Following the draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it’s time to check out some of the more unfamiliar countries to keep an eye on in Qatar later this year.
From France and Germany to Brazil and Argentina, all the usual suspects will be there. But what about the lesser-known teams? Let’s take a closer look.
It only makes sense to start with the host nation. After all, Qatar had never previously qualified for the World Cup before making a successful bid to stage the tournament.
Describe in one word your feeling when the name Qatar 🇶🇦 was read out at the 2022 World Cup draw 😁🏆#Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/ToFDfrrOXl— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) April 2, 2022
Describe in one word your feeling when the name Qatar 🇶🇦 was read out at the 2022 World Cup draw 😁🏆#Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/ToFDfrrOXl
Of course, the Maroon didn’t have to qualify for this year’s competition as hosts. But that doesn’t mean they are there to simply make up the numbers.
Qatar are the reining AFC Asian Cup champions, having secured the title in 2019. They also finished third in both the CONCACAF Gold Cup and FIFA Arab Cup last year.
Canada’s first – and so far only – World Cup appearance came all the way back in 1986. Unfortunately, they suffered three straight defeats without scoring a single goal.
However, the Maple Leafs booked their spot at Qatar 2022 by finishing atop the CONCACAF qualification group – outperforming the United States and Mexico in the process.
With household names such as Alphonso Davis (Bayern Munich) and Jonathan David (Lille) in their ranks, the Canadians will be confident of ruffling some feathers this winter.
It goes without saying the Brazil and Argentina dominated the CONMEBOL qualifiers, with Uruguay finishing third. Still, Ecuador managed to snatch fourth place against the odds.
Given that South American heavyweights like Colombia and Chile failed to punch their ticket to Qatar 2022, Ecuador must be given huge credit for reaching their first World Cup since 2014.
Former West Ham and Everton star Enner Valencia is Ecuador’s main man. The Fenerbahce forward has scored 35 goals in 70 appearances for his country.
Iran enjoyed an unbeaten 2021, picking up ten wins and one draw along the way. During that period, they even notched a 10-0 thrashing of Cambodia!
Having finished atop AFC qualifying Group A, the Iranians will be looking to make it past the World Cup group stage for the very first time this year.
Captain Ehsan Hajsafi has a whopping 118 international caps to his name. At 32, the AEK Athens left-back will be hoping that Qatar 2022 is not his last World Cup.