FIFA WC 2022 news: Viewer's guide for this year's mega event in Qatar

A last chance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Kylian Mbappeacute back on the biggest stage of all Brazil bidding for a recordextending sixth title One of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups in memory as much for offthefield reasons as those on it is just around the corner in Qatar and excitement is building after the qualification period was wrapped Thirtytwo teams 64 matches 28 days The first World Cup in the Middle East The tournament starts on Nov 21 and the final is set for Dec 18Heres a few things to watch when the tournament gets going in the smallest country ever to host a World CupTOP TEAMSBrazil No 1 in FIFA ranking Neymar Viniacutecius Juacutenior and the rest of the flairfilled Selecao are peaking at the right time Is a first World Cup title since 2002 on the horizonBelgium No 2 The Golden Generation is gradually breaking up but theres still Kevin De Bruyne leading the Belgian chargeArgentina No 3 No World Cup title since the days of the great Diego Maradona This will be the first World Cup since his death in November 2020 and Argentina is improving with Messi still at its coreFrance No 4 The defending champions Still the country with the most depth to its squad Now with Mbappeacute AND Karim Benzema leading the attack No team has retained its World Cup title since Brazil in 1962England No 5 Semifinalist at the World Cup in 2018 finalist at the European Championship in 2021 Soccers most underperforming national team is trending in the right directionAlso Read Premier League news Haaland shines for City Utd lose under Ten HagBIG STARSLionel Messi Argentina The seventime world player of the year might have been saving his 35yearold legs for one last push at a World Cup winners medal that to many would solidify him as soccers greatest playerCristiano Ronaldo Portugal He has won the European Championship but the leading scorer in mens international soccer hasnt played in a World Cup final let alone won one Hes 37 years old now make the most of him while you canKylian Mbappeacute France The star of the last World Cup at the age of 19 and he is only getting better The speedy striker could match Brazil great Peleacute in being a champion at his first two World CupsKevin De Bruyne Belgium Widely regarded as the worlds best midfielder his driving runs are among the best sights in soccer Belgium just has to hope he arrives healthyNeymar Brazil Increasingly overshadowed by Mbappeacute and Messi at Paris SaintGermain still the main man for Brazil Watch out for tricks and flicks and some histrionics tooHOW IT WORKSGet ready for a feast of soccer There are eight groups of four teams with the top two advancing to the 16team knockout stage There will be four games backtoback per day yes four for each of the first two sets of group games then simultaneous kickoffs for the last two games in each group Therell be no break for the knockout stage which begins the day after the group stage ends The first day without soccer comes on Dec 7 the 17th day of competitionMUSTSEE GAMESSenegal vs Netherlands Nov 21 The first match of the tournament and always a date to save on the calendar With Sadio Maneacute and Virgil van Dijk on the field its an interesting one tooArgentina vs Mexico Nov 26 The first of the big continental rivalries in the group stage with Messi potentially sealing his and Argentinas spot in the last 16Spain vs Germany Nov 27 Surely there cant have been many bigger groupstage matches than this at a World Cup Two recent champions two giants of European and world soccerIran vs United States Nov 29 It has been labeled as The Mother of All Games Part II Just like at the World Cup in 1998 the two countries will meet in the group stage in a politically charged matchup Diplomatic relations have yet to be restored between the nations since being severed in 1980Ghana vs Uruguay Dec 2 Anyone remember the night of July 2 2010 In the last minute of extra time in a World Cup quarterfinal match between Uruguay and Ghana Luis Suarez deliberately stopped the ball with his hand on the goalline got sent off only for Ghana to miss the penalty and lose in a shootout as Suarez celebrated on the sideline Revenge would be sweet for GhanaUPCOMING FRIENDLIESWith this World Cup taking place in the middle of many countries domestic seasons there will not be the usual pretournament buildup of friendliesIndeed for the European countries the Nations League qualifiers taking place from Sept 2227 will represent the teams final matches before the World CupAmong the big games are Italy vs England Sept 23 Netherlands vs Belgium Sept 25 England vs Germany Sept 26 and Portugal vs Spain Sept 27The United States will play Japan on Sept 23 and Saudi Arabia on Sept 27 with both friendlies taking place in EuropeThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever