugo Lloris, they are sure to make an impact at the World Cup.
England
England qualified for the World Cup Finals in Russia after finishing in 3rd place in their group, behind Belgium and Tunisia. They will face Croatia, Iceland and Russia in their group stage.
Manager Gareth Southgate has made a few bold changes to the team that finished last in qualifying, including dropping captain Harry Kane and starting Jordan Pickford in goal. This has paid off as England have kept clean sheets against both Tunisia and Iceland, with Pickford making some key saves.
The team’s main threat comes from Marcus Rashford who scored twice against Tunisia. He is joined up front by Jamie Vardy who also found the back of the net against Iceland. Kieran Trippier is another defender who can provide assists, while Raheem Sterling provides Width on the left flank.
England’s last game before the World Cup was a must-win match against Slovakia at Wembley Stadium. Despite playing some good football early on, they conceded two goals late on to lose 3-2 and missed out on automatic qualification for the tournament. Southgate will be looking to put this result right when they take on Croatia next month.
Italy
Italy qualified for the World Cup by winning their group. They had to beat Sweden, Bulgaria, and Malta to get there. The Italians are one of the oldest soccer countries in the world and have a rich history with many great players. They have a few stars who could be good at the World Cup, like Gianluigi Buffon and Lorenzo Insigne. The Sicilians are known for their passionate supporters and they will be loud and proud when their team plays. The teams that Italy is playing against in the World Cup are very talented; however, they may be able to surprise some people and make it all the way to the finals.
Spain
Spain finished the group stage in first place, with a record of five wins and two draws. They topped their group ahead of Netherlands and Denmark, both of whom they beat by four points. Spain were drawn in Group B alongside Croatia, Portugal, and Morocco.
In their opening game against Croatia, they were unlucky not to take all three points as they went close through David Villa’s goal only for Mateo Kovacic to head home from a corner just minutes later to level the game at 1-1. Spain however dominated the second half and took the lead through Sergio Ramos’ header after Nacho Monreal’s cross was put back across goal by Cesc Fabregas. The final scoreline saw Spain win 3-1 with goals from Alvaro Morata (2) and Jesus Navas.
Their next match was against Portugal who had made it into the tournament as one of Europe’s top sides. In what was an exciting game, neither side could find a way past each other until the 88th minute when Xherdan Shaqiri found Ronaldo with a fine pass which he gratefully slotted home for his sixth goal of the tournament to give Portugal a 2-1 victory.
Their final game of Group B was against Morocco who had only just qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history. Spain started well and led 1-0 through Andres Iniesta’s strike
Netherland
Netherlands qualified for the World Cup in Russia this year, beating Spain in a playoff. They are the smallest of the 32 teams at only 26 players and will be one of the most difficult teams to beat in Russia.
The Netherlands have made it to the semifinals of every tournament they’ve played in since 2002, except for their last appearance at the World Cup where they were knocked out by Chile. They’re favourites to make it all the way this time around but will face tough competition from France, Argentina, Belgium and Portugal.
One player who could make a big impact for Netherlands is Memphis Depay. The Manchester United forward has been in excellent form this season scoring 16 goals in 34 appearances. He’s also proved himself as a capable passer with 84 successful passes so far this season – more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. Depay will need to be on top form if Netherlands are going to progress deep into the tournament.
Portugal
Portugal secured their place in the World Cup Finals for the first time in their history with a 3-1 victory over Spain in the playoff semi-finals.
The Portuguese squad is made up of players from top European clubs, including Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan. However, it was youngster Renato Sanches who caught the eye of many with his performances for Bayern Munich. He has now been handed the responsibility of leading Portugal at this year’s tournament.
Renato Sanches | Portugal midfield player | Bayern Munich pic.twitter.com/xGcw5RgYaW — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 16, 2017
Portugal have had a successful campaign so far, topping their group and ensuring they will face Belgium or Russia in the final. The two teams met in last year’s World Cup final where Belgium emerged triumphant after a 2-1 victory. Portugal are determined to make amends and book their place in Moscow for July 2018.
Denmark
The Danes qualified for the World Cup in Russia after winning both of their qualifying matches. Their first match was against the Faroe Islands, who they easily won by a score of 3-0. In their second match, they played Sweden. Despite dominating possession and having several chances to score, they were unable to find the back of the net and lost by a score of 1-0. This result means that Denmark will be playing Portugal in their opening match at the World Cup.
Germany
Germany are one of the teams who have qualified for the World Cup finals in Russia this year. They finished top of their group in qualifying, and will be looking to progress all the way to the final. They have a strong squad, with some experienced players and some exciting young talent. Here are the German team members and what they can bring to the table:
Manager: Joachim Löw
Joachim Löw is a highly respected manager, having led Germany to numerous successes both at international level and domestically. He has a track record of drafting talented youngsters into his squads, which will be invaluable as he seeks to build a successful World Cup campaign.
Attackers: Mario Gomez, Thomas Müller, Andre Schürrle
Mario Gomez is one of Germany's most experienced players, having made over 100 appearances for his country. He is known for his powerful shooting ability, and is an essential part of any attack. Thomas Müller is another veteran attacker who has scored over 50 times for Germany - he is fast and skilful, making him difficult to defend against. Andre Schürrle also plays an important role for Germany - he is quick and skilful with excellent crossing ability.
Midfielders: Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil
Sami Khedira is one of Germany's most versatile midfielders - he can play in defence or midfield, and has
Croatia
Croatia qualified for the World Cup after finishing in second place in their qualifying group. The team is made up of a number of talented veterans, including Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, as well as young stars such as Ante Rebic and Dejan Lovren. Croatia will face Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay in their group stage. If they can make it past the group stage, Croatia will face Spain or Portugal in the semifinals.
Mexico
Mexico has qualified for the World Cup as the CONCACAF representative. They will face Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria in their group stage. The team is led by veteran forward Javier Hernandez.
The Mexico national football team was formed in 1902, and made its first international appearance in 1916. Mexico has participated in every World Cup tournament since 1966, but have never advanced beyond the group stage. Mexico reached the final of the 1986 Copa America, but lost to Brazil. The team has qualified for the World Cup four times since 2000, but have never progressed past the groups stage.
In 2014, Mexico finished second in their qualifying group, behind USA. This allowed them to advance to a playoff against Australia for a place at the World Cup. Mexico won 3-1 on aggregate, earning their spot at this year's tournament.
Mexico is one of only six teams to have appeared in all World Cups since its inception.
Uruguay
Uruguay made it to their first World Cup in 32 years with a victory over Argentina in the final qualifying tournament. The team is led by captain Diego Forlan and features a number of high-profile players, such as Edinson Cavani, Walter Gargano, and Luis Suarez.
While Uruguay will face tough competition in Group C, they have a chance to make some noise in the tournament if they can win their opening game against Costa Rica. If they are successful, they’ll need to beat Brazil – who are the clear favorites to win the title – and then hope for some kind of miracle result in their final match against Belgium.
Despite their disappointment at failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, Uruguay will be looking to return to the stage as champions. They may not be as strong as they were four years ago, but with some good luck and performances from their key players, there’s no reason why Uruguay shouldn’t reach the knockout stages this time around.
Switzerland
Switzerland topped their group with 16 points, two more than second placed Sweden. They then topped their play-off bracket, winning all three of their matches. Switzerland's best result came in the final match against Norway, where they managed to earn a 3-1 win.
Switzerland have been a member of FIFA since 1908 and have qualified for every World Cup since 1974. They first reached the semi-finals in 2002, but failed to make it through to the final tournament that year. In 2006 and 2010 they reached the quarter-finals, but were again unsuccessful in reaching the final stages.
Their squad for this year's World Cup is made up of some well-known players, such as Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka. However, many of Switzerland's stars are relatively new to international football. This includes 23-year-old left back Ricardo Rodriguez, who is making his debut at a World Cup.
USA
The United States Men's National Soccer Team qualified for the World Cup in Russia after finishing in second place in the Hexagonal Tournament. They will be joined by fellow qualifiers Panama and Haiti in Group E. The USMNT is a young team, with an average age of 25 years and 234 days. This is their first World Cup appearance since 2002. Here is a look at the players who will represent America at this year's tournament:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Pachuca), Matt Besler (Sporting KC), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/DC United), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Fabian Johnson (Bayer Leverkusen), Omar Gonzalez(LA Galaxy/Pachuca), DeAndre Yedlin(Seattle Sounders)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Michael Bradley(Toronto FC/Toronto AC), Jermaine Jones(Borussia Dortmund/Unattached), Sacha Kljestan(New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget(LA Galaxy/LAFC), Paul Pogba(Manchester United/Juventus AC), Christian Pulisic(Borussia Dortmund/Unattached), Kenny Saief(Wolverhampton Wanderers/Unattached) Rodney Wallace(RB Le
Colombia
The top teams from South America, CONCACAF, and the European Union have qualified for the World Cup in Russia. Here is a look at who made the cut.
COLOMBIA
Colombia qualified for the World Cup as one of the CONMEBOL winner's group. They finished first in their group and advanced to the knockout stage. Colombia will face Japan in their first round match on June 19th. The outcome of this game will determine whether or not they make it out of the group stage. If they lose, they'll face Argentina in their second round match. Colombia has had some success against Argentina in recent years so it will be interesting to see if they can continue this streak and advance to the next round.
CONCACAF
USA, Jamaica, and El Salvador all qualified for the World Cup as part of CONCACAF's automatic qualification process. USA was crowned champions of CONCACAF last year so it was no surprise that they qualified automatically. Jamaica and El Salvador were also successful in their qualifying matches so both teams are looking forward to competing at a world-level event for the first time. The final match between USA and Jamaica is set for November 15th while El Salvador will play Guatemala on October 11th to decide who advances to the next round.
UEFA
Spain was crowned champions of UEFA last year so they automatically qualified for the World Cup as well. They went undefeated throughout their qualifying process which
Australia
Australia qualified for the World Cup by topping their qualifying group. They will face Group B rivals France in the first round of the tournament. Australia is led by Opta’s top scorer, Tim Cahill, who has scored 16 goals in qualifying. Other notable players include Alessandro Del Piero (New York City FC) and Mathew Leckie (Melbourne Victory).
Australia has a strong history in international soccer, with its teams having won the OFC Nations Cup (formerly the Oceania Nations Cup) six times and the AFC Asian Cup twice. The team is also semi-finalists in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
Senegal
Senegal has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history. They narrowly edged out Tunisia in the final qualifying spot, finishing with a total of nine points.
This is an accomplishment that was not easy to achieve, as Senegal faced many tough challenges along the way. Starting off the tournament, they lost their opening group match against Japan. Despite this setback, they bounced back and won their next two matches against Russia and Algeria. However, they fell short against world favorites Brazil in their last qualifying match.
Despite these difficulties, Senegal has shown great strength and resilience throughout the qualification process. This is something that they will need to continue if they hope to make some noise in Russia next year.
Wales
1. Wales
2. England
3. Scotland
4. Northern Ireland
5. Republic of Ireland
6. Belgium
7. Netherlands
8. Sweden
9. Italy
10. Spain
Iran
Iran qualified for the World Cup as one of the two first-place teams from Asia. They beat South Korea in a playoff to qualify.
Iran has a rich history in international soccer. The Iranian national team has participated in every World Cup since 1970, and has qualified for every tournament since 1998.
They are known for their passionate support and aggressive play. Iran is ranked #5 in the world by FIFA, and they have been successful in recent tournaments, reaching the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup and the quarterfinals of Euro 2016.
Notable players on Iran’s roster include Firouz Safadi, Kaveh Rezaei, Ehsan Hajsafi, Ashkan Dejagah, Reza Ghoochannejhad and Saeed Jahanbakhsh.
Conclusion
As we come to the end of this Fifa World Cup 2022 season, it's time to look ahead and consider who will be participating in Qatar next year. With so many teams qualifying, it can be hard to keep track of all of them. In this article, I'll be taking a look at each team that qualified for the 2022 championships and discussing what their chances are. Who do you think has the best chance of becoming world champions? Let us know in the comments below!
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