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Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 watch LIVE: Where and how to watch online and on TV Channel, predicted XI
Know here all the details related to the live streaming of FIFA World Cup 2022 Argentina and Saudi Arabia.
Two-times FIFA World Cup winners Argentina kick off their campaign in Qatar against Asian side Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 22th, in the opening encounter of Group C.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream: in his final crack at the big one, Messi starts his quest for a first world crown
The side, captained by Lionel Messi, will be looking to add a third title to their name after the end of this edition of the tournament, in what will be the last world cup tournament for the Argentinian.
Saudi Arabia, who were knocked out of the group stages in the previous World Cup in Russia in 2018, will be looking to qualify to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in the nation's history.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Live Streaming of FIFA World Cup 2022 Match live streaming : Here you can get all the details as to When, Where, and How you can watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 between England and Iran Live Streaming
Argentina take on Saudi Arabia in the opening match of group B, with Argentina dubbed big favorites over the Asian team.
Where and how to watch FIFA World Cup 2022 Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live in Bangladesh?
Bangladesh viewers can watch the match live on all of these channels: T Sports, PTE LTD and Viacom 18.
Bangladesh viewers can also enjoy live stream online the World Cup games on Toffee, the digital platform powered by Banglalink.
Besides, many Facebook pages and YouTube channels also live the match
How to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream in India
In India, the World Cup is being televised on Sports18, but every game is being shown for free and in 4K via the JioCinema app. You can live stream Qatar vs Ecuador from 9.30pm IST on Sunday night.
Coverage is available in Hindi, English, Malayalam, Bengali and Tamil, and the JioCinema app is compatible with Chromecast, so you can get a big-screen experience.
Anyone outside of India who wants to watch their home World Cup coverage can just pick up a good VPN and follow the instructions above to safely live stream the action.
How to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream in Australia
Football fans in Australia can watch Qatar vs Ecuador, along with every World Cup 2022 game, on free-to-air SBS. You can tune in on TV or live stream Qatar vs Ecuador using SBS On Demand.
Just be warned that Qatar vs Ecuador kicks off at 3am AEDT in the early hours of Monday morning, with coverage beginning at 2am.
SBS on Demand is free to use and works on a range of smart devices including mobile phones, smart TVs and web browsers.
Read More: Will Argentina’s 36-year trophy drought end with Messi's final World Cup?
How to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream World Cup 2022 soccer in the US without cable
Soccer fans in the US can watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia on FS1 and Peacock TV, with kick-off set for 11am ET / 8am PT on Sunday morning.
FS1 shares TV rights to the 2022 World Cup group stage with Fox, but Fox will be showing every game of the knockouts.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream without cable
If you don't have cable TV, a cord-cutting service is what you need for instant access to Fox and FS1. Sling Blue is the cheapest option. It's $40 per month but you can get your first month half-price with this discount.
FuboTV is another good option. It carries both Fox and FS1, and over 100 channels besides, and allows you to watch the World Cup 2022 in 4K HDR. It's more expensive at $69.99 a month, but first there's a FREE FuboTV trial.
Every game of the World Cup is also being shown on Peacock TV, but the catch is that commentary will be in Spanish. To make up for that, Qatar vs Ecuador and a few other games are being shown for FREE. The Peacock price comes in at $4.99 a month and the service also offers live coverage of the NFL, EPL and WWE.
If you subscribe to Sling, Peacock or any other US streaming service, and find yourself unable to access coverage because you're out of the country, consider using a VPN – we rate ExpressVPN as the best of the best.
Read More: Argentina or Brazil: Which team's prospects look better in Qatar World Cup?
How to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream in UK
Football fans in the UK can watch a England vs Iran live stream for free on BBC iPlayer, along with many more World Cup 2022 games, as coverage of the tournament is split evenly between the BBC and ITV.
England vs Iran kicks-off at 4pm GMT on Sunday afternoon, with coverage beginning at 3pm.
Every BBC game will be on BBC TV channels in HD and also live streamed on BBC iPlayer in glorious 4K HDR. Just make sure you possess a valid TV license and that your device is 4K-compatible with iPlayer.
Away from home in the UK right now? No worries:
Use ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad.
BBC iPlayer is free to use and works across a wide range of devices including smart TVs, laptops, games consoles, mobile phones, tablets and streaming sticks. You can watch all the other World Cup 2022 live streams for free on ITV Hub.
How to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia live stream in Canada
TSN is the place to watch every 2022 World Cup soccer game in Canada. If you get the channel as part of your cable deal, you'll be able to log in with the details of your provider for access to a Qatar vs Ecuador live stream.
Kick-off is at 11am ET / 8am PT on Sunday morning, with coverage beginning at 9am ET / 6am PT.
If you don't have cable, you can subscribe to TSN on a streaming-only basis for $19.99 a month or $199.90 per year.
If you decide to subscribe, or already have, remember you can take your favorite sports streaming service with you wherever you go – just try our No. 1 overall rated VPN 100% risk-free for 30-days and follow the instructions
How to watch live Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Match live from Iran and others country?
If you're abroad during World Cup 2022, and want to tune into your usual home coverage, you'll most likely find yourself geo-blocked and will need to use a VPN to unlock your access.
A VPN is a piece of software that allows you to change your apparent location and World 2022 live streams from any country and streaming service you need. They're easy to use and super-secure. We rate ExpressVPN as the best VPN for streaming.
When & Where is Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Match
What time and date will the FIFA World Cup 2022 Argentina vs Saudi Arabia match be played?
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match England vs Iran match will be played in the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.on Tuesday - 22 November at 4:00 PM IST.
Playing XI
Argentina projected starting 11 Vs. Saudi Arabia
(4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 8. Acuna — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, 20. Mac Allister — 10. Messi, 22. Martinez, 11. Di Maria,
Injured: Romero (muscular), Gomez (knock), Acuna (knock)
Suspended: none
Saudi Arabia projected starting 11 Vs Argentina
(4-5-1, right to left): 21. Al Owais (GK) — 2. Al Ghannam, 3. Madu, 4. Al Amri, 13. Al Shahrani — 7. Al Faraj, 23. Kanno, 14. Otayf, 19. Bahebri, 10. Al Dawsari — 9. Al Buraikan
Injured: none
Suspended: none
Argentina have gone on an incredible 36-game unbeaten streak across all competitions since losing 2-0 to Brazil in the Copa America 2019.
The Green Falcons, who had the honour of facing the host nation Russia in the 2018 World Cup opener, suffered a dismal 5-0 loss, and they will probably be anticipating a similar outcome against a desperate Argentina.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Head-to-Head
Argentina and Saudi Arabia have never met at the finals of a World Cup before, but the South American team boasts a record of two wins and two draws from their previous four clashes with the Asian nation, most recently being held to a goalless stalemate in 2012 friendly.
Read More: Argentina Squad analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
4 years after dream debut, France rely even more on Mbappe
With defending champion France missing so many big names through injury at the World Cup, there is even more of an onus on Kylian Mbappé to become the team’s leader in Qatar.
He was 19 years old when he took the last World Cup by storm, scoring in the final and becoming a superstar every team in the world would love to have.
Who could turn down 14-time Champions League winner Real Madrid? Well, Mbappé did, twice. The 23-year-old Mbappé already has a hefty total of 28 international goals and could add to that number against Australia on Tuesday in their Group D opener.
“Kylian’s still young, but he’s already done some great things. The four years since (the World Cup) have helped him gain in maturity and to gain even more recognition worldwide,” France coach Didier Deschamps said Monday. “He’s always had the ability to make a difference and we’ll need it here. He’s one of the few players who has that.”
Since joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 in a deal worth 180 million euros ($184.5 million), Mbappé has scored 190 goals, including 100 in his past 113 games for the French champion.
But goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who is playing in his fourth World Cup and stands to win his 148th cap, thinks Mbappé has yet to reach his peak.
“He confirmed all the expectations people had in him over the years. It’s difficult to define the limits of a player like Kylian, because his potential is unbelievable,” Lloris said. “He’s committed, focused and relaxed and I think he can help us reach our objectives here.”
But to successfully defend its title, France must do so without leaders like Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema.
Pogba and Kante won the 2018 World Cup, while Benzema is arguably the world’s most complete forward and had developed a great understanding up front with Mbappé.
Read more: France's Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Deschamps acknowledges they’re difficult players to replace.
On the field, but also off it, because such leadership isn’t something that comes easily.
“You think it’s a case of clicking your fingers? That a player thinks ‘I’m going to wake up and everyone’s going to listen to me?’” Deschamps said Monday. “Leadership isn’t a case of just talking and talking, especially if you can’t find the right words.”
While Deschamps has lost several big players, there is one piece of good news. He sounded optimistic that key defender Raphael Varane has fully recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained playing for Manchester United on Oct. 11.
“He’s doing well and he’s ready and available for tomorrow,” said Deschamps, who also explained why he chose not to replace Benzema in the squad with another player. Teams are allowed 26 players in the squad.
“If I chose to keep 25 it’s that I consider our squad is strong enough to continue like this,” Deschamps said. “We still have a lot of options.”
Read more: World Cup 2022: France faces midfield battle against Australia
Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa joins 5-World Cups club
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa says people still come up to him on the street to gush about his performance in the 2014 World Cup against Brazil.
Ochoa made six saves in the scoreless draw with Brazil, which was among the favorites as the tournament’s host. He even denied Brazilian star Neymar on a header and afterward called it the “game of a lifetime.”
“I feel really grateful to be recognized globally, that means you have done good work,” Ochoa said Tuesday.
A towering fixture on Mexico’s roster since 2005, the 6-foot goalkeeper recalled the match eight years ago as he prepared to play in his fifth World Cup. Mexico opens the tournament on Tuesday against Poland in Group C. Argentina and Saudi Arabia are also in the group.
Read more: Meet Caramelo, Mexico's super fan who has attended 10 World Cups
“I have seen how he plays in the World Cups and he has always been a genius. I especially remember what happened in 2014 and, to be honest, he is an excellent goalkeeper, with a lot of experience, Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny said.
Guardado and Ochoa hold the distinction of being the first teammates to play together in five straight World Cups.
Both made their debuts with the Mexican national team on Dec. 14, 2005, a 2-0 friendly victory over Hungary.
“I think that by being in my fifth World Cup I am lucky,” Ochoa said through an interpreter. “On top of that, being in a World Cup is never easy for a footballer. There are great players throughout history who don’t have the opportunity. For me, playing in five has been wonderful.”
Mexico has appeared in the last eight World Cups and has advanced to the knockout round in the last seven.
Mexico also has oldest player at the World Cup, fellow goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, who is 40. Ochoa is 37, while Guardado is 36.
Read more: Players who will be absent from Qatar World Cup including Haaland, Salah
FIFA World Cup 2022: Netherlands overpower Senegal with last-minute goals
The Netherlands started their FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign with a clean sheet and three points, beating African side Senegal 2-0 thanks to two late goals at Al Thumama Stadium on Monday.
After this match, the Netherlands and Ecuador have three points each from a win in one match in Group A.
The Netherlands scored the match's first goal in the 84th minute when Frenkie de Jong pushed a cross out for Cody Gakpo to head the ball into the net. The Senegal goalkeeper came forward to punch the ball, but he failed.
Read More: What is ‘One Love’ armband and why is FIFA against it in World Cup 2022?
Senegal seemed to be in a rush after conceding the first goal. But they could not find a way to level the match. They instead suffered another blow in the 98th minute when Edouard Mendy, the Senegal goalkeeper, parried a weak shot from Memphis Depay, but Davy Klaassen was on hand to turn in the rebound. It was poor goalkeeping from the Chelsea man.
Earlier, the first half of the match ended scoreless, and though both teams created a few chances, they were unsuccessful in their attempts.
Read More: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: England make strong statement with a thumping win over Iran
In the first five minutes of the match, the Netherlands went close with Gakpo but were blocked by Senegal. The Netherlands showed some of their intricate build-up play right from the beginning.In the absence of Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr took the spotlight for Senegal. He looked sharp, and in the first 10 minutes of the match, he went ahead with a quick turn and fired a shot that flew over the bar.
Ahead of this World Cup clash, the Netherlands and Senegal registered a string of good performances.
Read More: Messi begins legacy-defining World Cup with match against Saudi Arabia Tuesday
Earlier this year, the Teranga Lions won their maiden Africa Cup of Nations. At the same time, the Netherlands topped the Nations League group with two wins against Belgium.
The Netherlands showed their perseverance after finding the net twice late in the match against Senegal. The Dutch side should be considered one of the top favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy.
Warner can return to leadership role as Cricket Australia changes code of conduct
Australian opener, David Warner, who faced a lifetime ban from a leadership role due to his involvement in a ball tampering incident years ago, may be able to overturn it as Cricket Australia voted on Monday to alter its code of conduct.
In a statement, Cricket Australia said players or officials subject to lifetime bans would now be able to have those sanctions reviewed if they demonstrated remorse and evidence of good behaviour.
Warner was banned from ever holding a leadership position for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
The new systems announced Monday might allow him to almost immediately apply to a panel of three code of conduct commissioners to review his ban.
Read: Players who excelled in the T20 World Cup 2022
In an amendment, the code of conduct now "acknowledges that players and player support personnel are capable of genuine reform or rehabilitation and is intended to provide the player or player support personnel with an opportunity to resume their previously held positions or responsibilities in specific circumstances."
The change might allow Warner to lead Australia if, as expected, current Twenty20 captain Aaron Finch steps down in the near future. The Sydney Thunder also appear to be considering Warner for a leadership role when he plays for the side in the Big Bash League in January.
"Under the changes, players and support staff can now apply to have long-term sanctions modified," Cricket Australia said in a statement. "Any applications will be considered by a three-person review panel, comprising independent code of conduct commissioners which must be satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist to justify modifying a sanction."
Read: T20 World Cup: Australia beat Afghanistan by 4 runs
"These circumstances and considerations will include whether the subject of the sanction has demonstrated genuine remorse; the subject’s conduct and behaviour since the imposition of the sanction; whether rehabilitation programs have been completed undertaken (if applicable) and the length of time that has passed since the sanction was imposed and whether sufficient time has passed to allow for reform or rehabilitation."
Warner criticised the length of time Cricket Australia had taken to institute an appeal process, saying a life ban had been "a bit harsh." He said he would take up the opportunity to put his case.
"It's good to get in a position where it gives me an opportunity to ring up the integrity unit to have a word to them and put forward my case," Warner said. "It's been drawn out and it's traumatic for me and my family and everyone else who was involved in it. We don't need to relive what happened."
What is ‘One Love’ armband and why is FIFA against it in World Cup 2022?
Captains of seven European teams, including former champions Germany and England, were set to wear rainbow-marked armbands, which bear the words "OneLove" on them and feature the number one inside a heart, during World Cup 2022 being held in Qatar to promote diversity and inclusion in football and society.
This created the possibility that on Monday (November 21, 2022), Harry Kane of England, Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands, and on Tuesday (November 22, 2022) Gareth Bale of Wales would wear the mark of protest against the host nation Qatar and in defiance of FIFA.
However, after facing threat from the governing body of world football of on-field punishment for players, England, Wales, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands will not wear the One Love armbands.
READ: FIFA’s punishment threat forces European team captains to abandon ‘One Love’ armbands
Same-sex relationships are criminalised in host nation Qatar where members of the LGBTQ community were sent behind bars and harassed by authorities as recently as September, according to Human Rights Watch.
The seven European teams reversed course Monday and abandoned a plan for their captains to wear armbands to protest Qatar's human rights record as threats of "sporting sanctions from FIFA left them no choice but to abandon" the One Love campaign gesture they announced in September.
Just hours before the first players wearing the armbands, supposed to act as a form of silent protest not dissimilar to taking the knee as a symbol of anti-racist solidarity, were set to enter the field, FIFA warned that they would be issued yellow cards right away as the displays are "against" its regulations.
READ: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: England make strong statement with a thumping win over Iran
In the end, the teams said they could not sacrifice success on the field. A yellow card is a warning, but two yellows would see a player sent off the field for the rest of the match and banned from the next – a sanction that is intensified in the World Cup football format, where teams play just three matches before the elimination rounds begin.
"As national federations, we can't put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions, including bookings," the seven European football federations said in a joint statement.
During a meeting with European football federations on Sunday, FIFA mentioned the possibility of yellow cards.
READ: World Cup 2022: Iran goalkeeper clashes heads with teammate
For FIFA final competitions, the captain of each team must wear the captain's armband provided by FIFA, according to the equipment rules.
FIFA's proposal, announced Saturday, was for captains to wear armbands with socially aware slogans. In that offer, armbands reading "No Discrimination" – the only one of its chosen slogans aligned with the European teams' wish – would appear only at the quarterfinal stage.
Since being awarded the World Cup hosting rights in 2010, Qatar received a wave of international backlash for its treatment of low-paid migrant workers as well as its criminalisation of homosexuality.
Read More: Qatar World Cup: Biggest party or scam in the world?
The Dutch Football Association initiated the One Love campaign at the start of the 2020 football season to "express their support for unification of all people" and condemn all forms of discrimination.
In September 2022, it was announced that nine other nations, including Norway, Sweden, and France, would also adopt the One Love campaign for upcoming matches, including the Qatar World Cup and next year's UEFA Nations League.
World Cup 2022: Iran goalkeeper clashes heads with teammate
Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand was injured and carried off the field early in his team’s opening World Cup match against England on Monday after clashing heads with a teammate.
Beiranvand initially tried to continue playing despite the game being paused for several minutes as he received treatment following the collision with Majid Hosseini at the Khalifa International Stadium.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: England make strong statement with a thumping win over Iran
England thrashed Iran in the second match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, sending a strong message to the other favourites. A one-sided affair, Iran's misery started in the 10th minute when a collision of heads between goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and center back Majid Hosseini saw Beiranvand sustain a concussion.
Iran fought bravely until the final minutes of the first half, when a Jude Bellingham header opened the scoring for England in the 35th minute. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling made sure the game was over for Iran before the end of the 45 minutes.
Read More: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 : Argentina vs Saudi Arabia match schedule, prediction, possible line-up, where to watch live
The second half started in the same way as the first as Bukayo Saka doubled his tally in the 62nd minute. Mehdi Taremi gave Iran a glimmer of hope in the 65th minute, but Marcus Rashford hit back fast in the 71st minute to make it 5-1.
Substitute Jack Grealish's 89th-minute goal was the cherry on top of the cake for England, although Iran scored the final goal of the game. A 90+10th minute penalty from Mehdi Taremi.
Aftermath
England now lead Group B while Iran linger at the bottom with a 4-goal difference. Enner Valencia, Bukayo Saka, and Mehdi Taremi all tied on two goals for the golden boot.
Read More: England Squad analysis for 2022 World Cup
Key Performances
Bukayo Saka: Two goals from the young Arsenal winger in his first World Cup appearance
Jude Bellingham: His header opened the floodgates for England.
Harry Kane: No goals, but two assists from the English captain made sure his team went on to win by a handsome margin.
Mehdi Taremi: The only shining light in a below-average Iranian performance. Taremi scored two goals in the game.
Read More: Which European teams have the best chances of winning 2022 World Cup?
England’s magnificent victory over Iran was a strong message to their main rivals for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Besides, the USA and Wales should be more prepared when they face the English side in their group stage matches.
Messi begins legacy-defining World Cup with match against Saudi Arabia Tuesday
Lionel Messi begins his legacy-defining World Cup with a game against likely the weakest opponent the Argentina star will face in Qatar.
On a 36-match unbeaten run, Argentina opens the group stage Tuesday against Saudi Arabia — the second lowest-ranked team at the tournament.
It seems like an ideal chance for Messi to push his international goals tally toward a century — he currently has 91 — in what’s surely a forlorn attempt to catch the leading men’s mark of 117, owned by great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
How Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni treats Messi for this game in particular, being staged in the 80,000-seat Lusail Iconic Stadium, might be instructive given the captain’s fitness has been managed heading into the World Cup.
Messi trained individually on Friday and Saturday because of what the Argentina soccer federation described as “muscle overload.” That raises doubts over whether Messi will play the full 90 minutes against Saudi Arabia.
Not that he should be needed that long.
The Saudis might have come through Asian qualifying relatively comfortably, but they tend to struggle on soccer’s highest stage, reaching the last 16 only once in their five appearances at the World Cup.
They started the 2018 tournament with a 5-0 loss to Russia, the host nation.
FIFA’s punishment threat forces European team captains to abandon ‘One Love’ armbands
FIFA’s threat of on-field punishment for players pushed World Cup teams to back down Monday and abandon a plan for their captains to wear armbands that were seen as a rebuke to host nation Qatar’s human rights record.
Just hours before the first players wearing the armbands in support of the “One Love” campaign were set to take the field, the governing body of soccer warned they would immediately be shown yellow cards — two of which lead to a player’s expulsion from that game and also the next.
That changed the calculus for the seven European teams, which may have expected to merely be fined. The displays are a violation of FIFA rules.
The standoff was just the latest dispute that threatened to overshadow play on the field. Since being awarded the World Cup hosting rights in 2010, conservative Muslim Qatar has faced a raft of criticism, including of its treatment of low-paid migrant workers and woman and its suppression of free speech. It came under particular fire for its criminalization of homosexuality.
The decision came three days after beer sales at stadiums were suddenly banned under pressure from the Qatari government and two days after FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivered an extraordinary tirade defending the host nation’s human rights record.
Read: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: England make strong statement with a thumping win over Iran
The captains of seven European nations had vowed to wear armbands carrying the heart-shaped, multi-colored logo of the “One Love” campaign, which promotes inclusion and diversity in soccer and society. That set up the prospect of viewers worldwide seeing a symbol of disapproval with the host country and defiance of FIFA on the arms of England’s Harry Kane, the Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk and Wales’ Gareth Bale on Monday.
But in the end, the teams said they couldn’t sacrifice success on the field.
“As national federations we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions, including bookings,” the seven soccer federations said in a joint statement, referring to the yellow cards.
The captains of Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark had also pledged to wear the armbands in the coming days.
“Our number one priority at the World Cup is to win the games,” the Dutch soccer federation said in a separate statement. “Then you don’t want the captain to start the match with a yellow card.”
The risk of getting a second yellow, which would see a player sent off the field for the rest of the game and banned from the next, is particularly tricky in a tournament where teams play just three games before the knockout rounds begin.
National soccer federations and fan associations lashed out at FIFA for its decision to penalize the players. Danish soccer federation head Jakob Jensen told Danish broadcaster TV2 that the organization was ”extremely disappointed with FIFA,” and German soccer federation president Bernd Neuendorf called it “another low blow.”
“FIFA today prohibited a statement for diversity and human rights — those are values to which it is committed in its own statutes,” Neuendorf told reporters in Qatar. “From our point of view, this is more than frustrating and, I think, an unprecedented action in World Cup history.”
England’s Football Supporters Association said it felt betrayed by FIFA.
“Today we feel contempt for an organization that has shown its true values by giving the yellow card to players and the red card to tolerance,” the FSA said.
Read: Which European teams have the best chances of winning 2022 World Cup?
Gurchaten Sandhu, of the Geneva-based International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, said that FIFA put “athletes in a very, very awkward” position.
“You’ve bound the hands of the national teams. They’re there to compete,” he said.
He also took issue with Infantino’s defense of Qatar on Saturday, during which he lectured Europeans who have criticized the emirate’s human rights record and said he felt gay, like a woman and a like a migrant worker. Rights groups have criticized Qatar’s treatment of those three groups of people.
“You don’t feel gay. You are gay,” Sandhu said.
It wasn’t immediately clear what, if any, influence Qatar’s autocratic government had on the armband decision. The Qatari government and its Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which oversees the World Cup, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The European plans were in breach of World Cup regulations and FIFA’s general rules on team equipment at its games.
“For FIFA final competitions, the captain of each team must wear the captain’s armband provided by FIFA,” its equipment regulations state.
The soccer body’s proposal, announced Saturday, was for captains to wear armbands with socially aware, though generic, slogans. In that offer, armbands reading “No Discrimination” — the only one of its chosen slogan aligned with the European teams’ wish — would appear only at the quarterfinal stage.
On Monday, it offered a compromise, saying captains of all 32 teams “will have the opportunity” to wear an armband with the slogan “No Discrimination” in the group games.