With the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicking off in 32 days, the US Guide to European Football is diving deep into all 32 teams to celebrate.
Every day until November 20th, we’ll explore a different team represented in this year’s tournament, from Group A to Group H, including predictions about where they’ll end up.
Without further ado, we’ll begin with Group A, starting with none other than the host country itself.
Qatar
Group A
Nickname: The Maroon
Colors: Maroon and white
Location:
Coach: Félix Sánchez (Spain)
Top Players:
All of the Qatar National Team men play for Qatari clubs, a league lower even than the MLS. Their leading scorer and captain Hassan Al-Haydos has 34 international goals to his name. Fellow forward Almoez Ali has 39 golazos in far fewer games.
Team History:
2022 will mark Qatar’s first FIFA World Cup appearance. The Maroon won the 2019 FIFA Asian Cup and were semi-finalists in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, won by the USMNT.
Tournament Prediction: Group stage exit.
Qatar is one of the FIFA lowest-ranking teams heading into their own World Cup – though it must be noted that the top-ranked team has never won the tournament. Still, coming in at #50 and facing off against the likes of Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands in Group A, it’s hard to see the host country surviving group play. Qatar may pull an upset over Ecuador, but Senegal and the Netherlands are simply too strong.
Featured Image: DALL-E 2/QatarFootballAssociation/DM