Next 12 months, for the first time ever, we can be served up a wintry weather World Cup, with the 2022 match in Qatar set to kick off in November.
The opposition will be the very last World Cup to feature 32 teams before FIFA increase the nations involved to 48 for the 2026 event - so that it will be jointly-hosted by means of Canada, Mexico and the USA.
There are numerous qualification paths around the arena for the tournament, and some nations have already secured their ticket to the Middle East. Here's your one-forestall guide to each team that has qualified for the 2022 World Cup to date, as well as a short explainer about the finer details of the opposition...
This one must surprise no person. As hosts, Qatar had been the first team to 'qualify' for the event and they have invested closely in their country wide side seeing that prevailing the bidding method in 2010. At the time they have been offered the World Cup they sat 112th in the FIFA ratings, beneath the likes of Uzbekistan, North Korea and Kuwait. Since then they've risen into the top 50, even beating Japan in the Asian Cup final lower back in 2019. Qatar may be hoping to avoid embarrassment in the front in their home crowd.
Germany became the first team to definitely qualify for the 2022 World Cup whilst a four-0 victory over North Macedonia in November ensured that they could not be stuck at the pinnacle of Group J. Die Mannschaft will be looking to get better from a disappointing Euro 2020, wherein they have been dumped out at the round of 16 stage by means of eventual finalists England. Hansi Flick took over following that underwhelming show and the former Bayern Munich man has his facet gambling a few pleasant stuff.
Denmark had a surely memorable Euro 2020 campaign, dropping Christian Eriksen early in the match before reaching the semi finals, where they lost to England. While the Inter midfielder is yet to go back, the Nordic nation steamrolled their manner to World Cup qualification in his absence with eight wins of their first 8 video games, with their pathway sealed by means of a 1-zero victory over Austria. They've scored 27 dreams up to now and are but to concede at the opposite quit. Truly extraordinary stuff.
Brazil continued their streak of being the best crew to compete in every World Cup, sealing qualification with a victory over Colombia in November 2021. In reality they made mild paintings of the majority in their CONMEBOL rivals this time around and ought to be taken into consideration one of the favourites heading into the opposition proper.
World champions France became the 5th team to e book their place in Qatar, with a resounding 8-zero win over Kazakhstan making sure they'll defend their title. Didier Deschamps' side have responded magnificently to their disappointing Euro 2020 exit to Switzerland. Les Bleus have considering that received the UEFA Nations League finals and feature torn thru the rest in their qualifying organization.
Belgium have qualified for their 1/3-successive World Cup, and will be trying to build on their 1/3-place end in Russia in 2018. Roberto Martinez has been linked with numerous jobs in the Premier League and La Liga, however the Red Devils have soldiered on no matter that speculation and feature crowned qualifying institution E.
Croatia sealed their location at the showpiece in Qatar with victory in a directly qualification shootout in opposition to Russia in Split. 2018's runners-up had to win to pip the Russians to pinnacle spot in Group H and secure computerized qualification, and a scrappy, nervy contest was aptly decided by using a late own goal from Fyodor Kudryashov. The 1-zero defeat consigned the visitors to a play-off area.
