In the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage encounter on Wednesday in Qatar, Japan earned a historic first-ever victory over Germany. Besides earning accolades worldwide for their prowess on the field, the Japanese national team won over the internet for an amazing gesture. After defeating Germany, the Japanese footballers cleaned their locker area and left it spotless rather than only celebrating their triumph. “After a historic victory against Germany at the #FIFAWorldCup on Match Day 4, Japan fans cleaned up their rubbish in the stadium, whilst the @jfa_samuraiblue left their changing room at Khalifa International Stadium like this. Spotless.” – FIFA tweeted with a photo of the locker room.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is in full flow. The 22nd edition of football's most prestigious competition will be held in Qatar, the first Arab country to do so. With all of the teams participating in the Qatar World Cup announcing their squads, many pundits and journalists have laid out their favourites for the big event. In this article, we will be showcasing our five picks who could go on to claim the greatest prize in the sporting world. Without further ado, here are our five hot favourites to win the trophy. Five top contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 France The reigning champions would have been favorites for the World Cup at the start of the tournament. However, their unbalanced squad and subsequent massive injuries have seen them get replaced as the top dogs in many minds. Read More: Qatar World Cup: 5 Dark Horses to look out for With an unbalanced midfield that will be missing N'golo Kante, Paul Pogba, and Christopher Nkunku through injury, France will be relying on young superstars Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni. However, an easy group featuring Australia and Tunisia, along with their packed defense and exciting attack featuring the likes of Benzema, Mbappe, Coman, Dembele means that Le Bleu will not be against fancying themselves for number three in Qatar. Spain Luis Enrique will be going to Qatar as one of, if not the most accomplished, managers taking part in the World Cup. In charge of the technically gifted Spain squad, he will be looking to deliver the elusive trophy to La Furja Roja. Although Spain will be missing the likes of Sergio Ramos, Thiago Alcantara, Marc Cucurella, Brahim Diaz, Iago Aspas, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Pablo Fornals. They will have plenty to get excited about as superstars Dani Olmo, Rodri, Pedri, Aymeric Laporte, and Pau Torres will don the famous Spanish jersey in Qatar. Experienced heads such as Sergio Busquets, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jordi Alba, and Dani Carvajal will make sure that Spain lacks in no department. However, with a group that includes Japan, Germany, and 2014 surprise quarterfinalists Costa Rica, early hiccups are to be avoided for a deep Spanish run. England The most expensive squad going to Qatar, England, divides opinion as always due to their recent international form. However, their performances in their last two major international tournaments cannot be chalked off. Gareth Southgate's men managed to become World Cup semi-finalists in Russia and reached the Euro 2020 final, losing to Italy on penalties. Southgate has left out talented players such as Fikayo Tomori, Ivan Toney, Tammy Abraham, and Jadon Sancho to name a few, but he will be able to call on the likes of 2018 World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, and Marcus Rashford in attack. Their defense also has balance with John Stones, Kyle Walker, inform Ben White and Kieran Trippier in the squad along with duo Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips in the heart of midfield. The likes of Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire will provide the experience in this young and exciting squad. Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden will also be looking to light up the World Cup, giving The Three Lions their best shot of winning the World Cup since 1966. Read More: Argentina or Brazil: Which team's prospects look better in Qatar World Cup? Argentina Argentina are coming to the World Cup as the favourites in many minds. Their more than impressive qualification run, which saw them stay undefeated throughout the process, along with their triumph at the 2021 Copa America, has put them at the top of the favourites' ladder. Missing the likes of Giovanni Lo Celso, Emiliano Buendia, Angel Correa, and Giovanni Simeone. La Albiceleste have a star-studded squad which includes legendary players such as Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria along with superstars such as Lisandro Martinez, Rodrigo De Paul, Papu Gomez, Joaquin Correa, and Paulo Dybala, to name a few. Although the absence of Giovanni Lo Celso will be a big miss for the Argentinians, they'll be looking to follow through on their promise to deliver number three. Closing in on a record unbeaten run with 35 matches, Leonel Scaloni has been given the unenviable job of delivering Argentina their third World Cup victory in what will be Messi's last dance. Brazil Although Argentina had a record-breaking run in their world cup qualifying, they still finished second behind arch nemesis Brazil. As record champions, the blue and yellow of Brazil are synonymous with the World Cup. The only team to appear in all 22 World Cups, the Selecao, will go again in their search for number six. Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Magalhaes, Phillipe Coutinho, Matheus Cunha, and Gabriel Barbosa will be cheering their nation from home as manager Tite has decided to instead call upon the likes of Allison, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Lucas Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes, Vinicius Junior, Neymar, and so on and so forth. A balanced squad in most parts, Brazil may be lacking in the full-back area, where they will have to rely on old heads such as Dani Alves, Danilo, Alex Sandro, and Alex Telles. But a squad filled with Samba stars, La Canarinhas, will be exciting to watch at the World Cup as they still seek redemption after the 2014 Maracana Tradegy. Read More: Qatar Squad analysis for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup Verdict  It has always been difficult to predict the winner of any competition, let alone the biggest one in sporting history. However, top footballing nations will challenge for the Qatar World Cup 2022 trophy, and the aforementioned five teams are considered hot favourites to go all the way to the final. Overall, in the spirit of the beautiful game, it rewards the team that gets people excited and on the edge of their seats as well as the team that scores the most goals at the end of 90 minutes. The beautiful game is once again taking over the world.

The 22nd edition of football's most prestigious competition is set to take place this winter in Qatar. Football powerhouses will compete for the coveted prize. However, like Croatia in the last World Cup and Costa Rica in 2014, every iteration of the World Cup has a team whose performance exceeds all expectations. The "dark horses," as they are referred to, are liked by all, and they take the tournament's excitement to another level. We can expect the Qatar World Cup 2022 to also have its own dark horses, but who will they be? Here are our top five picks. 5 Dark Horses to watch out for in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Serbia Serbia have a group which includes the likes of Switzerland, Cameroon, and Brazil. Although unfancied to even get out of the group by some, Serbia come into the World Cup by topping their qualifying group, which contained Portugal and Ireland. Read More: Argentina or Brazil: Which team's prospects look better in Qatar World Cup? A strike force of Dusan Vlahovic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Dusan Tadic will be aided by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Filip Kostic, Nemanja Gudelj, and Ivan Ilic. At the back, they will be able to call on the likes of Nikola Milenkovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, and more. Serbia beat Portugal 2-1 in their last game of qualifying in order to get to Qatar. They have shown that when the time comes, they can compete with the big boys, but a tough group awaits them in Qatar. However, tough times call for heroic and memorable actions. South Korea The team which sent Germany packing in 2018, South Korea once again, have been put in a tough group with Uruguay, Ghana, and Portugal. Asia's biggest hope in this edition of the World Cup. Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min will lead them. The supporting cast is not to be sniffed at either, as Napoli center back Kim Min Jae and SC Freiburg midfielder Jeong Woo Yeong are excellent players in their own right. Add to that former Valencia wonderkid Lee Kang In and Wolves forward Hwang Hee Chan, and the Taegeuk Warriors will be an exciting prospect. Although they missed out on reaching the Round of 16 in Russia 2018, even after defeating Germany, they will be looking to go one better. The Tigers of Asia have few expectations on their backs but plenty of hidden talents. Denmark Kasper Hjulmand and his Danish Vikings were the surprise package at Euro 2020, earning a podium finish in the end. With a squad that has balance all over the pitch and is filled with selfless, hardworking players, Denmark are well and truly one of the most popular dark horses at Qatar 2022. A well-gelled team with many standout players, their key players will be Christian Eriksen, Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Joachim Anderson, Andreas Christensen, Christian Norgaard, and Thomas Delany, among others. Denmark have a bunch of exciting young talent as well in the likes of Jesper Lindstrom, Andreas Skov Olsen, Mikkel Damsgaard, Jonas Wind, and Joakim Maehle. They are exciting, hardworking, and have a general good vibe about them. Denmark will be a must-follow team at the World Cup, whether or not they exceed expectations. Read More: Will Ronaldo return to Manchester United following the controversial interview? Senegal Since South Africa 2010, Africa has been crying out for a team to reach the semifinals of the World Cup. Although it looks unlikely in this World Cup, their best bet has to be Senegal. In a group containing the Netherlands, Ecuador, and hosts Qatar, Senegal will be missing their star man Sadio Mane for the first few games following an injury. However, they will still be able to call upon the likes of Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, and Cheikhou Kouyate in defense, along with Idrissa Gueye, Nampalys Mendy, Pape Sarr, and Pape Gueye in midfield. Their attack will also be fueled by Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, Bamba Dieng, and the aforementioned Bayern Munich winger Sadio Mane. With a real sense of community amongst the players, they won the 2021 AFCON under Aliou Cisse, who is one of the most accomplished international managers. Expect a good showing from the Lions of Teranga. Switzerland Switzerland were the team that knocked out France after an incredible comeback in the Euro 2020 Round of 16. The Swiss Army will be looking to replicate such feats in Qatar 2022. In the same group as Brazil, Ghana, and the aforementioned Serbia, Switzerland come to the quarterfinals with a squad that is full of experience and energy. In goal, they will have part-time superman Yann Sommer, with Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund as backup. In defense, Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi and Silvan Widmer. Their midfield will have Denis Zakaria, Djibril Sow, Remo Freuler, Michel Aebischer, and captain Granit Xhaka, who's having an inspired season with Arsenal. Football cult hero Xherdan Shaqiri will be part of an accomplished attack with the likes of Haris Seferovic, Ruben Vargas, Breel Embolo, and Noah Okafor. Switzerland have balance, and they will certainly be looking to provide the thrills in Qatar. Only time will tell if the Rossocrociati can turn heads once again. Read More: Qatar Squad analysis for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup Verdict The World Cup has been known to provide unimaginable events and scenarios. It's one of its many charms, and like all others that came before it, the Qatar World Cup 2022 will be no different. The five teams mentioned here could be considered "dark horses" who have the potential to surprise everyone.

Qatar recently arrested at least 60 foreign workers who protested going months without pay and deported some of them, an advocacy group said, just three months before Doha hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The move comes as Qatar faces intense international scrutiny over its labor practices ahead of the tournament. Like other Gulf Arab nations, Qatar heavily relies on foreign labor. The workers' protest a week ago — and Qatar's reaction to it — could further fuel the concern. The head of a labor consultancy investigating the incident said the detentions cast new doubt on Qatar's pledges to improve the treatment of workers. “Is this really the reality coming out?" asked Mustafa Qadri, executive director of the group Equidem. In a statement to The Associated Press on Sunday night, Qatar's government acknowledged that “a number of protesters were detained for breaching public safety laws.” It declined to offer any information about the arrests or any deportations. Also read: Qatar to take more workers from Bangladesh Video footage posted online showed some 60 workers angry about their salaries protesting on Aug. 14 outside of the Doha offices of Al Bandary International Group, a conglomerate that includes construction, real estate, hotels, food service and other ventures. Some of those demonstrating hadn't received their salaries for as many as seven months, Equidem said. The protesters blocked an intersection on Doha’s C Ring Road in front of the Al Shoumoukh Tower. The footage matched known details of the street, including it having several massive portraits of Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, looking down on passers-by. Al Bandary International Group, which is privately owned, did not respond to requests for comment and a telephone number registered in its name did not connect on multiple attempts to call it. Also read: Rights group urges FIFA, Qatar to compensate WCup workers The Qatari government acknowledged that the firm hadn't paid salaries and that its Labor Ministry would pay “all delayed salaries and benefits” to those affected. “The company was already under investigation by the authorities for nonpayment of wages before the incident, and now further action is being taken after a deadline to settle outstanding salary payments was missed,” the government said. Qadri said police later arrested the protesters and held them in a detention center where some described being in a stifling heat without air conditioning. Doha's temperature this week reached around 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 degrees Fahrenheit). Qadri described police telling those held that if they can strike in hot weather, they can sleep without air conditioning. One detained worker who called Equidem from the detention center described seeing as many as 300 of his colleagues there from Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Nepal and the Philippines. He said some had been paid salaries after the protest while others hadn't. His comments could not be corroborated. Qatar, like other Gulf Arab nations, has in the past deported demonstrating foreign workers, and tied residency visas to employment. The right to form unions remains tightly controlled and available only to Qataris, as is the country's limited right to assembly, according to the Washington-based advocacy group Freedom House. Qatar, a small, energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula, is home to the state-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network. However, expression in the country remains tightly controlled. Last year, Qatar detained and later deported a Kenyan security guard who wrote and spoke publicly about the woes of the country's migrant labor force. Since FIFA awarded the tournament to Qatar in 2010, the country has taken some steps to overhaul the country's employment practices. That includes eliminating its so-called kafala employment system, which tied workers to their employers, who had say over whether they could leave their jobs or even the country. Qatar also has adopted a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals ($275) for workers and required food and housing allowances for employees not receiving that directly from their employers. Activists like Qadri have called on Doha to do more, particularly when it comes to ensuring workers receive their salaries on time and are protected from abusive employers. “Have we all been duped by Qatar over the last several years?" Qadri asked, suggesting that recent reforms might have been “a cover” for authorities allowing prevailing labor practices to continue. The World Cup will start this November in Qatar.

From mid-November to mid-December, Qatar will host the twenty-second edition of the Football World Cup. The FIFA World Cup 2022 will include a total of 32 teams. The Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, will host the final match of the month-long event on December 18. The competition will be divided into two parts: group stages and knockout stages. There will be a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and championship match in the knockout stages. Let's have a look at the teams that are expected to win the Qatar World Cup 2022. 2022 FIFA World Cup: Participating Teams Thirty-two teams have qualified from the six continental confederations of FIFA. Each confederation has allocated slots for the main event. Qatar qualified for the main event as a host nation. The rest of the teams have been selected through the qualifying phases of each confederation. Europe has the most participating teams with 13, while Oceania has only one slot but has to play a playoff against the fourth placed team in CONCACAF to secure a place in the main event.  Read WI vs BAN: Tamim hits a ton in tour match As per FIFA qualification rules for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the following teams qualified for the main event: Confederation Slots Teams AFC (Asia) Five or Six (Winner of AFC–CONMEBOL play-off) Iran Japan Qatar (hosts) Saudi Arabia South Korea Australia or Peru CONCACAF (The North, Central America and Caribbean) Three or Four (Winner of CONCACAF–OFC play-off) Canada Mexico United States Costa Rica or New Zealand CAF (Africa) Five Cameroon Ghana Morocco Senegal Tunisia CONMEBOL Four or Five (Winner of AFC–CONMEBOL play-off) Argentina Brazil Ecuador Uruguay Peru or Australia OFC (Oceania) Zero or One (Winner of CONCACAF–OFC play-off) New Zealand or Costa Rica UEFA (Europe) Thirteen Belgium Croatia Denmark England France Germany Netherlands Poland Portugal Serbia Spain Switzerland Wales    Source: https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022 Read Bangladesh vs West Indies Test Series 2022: SWOT Analysis of Two Teams Venues for the Qatar World Cup 2022 The bidding procedure for the 2022 World Cup started in January 2009. UEFA nations withdrew their interest in hosting the football World Cup 2022 after ensuring that a European nation would host the 2018 edition. Russia eventually hosted the 2018 World Cup. There were five bids for the World Cup football 2022 and they were Qatar, the United States, Australia, South Korea, and Japan. Qatar and the USA took part in the final bidding as the other three were eliminated from the first, second and third rounds. Qatar eventually won the bidding with 14 votes, while the USA earned 8 votes. The selection of Qatar as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2022 sparked a lot of controversy as some of the members of the game's highest governing body were accused of corruption. However, there is a keen interest among fans from all over the world regarding this World Cup. Read BAN vs WI Test Series 2022: Five potential Bangladesh players to watch Qatar is one of the smallest nations yet rich. So, the question raised is how can they manage to organize such a mega event? Qatar promises a sparkling event which the world has never seen before. They intend to build a stadium that will reflect their history and culture. Besides, with this tournament, a country from the Middle East will host a world cup for the first time ever. Qatar has built a total of eight stadiums in five major cities in the country. The cities which will host the tournament are Lusail, Al Khor, Doha, Al Rayyan, and Al Wakrah. The following are the venues for the 2022 World Cup City Stadium Capacity Lusail Lusail Iconic Stadium 80,000 Al Khor Al Bayt Stadium 60,000 Doha Stadium 974 40,000 Doha Al Thumama Stadium 40,000 Al Rayyan Education City Stadium 45,350 Al Rayyan Ahmad bin Ali Stadium 44,740 Al Wakrah Khalifa International Stadium 40,000 Al Wakrah Al Janoub Stadium 40,000    Source: https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022 Read WI vs BAN Test Series 2022: Who has better record? World Cup Football 2022: Who will Play with Whom in the Group Stage? 32 teams were divided into eight groups, and each group contained four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the first knockout round. The tournament hosts, Qatar, will compete in Group A, while the reigning champions, France, will compete in Group D. The competition will kick off with the match between the Netherlands and Senegal on November 21. Take a look at the FIFA World Cup 2022 groups Groups Teams Group A Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands Group B England, Iran, USA, Wales Group C Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland Group D France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia/Peru Group E Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica/New Zealand Group F Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia Group G Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon Group H Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea    Source: https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022 Read ICC Player of the Month for May 2022: Check Out the Nominees As per the draw, Group H is considered to be the toughest of all. Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea are all well capable of finishing in the top two in this group. Senegal and the Netherlands are favourites to advance to the Round of 16 from Group A, but Ecuador are also capable of finishing in the top two. England are overwhelmingly favourites in Group B, while Iran, the USA and Wales all have an equal chance of finishing second in this group. Argentina are the favourites to win Group C, while Mexico and Poland will compete for second place. France and Denmark are favourites to move to the Round of 16 from Group D, while Spain and Germany are likely to advance to the next round from Group E. Belgium and Croatia are the favourites in group F. Brazil are widely expected to win Group G. However, Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon all have a chance to finish second in group G, so Brazil will have to be careful in their group stage fixtures. Who are the Favourites to Win the Qatar World Cup 2022? As per the bookies, France, Brazil, Argentina, England, and Spain are the top favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022. Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and Portugal also have a good chance to do well during the tournament. Let’s take a look at the current scenario of the top favourites for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Read Joe Root Reaches 10,000 Runs Milestone as England win First Test Against New Zealand France France are the reigning World Cup champions and arguably the hot favourites to win the 22nd edition of the tournament. France recently won the second edition of the Nations League in October 2021 by beating Spain 2-1 in the final. The third-ranked team by FIFA, France, have a very balanced squad with world class players in every position. France are expected to face relatively easier opponents until the quarter-finals, where they may meet either England or the Netherlands. France's top three most important players: N'Golo Kante, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema World Cup performance in 2018: Champions. Read ENG vs NZ First Test 2022: England Seize Control of Series Opening Match Brazil Five-time World Cup champions, Brazil, are one of the favourites to lift the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Brazil has a formidable squad with outstanding players at every position. Brazil must overcome significant obstacles from the group stage to the knockout rounds in order to reach the final. They must beat Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon to finish first in their group. So, the Selecao needs to be at their very best from the start of the competition. Brazil's top three most important players: Alisson, Fabinho, Neymar Jr  World Cup performance in 2018: Quarter-Finals. Read Shakib Al Hasan's Captaincy Record in Test Cricket: An Overview Argentina One year ago, Argentina's team wasn’t considered a top favourite for the 2022 World Cup. However, things have changed after Argentina’s Copa America 2021 win, followed by the Finalissima 2022 win over Italy. Argentina have emerged as one of the favourites to win the tournament. They are currently unbeaten in 33 matches and are only five matches away from setting up a new world record. They could attain the record during the World Cup. Argentina have a relatively easier group to finish top of the points table and can face Denmark in the Round of 16. Argentina's top three most important players: Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi World Cup performance in 2018: Round of 16. Read Litton Das Reaches 12, Highest Ever Test Ranking in Career England England reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and finished second in the 2020 EURO Championship. The English side is very strong as they have some world-class players in their kitty. England should comfortably finish top of their group, but they may face some serious challenges in the knockout rounds. They may face the Netherlands and France in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals should they advance. England's top three most important players: Harry Kane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raheem Sterling World Cup performance in 2018: Semi-Finals. Read Who Can Replace Mominul Haque as Bangladesh Test Cricket Captain? Spain The Spanish side is in a rebuilding process, but with the guidance of manager Luis Enrique, they have done pretty well in the recent international fixtures. Spain were runners-up in the second edition of the Nations League, losing to France 2-1 in the final. Spain have some seriously talented players who can inspire them to go further in the tournament. Spain may finish first or second in the group stage, which will determine their opposition in the Round of 16. They will likely face either Belgium or Croatia in the first knockout round. Spain's top three most important players: Cesar Azpilicueta, Sergio Busquets, Rodri World Cup performance in 2018: Round of 16. Read Bangladesh vs West Indies Series 2022: Full Fixtures and Squads Germany The current German squad is not as lethal as it was a few years ago. That is why many pundits don’t think Germany will be a top contender for this year's World Cup. However, Germany are the second-most successful team in the competition, and they can surprise everyone with their performance. Germany will compete against Spain to finish in the top two in the group stage. They may face either Belgium or Croatia in the Round of 16. Germany's top three most important players: Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger, Thomas Muller World Cup performance in 2018: Group Stage. Read Is Mominul doing enough as Test Captain? Belgium The golden generation of Belgium hasn’t lived up to the expectations in recent tournaments. Belgium’s greatest-ever result in the World Cup competition came in the 2018 edition when they finished third. Belgium was one of the favorites to win the 2020 Euro, but they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Ranked second in the FIFA rankings, Belgium will have to fight against Croatia to finish top in their group. They may face either Spain or Germany in the Round of 16. Belgium's top three most important players: Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, Romelu Lukaku World Cup performance in 2018: Semi-Finals (Third Place). Read IPL 2022: Meet the Top Individual Performers Netherlands The Dutch team played well in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers after missing out on taking part in the 2018 edition. They have some quality players in their squad and can surprise everyone with some good performances in the main event. The Netherlands should qualify for the Round of 16. They may face an easier opponent if they finish top of their group, but will likely face England if they finish second in their group. Netherlands top three most important players: Matthijs de Ligt, Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong World Cup performance in 2018: Did not qualify. Read IPL 2022 Final: Who is favourite to win title between Rajasthan and Gujarat? Uruguay Two-time World Cup champions Uruguay may not be an out-and-out favourite, but they have some very good players in their squad. Uruguay may surprise everyone in the knockout stages if they play to their full potential in the main event. However, they have to overcome some big hurdles to finish in the top two in the group stage and qualify for the Round of 16. They may face Brazil in the first knockout round if they finish second in their group. Uruguay's top three most important players: Jose Gimenez, Federico Valverde, Darwin Nunez World Cup performance in 2018: Quarter-Finals. Read Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2022: Five Key Discussion Points Portugal Portugal’s recent international success was to win the first edition of the Nations League in 2019. The Portuguese national team had to play in the playoffs to secure a place in the World Cup 2022. They have some top names in world football. The Portuguese team has the ability to win the tournament if they can execute their game plans properly during the competition. Portugal may face Brazil in the Round of 16 depending on the outcome of the group stage. Portugal's top three most important players: Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup performance in 2018: Round of 16. Read BAN vs SL 2nd Test 2022: Bangladesh require aggressive mindset in 3rd innings Way Forward According to recent performances, France, Brazil, and Argentina are the favorites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022. In addition, Germany, England, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and Portugal are all strong contenders and will all try to win this year's championship. The ambition for the remaining teams would be to finish at least second in their respective groups and go as far as possible in the knockout stages. Predicting who will perform at their best in the quest for the championship match is difficult given that the majority of the teams are unfamiliar with middle-east weather conditions. The 2022 Qatar World Cup will kick off on November 21 and finish with the title match on December 18.

Both Wales and Ukraine entered the Cardiff City Stadium pitch on Sunday (June 5) in pursuit of their second World Cup main event spot. Wales previously competed in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, whereas Ukraine competed in the 2006 World Cup in Germany for the first and only time. Ukraine have a history of getting eliminated from the playoffs, and it was a major concern for them ahead of the match. Their fears came true when they were beaten 1-0 by Wales during the game, ending their hopes of playing in the FIFA World Cup 2022. With Wales' participation, the qualifications of all 13 European nations for the Qatar World Cup 2022 have been confirmed. Take a look at the European countries who have qualified for the main tournament, as well as Wales' path to World Cup qualifying. Read Cavani shines as Uruguay rout Mexico in friendly 2022 FIFA World Cup: Wales' Qualifying Journey As per the November 2020 FIFA rankings, Wales were placed in pot 2 for the first round of UEFA region qualifying. There were ten groups in the first round, with the winner of each group qualifying for the Qatar World Cup 2022. Wales were drawn to Group E in the first round of qualifying. This group also included Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Estonia. Belgium came out on top in Group E and qualified for the main tournament. Wales finished second in their group, earning a spot in the playoffs. The playoffs included a total of 12 teams, divided into four groups of four teams each. Wales were in Path A, where they defeated Austria 2-1 to reach the playoff final for this path. On the other hand, Ukraine defeated Scotland 3-1 and faced Wales for a place in the 2022 World Cup, but lost 1-0. Wales qualified for the main event for the first time in 64 years after defeating Ukraine. The last time Wales competed in a World Cup was in Sweden in 1958. Sixteen teams competed in the competition, with Wales being one of the twelve European nations. Wales performed well in that competition, finishing second in Group 3 with three points and progressing to the quarter-finals. They were eliminated from the competition after losing 1-0 to the eventual winner, Brazil, in the quarter-final match. Read Who Bagged the Maximum Trophies in Football So Far? Qualified European teams for Qatar World Cup 2022 Only one berth remains for UEFA World Cup qualifiers after twelve teams were confirmed in March. With the confirmation of Wales' participation, all thirteen teams from the European zone have been confirmed. The thirteen European national teams that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022 main event are Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, and Wales. Portugal, Poland, and Wales were among those who had to compete in playoffs to qualify for the main tournament. Portugal defeated North Macedonia in the final of the Patch C tie to go to the Qatar World Cup 2022. North Macedonia had earlier surprised Italy 1-0 to set up a one-off match against Portugal for a place in the World Cup. The victory of North Macedonia over Italy is considered the biggest shock of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. On the other hand, Poland qualified for the main event after defeating Sweden 2-0 in the Patch B playoff final. Read Summer Football Transfer Window 2022: Potential Big Moves Bottom Line Wales' football supporters will see their side compete in the main event for the first time after missing 15 World Cups in a row. This is undoubtedly a fantastic achievement for Wales' national team. Even more exciting, they will participate in Group B of the main event, where they will face off against their bitter rivals, England. They will also face Iran and the United States in the group stage. Therefore, Wales stand a good chance of making it to the Round of 16. France, Spain, and England are the hot favorites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 among the European qualifying countries. The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, and Belgium also have a chance to win the main event. The remainder of the European teams' primary objectives will be to perform well in the main event and go as far as possible in the knockout stages. Read Messi nets 5 for Argentina for 1st time, overtakes Puskas

The FIFA World Cup 2022 will feature 32 teams from six continental confederations. There are still seventeen spots available after fifteen teams qualified till February 1, 2022. Two of the five possible spots have already been confirmed in the South American zone. The final two or three slots will be determined during the March international break. Let's have a look at the FIFA World Cup 2022 South American Qualification Scenarios with only two matches left for each country. Qatar World Cup 2022 Qualified Teams from CONMEBOL Two of the favorites, Brazil and Argentina, qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022 last November. They are presently placed first and second respectively on the South American qualifying points table. Brazil have 39 points after 15 games, while Argentina have 35 points after the same number of matches. Both teams have three more qualifiers to play because a match between Brazil and Argentina was postponed in October 2021. However, the fate of that match has yet to be determined. FIFA may cancel the tie since both teams have already confirmed their participation in the mega event. Read Top Transfer Window Signings January 2022: Which Team Got Which Player? Brazil will face Chile at home on March 24, and they will face Bolivia away on March 29. Brazil will definitely finish first in the South American World Cup 2022 qualifying points table if they win these matches. However, depending on the results of Argentina's world cup games, they may finish second in the points table if they lose one match and draw the other. Brazil’s World Cup 2022 Qualifiers Performance So far Home Matches Results Away Matches Results Argentina Suspended Argentina 0-0 Ecuador 2-0 Ecuador 1-1 Uruguay 4-1 Uruguay 0-2 Peru 2-0 Peru 2-4 Chile March 24, 2022 (TBD) Chile 0-1 Colombia 1-0 Colombia 0-0 Bolivia 5-0 Bolivia March 29, 2022 (TBD) Paraguay 4-0 Paraguay 0-2 Venezuela 1-0 Venezuela 1-3  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL) On the other hand, Argentina will surely finish second in the points standings. However, their hopes of finishing first are entirely dependent on Brazil's performance in their remaining World Cup qualifiers. Argentina will overtake Brazil at the top of the points table if they win both of their remaining games and if Brazil lose four points in their final two games. Argentina will play Venezuela at home On March 24 and they will face Ecuador away on March 29. Read Five Famous Professional Football Players who Retired in 2021 Argentina’s World Cup 2022 Qualifiers Performance So far Home Matches Results Away Matches Results Brazil 0-0 Brazil Suspended Ecuador 1-0 Ecuador March 29, 2022 (TBD) Uruguay 3-0 Uruguay 0-1 Peru 1-0 Peru 0-2 Chile 1-1 Chile 1-2 Colombia 1-0 Colombia 2-2 Bolivia 3-0 Bolivia 1-2 Paraguay 1-1 Paraguay 0-0 Venezuela March 24, 2022 (TBD) Venezuela 1-3  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL) 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: South American Region scenarios Brazil and Argentina have maintained a substantial lead over the rest of the teams in the points standings. Argentina are 10 points ahead of Ecuador in third place. On the other hand, Venezuela are at the bottom of the standings with only ten points. The CONMEBOL region's four teams will automatically qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The fifth-placed team will compete in one inter-confederation play-off for a World Cup berth. Here are the team-by-team qualification scenarios for the South American region. Read The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2021: Robert Lewandowski Retains the Award Beating Lionel Messi Table: Team based qualification scenarios for the South American region Position Team Matches Points GD 1 Brazil 15 39 +27 2 Argentina 15 35 +16 3 Ecuador 16 25 +10 4 Uruguay 16 22 -3 5 Peru 16 21 -4 6 Chile 16 19 -1 7 Colombia 16 17 -3 8 Bolivia 16 15 -12 9 Paraguay 16 13 -14 10 Venezuela 16 10 -16  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL) Ecuador Ecuador is in a stronger position than the other teams. They now have 25 points and just need one more win to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022. They can even qualify if they just get one point from their remaining games. Read Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Federico Valverde Scores Winning Goal for Los Blancos’ Remaining Fixtures: Paraguay (March 24, away), Argentina (March 29, home) Uruguay Uruguay has two difficult games ahead of them, and they must win at least one match to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Remaining Fixtures: Peru (March 24, away), Chile (March 29, home) Peru If Peru lose points against Uruguay, their fate might be decided in their final World Cup qualifier match. Peru might qualify for the World Cup if they gain three points, depending on the outcomes of the other qualifiers. Read BPL Football to begin on February 3 Remaining Fixtures: Uruguay (March 24, home), Paraguay (March 29, away) Chile and Colombia Both Chile and Colombia must win their remaining World Cup qualifying matches in order to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Chile will face Brazil on March 24 and Uruguay on March 29. On the other side, Colombia will face Bolivia on March 24 and Venezuela on March 29. Colombia have a higher chance than Chile based on the fixtures. Bolivia, Paraguay, and Venezuela Bolivia are still in contention for at least the inter-confederation playoffs with 15 points from 16 games. Oppositely, Paraguay and Venezuela have no chance of qualifying for the next World Cup. Read Favourite to Win the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2021 Award Verdict Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup 2022 from November 21 to December 18. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is generating a lot of buzzes. Because for the first time, a Middle Eastern country will organize a World Cup tournament. The competition will take place at six different venues in five different cities in Qatar. The teams who have already qualified for the 22nd World Cup have begun their preparations. On the other hand, many teams from six confederations are still battling for the final few spots. There are eight Latin American teams among them. However, Paraguay and Venezuela are already out of the qualification race. Six teams from the CONMEBOL zone are vying for third, fourth, and fifth place, respectively. Overall, football fans in South America will witness some exciting FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification matches in March.  Read Messi among 4 PSG players who test positive for COVID-19

The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be held in the months of November and December of the next year. This tournament will include a total of 32 teams from six confederations. The main event will feature 13 national teams from Europe, followed by 5 from Africa, 4/5 from Asia and South America, 3/4 from CONCACAF, and 0.5/1 from Oceania. Thirteen nations have already qualified for the World Cup, with the remaining teams to be confirmed within March. Let's take a look at who has qualified for the 2022 World Cup. Qualified Teams for FIFA World Cup 2022 The Qatar World Cup 2022 will kick off in one year, with 13 teams out of 32 securing their spots in the main tournament. The majority of them are from Europe, with two from South America and the host Qatar. No teams from Africa, Asia, Concacaf, or Oceania have qualified yet. The following countries have qualified for next year's event Teams Confederation Serbia (Group A winner, UEFA) Spain (Group B winner, UEFA) Switzerland (Group C winner, UEFA) France (Group D winner, UEFA) Belgium (Group E winner, UEFA) Denmark (Group F winner, UEFA) The Netherlands (Group G winner, UEFA) Croatia (Group H winner, UEFA) England (Group I winner, UEFA) Germany (Group J winner, UEFA) Brazil (One of the top four teams in the CONMEBOL) Argentina (One of the top four teams in the CONMEBOL)    Source: https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/qualifiers  Scenarios of qualification in all confederations for the 2022 Qatar World Cup There are still 19 spots available for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Let's look at the overall World Cup 2022 qualification scenarios. Also Read: European soccer leagues oppose FIFA biennial World Cup plan Africa  The third round of African World Cup qualifiers will feature Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Five of the 10 teams in this round will advance to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Asia Iran and South Korea are in a solid position in Group A of the third round. Iran lead the standings with 16 points, followed by South Korea with 14 points. They are the favorites to qualify for the World Cup 2022. Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia are battling it out in Group B for a spot in the World Cup. Saudi Arabia are now in first place with 16 points, followed by Japan (12 points), and Australia (11 points). A play-off will be held between the two third-place teams.    Europe With ten national teams having already qualified, only three slots remain in the UEFA zone. Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Ukraine, Wales, Scotland, Turkey, Russia, Poland, and North Macedonia are the ten runner-up teams in each group, with two teams via the Nations League Austria and the Czech Republic will compete in a playoff round for a spot in the main event.  Read: Sepp Blatter, Platini indicted for fraud in Switzerland CONMEBOL Ecuador (23 points), Colombia (17 points), and Peru (17 points) are all in great shape to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. Chile (16 points), Uruguay (16 points), Bolivia (15 points), and Paraguay (13 points) are still in contention, but with only four games remaining, securing a top-four finish will be extremely difficult. The fifth-place team will play an inter-confederation play-off.    Concacaf The real contenders for a spot in next year's World Cup are Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Panama. The top three teams in the points standings will advance to the main event, while the fourth-place team will compete in a play-off.  Oceania The Oceania region will compete in a qualifying competition, with the winner advancing to an inter-confederation play-off for a World Cup place.  Read: Who can replace coach Ronald Koeman at FC Barcelona? Bottom Line Some of the most anticipated teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022. However, few top teams have struggled in the qualifying round. From Europe, Italy and Portugal will have to compete in the qualifying round, and they are at risk of missing out on a place in the main tournament. Uruguay and Chile are in a perilous position in South America. These two teams may not be able to compete in the Qatar World Cup in 2022. There will be a lot of twists and turns before the end of the World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina and Brazil will compete in a FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying match on November 17 (Wednesday). The match will take place at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in Argentina. The first Argentina vs. Brazil 2022 World Cup qualifier game was postponed due to a covid-19 health protocol issue. FIFA has yet to decide on the fate of that match. Both South American football powers are in comfortable positions in the current qualification standings. Let's take a look at the complete CONMEBOL World Cup 2022 Qualifiers fixtures for November. Team News: Argentina and Brazil Argentina are in second place in the points standings with 25 points. Albiceleste will be closer to securing a place in the Qatar World Cup if they maintain consistency in their next two matches. Head coach Lionel Scaloni included all of the expected names in the squad. Paulo Dybala is one of them, having missed the qualifications in October due to injury. Argentina have remained unbeaten since their semifinal loss to Brazil in the 2019 Copa America. So, the team is in excellent spirits under Lionel Scaloni. Read Four Nations Football Tournament 2021: Bangladesh to Face Seychelles in their opening match Predicted Starting XI (Argentina): Emiliano Martinez (GK); Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Marcos Acuna, Gonzalo Montiel; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria; Paulo Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi (Captain)  Brazil are now in top place in the points table with 31 points. Selecao will be guaranteed a spot in next year's World Cup if they win their two fixtures in November. Therefore, Brazil's team is in a fairly comfortable position, and they can put their fringe players to the trial in order to give them more international experience.   Brazil's head coach Tite has chosen all of the expected names for this month's qualifiers. Real Madrid forward Vincius Junior is one of them, who has impressed everyone thus far in this La Liga season. This young talent might start for Brazil along with superstar forward Neymar. Read Man Utd vs. Man City: Match Preview, Team News, Lineups Predicted Starting XI (Brazil): Alisson (GK); Thiago Silva (Captain), Marquinhos, Danilo, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Fabinho, Paquetá; Gabriel Jesus, Vinícius Júnior, Neymar     CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers: November Fixtures  A total of ten South American World Cup 2022 qualifying matches will be held in the month of November. The following are the fixtures: Date Fixture Time (BDT) November 12 (Friday) Ecuador vs. Venezuela 3 AM November 12 (Friday) Paraguay vs. Chile 5 AM November 12 (Friday) Brazil vs. Colombia 6.30 AM November 12 (Friday) Peru vs. Bolivia 8 AM November 13 (Saturday) Uruguay vs. Argentina 5 AM November 17 (Wednesday) Bolivia vs. Uruguay 2 AM November 17 (Wednesday ) Venezuela vs. Peru 3 AM November 17 (Wednesday ) Colombia vs. Paraguay 5 AM November 17 (Wednesday ) Argentina vs. Brazil 5.30 AM November 17 (Wednesday ) Chile vs. Ecuador 6.15 AM Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL) Way Forward   The South American qualification process is lengthy because every team will play each other. All of the teams mathematically have a chance to qualify for the main event of the Qatar World Cup. However, given the present qualifiers scenario, both Argentina and Brazil's qualifications are all but confirmed. This will be their first match since the Copa America 2021 final in July. Therefore, football fans all across the world are looking forward to another Argentina vs. Brazil match. The team that can maintain its composure on a given day will likely triumph over the opposition. Read Bangladesh Football team leaves Dhaka for Sri Lanka

South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers will resume on Thursday (October 7). All ten CONMEBOL nations will compete in three qualifiers this month. Uruguay will play three tough games this month, including one against Colombia on October 8 (Bangladesh Standard Time), another against Argentina on October 11, and the other against Brazil on October 15. The top four teams in the standings will automatically qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The fifth-placeholder team will have to compete in the Playoffs for a World Cup spot. Let's take a look at the October CONMEBOL World Cup 2022 fixtures. Predicted Starting XI: Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay Brazil and Argentina are the only two unbeaten teams In the South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. With the exception of Uruguay, both South American heavyweights have relatively easy games in this October international window. Paulo Dybala was included in Argentina's squad by Coach Lionel Scaloni. However, he was eventually ruled out due to injury. Apart from the clash against Uruguay, Argentina will play Paraguay on October 8 and Peru on October 15. Lionel Messi-led Argentina team is in excellent form after winning the Copa America in July. Scaloni has built the ideal setup for Messi to thrive on the international stage. Argentina will start as favorites in each game in the qualifiers. Read Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award Argentina’s Predicted Starting XI Emiliano Martinez (Goalkeeper), Cristian Romero, Germán Pezzella,  Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Alejandro Gómez, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi (Captain) Brazilian Coach Tite has a lot of options to choose the best players from the talented squad. Brazil presently hold an advantage of six-point over Argentina in the point standings, with 24 points. They will play Venezuela on October 8 and Colombia on October 11 before finishing this international window with a match against Uruguay. Neymar is fully fit for the matches, and his creativity in the attacking half will be crucial for Brazil. Like Argentina, the Brazilian team will be the favorite in each of their qualifying matches. Read Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true' Brazil’s Predicted Starting XI Alisson (Goalkeeper), Thiago Silva (Captain), Marquinhos, Danilo, Sandro, Casemiro, Fabinho, Paqueta, Vinícius Júnior, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar Uruguay's qualifying matches this month are extremely important. They should execute some flawless strategies to overcome Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. Uruguay may fall behind in the points table if they fail to win a match and jeopardize their chances of qualifying for the World Cup as well. Uruguay have some talented players, but their team spirit is crucial in important games. Therefore, they will have to play as a team in order to defeat tough opponents. Uruguay’s Predicted Starting XI Fernando Muslera (Goalkeeper); Diego Godín (Captain), José María Giménez, Ronald Araujo, Matías Viña; Federico Valverde, Matías Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Nahitan Nández; Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani. Read Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener October 2021 Fixtures for South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers A total of 15 CONMEBOL qualifiers will be played in the month of October. Here are the fixtures. Date Fixture Time (BST) October 8 (Friday) Uruguay vs. Colombia 5 AM October 8 (Friday) Paraguay vs. Argentina  5 AM October 8 (Friday) Venezuela vs. Brazil 5.30 AM October 8 (Friday) Ecuador vs. Bolivia 6.30 AM October 8 (Friday) Peru vs. Chile 7 AM October 11 (Monday) Bolivia vs. Peru 2 AM October 11 (Monday) Venezuela vs. Ecuador 2.30 AM October 11 (Monday) Colombia vs. Brazil 3 AM October 11 (Monday) Argentina vs. Uruguay 5.30 AM October 11 (Monday) Chile vs. Paraguay 6 AM October 15 (Friday) Bolivia vs. Uruguay 2 AM October 15 (Friday) Colombia vs. Ecuador 3 AM October 15 (Friday) Argentina vs. Peru 5.30 AM October 15 (Friday) Chile vs. Venezuela 6 AM October 15 (Friday) Brazil vs. Uruguay 6.30 AM  Verdict Brazil and Argentina are now placed in the first and second positions respectively at the end of eight games in the South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. In the qualifiers, each side will play a total of 18 matches. Therefore, all teams still have a chance to advance to the main event. As per the fixtures, Uruguay have tough games in October as they will be up against the three best teams in the continent. They are presently in third place, with only two points separating them from fourth and fifth place teams. On the other hand, Argentina and Brazil are expected to win their matches and maintain their respective positions in the standings. Read Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win