From Chief Twit's reign to FIFA's desert breakout: The remarkable moments of 2022

<p>The thought of a chef salting his steak in the most chic manner must have sprung to mind only from the term Salt Bae. Thousands of netizens were inspired to imitate Salt Bae after learning about his technique for adding spices to their meals in a unique way. The internet quickly caught on fire to the fad. Numerous other social media stars have been spotted acting like him in ways that undoubtedly made people chuckle. It unquestionably got popular on social media.</p>

<p><strong>Who is Salt Bae?</strong></p>

<p><strong><img alt="Salt Bae" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="70b051a2-2410-42d0-8770-b5fd1d88b333" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-12-23T141303.538.png" /></strong></p>

<p>The 39-year-old Salt Bae, real name Nusret Gokçe, is the owner of a network of opulent eateries throughout the globe, including Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and London's exclusive Knightsbridge. His method of flavouring and cooking meat has gone viral online. This Turkish chef's restaurant business is likewise booming, with several locations throughout the world and arbitrary, exorbitant prices for cuisine that are perhaps a byproduct of the notoriety he has attained.</p>

<p><strong>FIFA Controversy&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>He recently came under fire from both internet users and other people for hounding Messi immediately following Argentina's victory against France. Immediately following the final match of the World Cup final, he approached the Argentine players. He was the target of the controversy since he caught players off guard while they were looking out for celebrating their victory with their loved ones. Gokce was observed pursuing athletes and pestering them for photos and videos.</p>

<p><strong>Post controversy&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>After the controversy, Gokçe on Thursday was banned from attending a US sporting event, as per US Sun. He was banned from The US Open Cup, a knockout competition featuring teams from the MLS as well as other domestic tournaments. Taking to Twitter, The US Open Cup wrote, “Salt Bae is hereby banned from the 2023 US Open Cup final.” After his unique way of adding salt on steaks, his Instagram following shoot up really quickly. Some of his Instagram followers include David Beckham and Leonardo Di Caprio.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Gokce self-promotion?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>After hounding players after the finale of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Gokce flooded his Instagram with posts. One of the pictures which quickly got picked up by netizens was where Messi was seen visibly irritated by him as he almost forces him to take a picture with the chef. The Turkish entrepreneur was widely criticised for twice grabbing Messi's arm. Messi was seen uncomfortable and tried to sidestep the unwanted attention.</p>

<p>Another was with uncomfortable-looking Angel di Maria sharing the World Cup trophy with him. Another video which turned heads was of Christian Romero's where he is looking on helplessly as Gokce snatched the trophy from his son.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmWQvJros-H/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmWQvJros-H/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmWQvJros-H/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmWQvJros-H/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Nusr_et#Saltbae (@nusr_et)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Clearly Gokce's presence there was uninvited and unappreciated as well. He was even seen sinking his teeth into another player's medal. Earlier in the World Cup, he posted a video of himself at a match sitting alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.</p>

<p><strong>Were FIFA rules flouted?</strong></p>

<p>The FIFA World Cup trophy has some rules and regulations attached to who can touch or hold it and who cannot. According to FIFA, the original World Cup Trophy which is one of the most recognised sports symbols in the world and a priceless icon, can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup and heads of state.</p>

<p><strong>Action on chef after controversy</strong></p>

<p>"Following a review, FIFA has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail stadium on December 18," a spokesman told BBC. "The appropriate internal action will be taken," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Other controversies</strong></p>

<p>In 2014, singer Rihanna also famously courted controversy for touching the World Cup after Germany’s win over Argentina in extra-time. She also posed for a selfie and revealed she had kissed the trophy.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The thought of a chef salting his steak in the most chic manner must have sprung to mind only from the term Salt Bae. Thousands of netizens were inspired to imitate Salt Bae after learning about his technique for adding spices to their meals in a unique way.

The thought of a chef salting his steak in the most chic manner must have sprung to mind only from the term Salt Bae. Thousands of netizens were inspired to imitate Salt Bae after learning about his technique for adding spices to their meals in a unique way. The internet quickly caught on fire to the fad. Numerous other social media stars have been spotted acting like him in ways that undoubtedly made people chuckle. It unquestionably got popular on social media. Who is Salt Bae? The 39-year-old Salt Bae, real name Nusret Gokçe, is the owner of a network of opulent eateries throughout the globe, including Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and London's exclusive Knightsbridge. His method of flavouring and cooking meat has gone viral online. This Turkish chef's restaurant business is likewise booming, with several locations throughout the world and arbitrary, exorbitant prices for cuisine that are perhaps a byproduct of the notoriety he has attained. FIFA Controversy He recently came under fire from both internet users and other people for hounding Messi immediately following Argentina's victory against France. Immediately following the final match of the World Cup final, he approached the Argentine players. He was the target of the controversy since he caught players off guard while they were looking out for celebrating their victory with their loved ones. Gokce was observed pursuing athletes and pestering them for photos and videos. Post controversy After the controversy, Gokçe on Thursday was banned from attending a US sporting event, as per US Sun. He was banned from The US Open Cup, a knockout competition featuring teams from the MLS as well as other domestic tournaments. Taking to Twitter, The US Open Cup wrote, “Salt Bae is hereby banned from the 2023 US Open Cup final.” After his unique way of adding salt on steaks, his Instagram following shoot up really quickly. Some of his Instagram followers include David Beckham and Leonardo Di Caprio. Gokce self-promotion? After hounding players after the finale of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Gokce flooded his Instagram with posts. One of the pictures which quickly got picked up by netizens was where Messi was seen visibly irritated by him as he almost forces him to take a picture with the chef. The Turkish entrepreneur was widely criticised for twice grabbing Messi's arm. Messi was seen uncomfortable and tried to sidestep the unwanted attention. Another was with uncomfortable-looking Angel di Maria sharing the World Cup trophy with him. Another video which turned heads was of Christian Romero's where he is looking on helplessly as Gokce snatched the trophy from his son. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nusr_et#Saltbae (@nusr_et) × Clearly Gokce's presence there was uninvited and unappreciated as well. He was even seen sinking his teeth into another player's medal. Earlier in the World Cup, he posted a video of himself at a match sitting alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Were FIFA rules flouted? The FIFA World Cup trophy has some rules and regulations attached to who can touch or hold it and who cannot. According to FIFA, the original World Cup Trophy which is one of the most recognised sports symbols in the world and a priceless icon, can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup and heads of state. Action on chef after controversy "Following a review, FIFA has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail stadium on December 18," a spokesman told BBC. "The appropriate internal action will be taken," he added. Other controversies In 2014, singer Rihanna also famously courted controversy for touching the World Cup after Germany’s win over Argentina in extra-time. She also posed for a selfie and revealed she had kissed the trophy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who is Salt Bae, the chef who hounded Messi for pictures after FIFA World Cup final?

Emi Martinez has become a household name after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After winning the Golden Glove, he has been making headlines with his off-field gesture as the 30-year-old celebrated his award with a gesture in front of Qatari officials - that is the allegation leveled against him.

Argentina's goalkeeper Emi Martinez mocks France's Mbappe again

<p>Angel De Maria was handed a surprising start for Argentina during the FIFA World Cup final match against France and the veteran footballer scored the second goal of the game for his team. While the scores were tied 3-3 after the end of the extra time, Argentina claimed their first World Cup title in 36 years after winning the penalty shootout 4-2. While the game was an absolute nailbiter, Di Maria's wife Jorgelina Cardoso has revealed that he predicted his goal as well as the result.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-this-for-real-argentina-wants-to-put-messis-face-on-banknotes-545382">Is this for real? Argentina wants to put Messi's face on banknotes</a></p>

<p>Cardoso posted WhatsApp messages with Di Maria just one day ahead of the final clash and it showed that the Argentine footballer saying that he will score in the game and Argentina will win beat France. The screenshots of the chats were published on her Instagram story.</p>

<p>"I will be world champion, my love. It is written. And I will score a goal. Because it is written like at the Maracana and at Wembley," Di Maria wrote on his WhatsApp messages.</p>

<p>"This message melts my body, I don't know what the hell to tell you," Cardoso said.</p>

<p><img alt="gr1qnivo" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2022-12/gr1qnivo_angel-di-maria_625x300_22_December_22.jpg" /></p>

<p>"You don't have to say anything. Go and enjoy everything tomorrow because we will be world champions. Because the 26 who are here and everyone's families deserve it," De Maria replied.</p>

<p>Kylian Mbappe became the second footballer ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final but it was not enough to stop Lionel Messi &amp; Co from winning the title. Emiliano Martinez pulled off a brilliant save in the shootout to deny Kingsley Coman while Aurelien Tchouameni missed the target completely.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Angel De Maria was handed a surprising start for Argentina during the FIFA World Cup final match against France and the veteran footballer scored the second goal of the game for his team.

Angel De Maria was handed a surprising start for Argentina during the FIFA World Cup final match against France and the veteran footballer scored the second goal of the game for his team. While the scores were tied 3-3 after the end of the extra time, Argentina claimed their first World Cup title in 36 years after winning the penalty shootout 4-2. While the game was an absolute nailbiter, Di Maria's wife Jorgelina Cardoso has revealed that he predicted his goal as well as the result. Also read | Is this for real? Argentina wants to put Messi's face on banknotes Cardoso posted WhatsApp messages with Di Maria just one day ahead of the final clash and it showed that the Argentine footballer saying that he will score in the game and Argentina will win beat France. The screenshots of the chats were published on her Instagram story. "I will be world champion, my love. It is written. And I will score a goal. Because it is written like at the Maracana and at Wembley," Di Maria wrote on his WhatsApp messages. "This message melts my body, I don't know what the hell to tell you," Cardoso said. "You don't have to say anything. Go and enjoy everything tomorrow because we will be world champions. Because the 26 who are here and everyone's families deserve it," De Maria replied. Kylian Mbappe became the second footballer ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final but it was not enough to stop Lionel Messi & Co from winning the title. Emiliano Martinez pulled off a brilliant save in the shootout to deny Kingsley Coman while Aurelien Tchouameni missed the target completely.

Did Angel Di Maria predict his goal in World Cup final? Wife reveals conversation

A few days after the Argentina team won the 2022 FIFA World Cup defeating France in a penalty shootout, many Argentine fans have paid tribute to the success by getting tattoos.

Argentina fans go crazy for World Cup tattoos

<p>Morocco's national football team broke new frontiers in their heroic run-up to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It was only inevitable that Moroccan heroes would come home to a boisterous crowd that wanted to have a glimpse of them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Tuesday, tens of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of the capital city of Rabat, surrounding the open-top bus carrying the Moroccan players from the airport. Dozens of police cars and motorbikes surrounded the bus as the crowd cheered and saluted the players.&nbsp;The side of the bus was plastered with the Moroccan phrase 'Dima Maghrib' meaning 'long live Morocco' or 'Morocco forever'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Supporters brought flares, wore team kits and waved red flags to create an unreal atmosphere as bewildered Moroccan players soaked in the admiration.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/were-the-rocky-balboa-morocco-coach-walid-regragui-after-knockout-wc-win-over-portugal-542069"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;'We're the Rocky Balboa...': Morocco coach Walid Regragui after knockout WC win over Portugal</strong></a></p>

<p>After the parade, the players and the support staff made their way to the royal palace where King Mohammed VI met them. According to local news reports, the king and crown prince Moulay Hassan handed awards to the players, coaches, and president of the Moroccan football federation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the World Cup, Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the semifinals in its 92-year-long history. During their fairy tale run, Morocco managed to beat Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-croatia-defeat-a-spirited-morocco-2-1-to-win-the-third-place-playoff-544095"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia defeat a spirited Morocco 2-1 to win the third-place playoff</strong></a></p>

<p>One of the wildest stat from the tournament belonged to Morocco which did not concede a single goal from the opposition till the semifinal against France.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morocco may not have reached the finals or won third place but their fairytale run at the World Cup will be remembered for ages. They have given hope, not only to Asia, Africa or the Arab world hope but to all those nations that dream of making it to the World Cup one day.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Morocco's national football team broke new frontiers in their heroic run-up to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It was only inevitable that Moroccan heroes would come home to a boisterous crowd that wanted to have a glimpse of them.

Morocco's national football team broke new frontiers in their heroic run-up to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It was only inevitable that Moroccan heroes would come home to a boisterous crowd that wanted to have a glimpse of them. On Tuesday, tens of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of the capital city of Rabat, surrounding the open-top bus carrying the Moroccan players from the airport. Dozens of police cars and motorbikes surrounded the bus as the crowd cheered and saluted the players. The side of the bus was plastered with the Moroccan phrase 'Dima Maghrib' meaning 'long live Morocco' or 'Morocco forever'. Supporters brought flares, wore team kits and waved red flags to create an unreal atmosphere as bewildered Moroccan players soaked in the admiration. Read more: 'We're the Rocky Balboa...': Morocco coach Walid Regragui after knockout WC win over Portugal After the parade, the players and the support staff made their way to the royal palace where King Mohammed VI met them. According to local news reports, the king and crown prince Moulay Hassan handed awards to the players, coaches, and president of the Moroccan football federation. During the World Cup, Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the semifinals in its 92-year-long history. During their fairy tale run, Morocco managed to beat Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia defeat a spirited Morocco 2-1 to win the third-place playoff One of the wildest stat from the tournament belonged to Morocco which did not concede a single goal from the opposition till the semifinal against France. Morocco may not have reached the finals or won third place but their fairytale run at the World Cup will be remembered for ages. They have given hope, not only to Asia, Africa or the Arab world hope but to all those nations that dream of making it to the World Cup one day. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Morocco's World Cup heroes arrive home to a grand welcome

The grand celebrations of Buenos Aires may have been cut short but it also allowed Argentina captain Lionel Messi to head home early. The 35-year-old returned to his home city of Rosario after winning. Messi arrived at the Rosario International Airport with teammates De Maria and Dybala.

Messi returns to hometown Rosario after winning FIFA World Cup

Argentina’s football players were forced to ditch their open-top bus parade for a helicopter ride in Buenos Aires as millions of ecstatic fans swarmed the city to greet the World Cup champions.

Argentina forced to abandon World Cup victory parade

<p>Argentina ended their 36-year-long drought by winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition on Sunday evening (December 18), edging past defending champions France in a riveting finale at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Being ahead by 2-0 till the 80th minute, Argentina lost the plot with Frenchman Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and taking the game to the extra time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The extra time also couldn't separate the two sides with the scoreline being 3-3 before Lionel Messi &amp; Co. kept their calm and emerged on top in the penalty shootout (by a 4-2 margin). With this, Messi's World Cup run ended on an emphatic fashion&nbsp;and the 35-year-old also returned with the Golden Ball Award; being the first to win in twice.</p>

<p>After the win, Messi is on cloud nine and kept the World Cup trophy close to him. In a recent Instagram post, the Argentine captain shared pictures of him sleeping with the coveted trophy. Here's the post, which has become viral and garnered&nbsp;in over&nbsp;4 million likes just minutes after being posted:</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/decoded-the-robe-that-messi-was-made-to-wear-during-the-presentation-ceremony-after-the-world-cup-final-544822">DECODED! The robe that Messi was made to wear during the presentation ceremony after the World Cup final</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYyND_OYMl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYyND_OYMl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYyND_OYMl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYyND_OYMl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>After the match, Messi opened up on his international future. While the Qatar final was his last appearance in a World Cup match, the Paris Saint-Germain striker will continue to don the national jersey in the coming years as he wishes to play as a 'champion'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com,&nbsp;"No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion."</p>


Argentina ended their 36-year-long drought by winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition on Sunday evening (December 18), edging past defending champions France in a riveting finale at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

Argentina ended their 36-year-long drought by winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition on Sunday evening (December 18), edging past defending champions France in a riveting finale at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Being ahead by 2-0 till the 80th minute, Argentina lost the plot with Frenchman Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and taking the game to the extra time. The extra time also couldn't separate the two sides with the scoreline being 3-3 before Lionel Messi & Co. kept their calm and emerged on top in the penalty shootout (by a 4-2 margin). With this, Messi's World Cup run ended on an emphatic fashion and the 35-year-old also returned with the Golden Ball Award; being the first to win in twice. After the win, Messi is on cloud nine and kept the World Cup trophy close to him. In a recent Instagram post, the Argentine captain shared pictures of him sleeping with the coveted trophy. Here's the post, which has become viral and garnered in over 4 million likes just minutes after being posted: Also read: DECODED! The robe that Messi was made to wear during the presentation ceremony after the World Cup final View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) × After the match, Messi opened up on his international future. While the Qatar final was his last appearance in a World Cup match, the Paris Saint-Germain striker will continue to don the national jersey in the coming years as he wishes to play as a 'champion'. Messi told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com, "No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion."

VIRAL: Lionel Messi breaks the internet, shares pictures sleeping with FIFA World Cup trophy - Check post

Three French Players were subjected to online racist abuse in the aftermath of their FIFA world cup defeat against Argentina. Kingsley Coman, Aurelien Tchouameni and Randal Kolo Muani are targetted.

French Players encountered racial abuse following their FIFA world cup defeat against Argentina

Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad arrived home to a jubilant Buenos Aires in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with massive crowds lining the streets and cheering their champions’ return.

#CHAMPIONS Argentina given grand welcome in Buenos Aires

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition was a magnanimous affair which came to a fitting end on Sunday (December 18). With Argentina and defending champions France setting up a clash in the big-ticket finale, at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the contest was expected to go down to the wire. The summit clash lived up to expectations with Lionel Messi achieving his dream of lifting his maiden WC trophy in his last appearance in the mega event; bringing curtains to what has been an eventful and exhilarating campaign in Qatar.</p>

<p>Undoubtedly, Qatar 2022 ended as one of the best-organised World Cups. The fate of the mega event was hanging in the balance in the run-up to the tournament, which was held in the Middle East for the first time. Nothing came easy for Qatar -- who were constantly marred with several questions (by human rights activists, media, etc.) with fans also having their doubts regarding the smooth running&nbsp;of the showpiece event. Qatar 2022 battled all odds to emerge on top. From a&nbsp;lot being said and written about the plight&nbsp;of migrant workers, Western media trying to tarnish Qatar's image of pulling off an event of such a magnitude, War-tainted Russia's ban, ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter regretting&nbsp;his decision to award hosting rights to Qatar, the country's rigid stance&nbsp;on the LGBTQ community, the death of journalists, etc. (with even&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request of spreading the message of peace ahead of the finale being much-talked about before FIFA's eventual&nbsp;rejection), many such aspects hit the headlines. Hence, there was a lot at stake. However, the tournament ended in style -- producing some enthralling results, upsets and the emergence of the&nbsp;African, Asian and Arab football teams -- for all involved.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-have-roger-federer-lauds-lionel-messi-with-a-heartfelt-post-after-argentina-win-fifa-world-cup-544521">'You have....' - Roger Federer lauds Lionel Messi with a heartfelt post after Argentina win FIFA World Cup</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Qatar lost some battles en route winning the WAR&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>The migrant workers' plight</strong></p>

<p>Qatar, a country where foreigners account for the majority of the 2.9 million population, faced intense criticism from human rights groups regarding its treatment of migrant workers. It is to be noted that Britain’s Guardian reported, in 2021,&nbsp;that at least 6,500 migrant workers — many of them working on World Cup projects — had succumbed to death in Qatar. In response to such claims, Qatar said that the&nbsp;deaths were directly proportionate to the size of the migrant workforce -- including&nbsp;many non-manual workers. In addition, it stated that every life lost was indeed a tragedy!</p>

<p><strong>Death of journos</strong></p>

<p>Khalid al-Misslam, Roger Pearce and Grant Wahl were the three journalists who lost their lives during the Qatar WC -- adding much hullabaloo to the already-existing negativity. FIFA Director of Media Relations Bryan Swanson revealed on social media that books are available at each stadium's media centre for colleagues to send condolence messages. However, the damage was long done by then.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharing an image of the three books devoted to the late journalists, Swanson wrote,&nbsp;"We are opening books of condolence in the FIFA media centres at all remaining stadiums following the tragic deaths of Khalid al-Misslam, Roger Pearce and Grant Wahl during this tournament. Thoughts remain with their families and friends during this difficult time."</p>

<p><strong>LGBTQ stance</strong></p>

<p>It is to be noted that homosexuality in Qatar is illegal and a punishable offence -- where one can be jailed up to three years. Hence, many diehard LGBTQ football fans revealed that they would prefer to watch Qatar 2022 on tv sets at home than risk their lives travelling to the Middle East. To control the matters from going out of hand, a&nbsp;Qatar government official told CNN in a statement, "Everyone is welcome in Qatar,” the statement read, adding: “Our track record has shown that we have warmly welcomed all people regardless of background. There has never been an issue and every event has been delivered safely. Everyone is welcome in Qatar, but we are a conservative country and any public display of affection, regardless of orientation, is frowned upon. We simply ask for people to respect our culture."</p>

<p><strong>Rejecting 'fake claims'</strong></p>

<p>Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee also came forward and rejected accusations when news started circulating that there are fake paid football fans in attendance at the World Cup.&nbsp;In a statement, the Supreme Committee shut all such allegations and termed it&nbsp;“disappointing and unsurprising”.</p>

<p>“Fans from all over the world – many of whom have made Qatar their home – have contributed to the local atmosphere recently, organising fan walks and parades throughout the country, and welcoming the various national teams at their hotels,” it said in a statement. “Numerous journalists and commentators on social media have questioned whether these are ‘real’ fans. We thoroughly reject these assertions, which are both disappointing and unsurprising.”</p>

<p>In addition, Iranian protests over their government's imposition of hijab -- forcing the latter to ease out on few aspects -- and China's protests against their government's Zero-Covid policy (after seeing fans in Qatar, on tv sets, enter stadiums without any COVID protocol whatsoever) also grabbed eyeballs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The ball does the talking making Qatar 2022 a blockbuster success</strong></p>

<p>Thus, there was plenty on Qatar's plate with none trusting their capabilities. Nonetheless, the ball did the talking on their behalf; resulting in many humdingers before the mother-of-all-clash in the&nbsp;finale. The likes of Saudi Arabia, Japan, Morocco, etc. made a mark which made for a riveting watch. Saudi, ranked 51st in the world, went past eventual winners Argentina, Morocco became the first-ever African nation to reach the last four and Japan toppled past winners such as Germany and Spain.</p>

<p>Among the young rising talents, the likes of&nbsp;Jude Bellingham (England),&nbsp;Cody Gakpo (Netherlands),&nbsp;Goncalo Ramos (Portugal),&nbsp;Julian Alvarez (Argentina), Josko Gvardiol (Croatia), etc. ended as the breakout stars. Meanwhile, notable stars Neymar Jr. Cristiano Ronaldo, Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, etc., failed to deliver as per their overall stature. Among some emphatic encounters, Argentina-France, Argentina-Netherlands, Japan-Germany, Croatia-Brazil, Morocco-Portugal, Portugal-Ghana, France-England and many others kept football fanatics awake till late at night across the globe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While a lot can be said and written about rules/laws in the Middle East nation, Qatar can be proud of hosting the WC for the first time with people set to remember the footballing action than the off-field controversies (some of them coming from targetted groups). The going was tough but they sure went past all obstacles to host a memorable event; paving way for many more FIFA WCs to be held in Asia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-japan-germany-to-argentina-france-final-reliving-top-5-matches-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-544539">From Japan-Germany to Argentina-France final: Reliving top 5 matches of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></strong></p>

<p>On Monday, England cricketer Kevin Pietersen shared a heartfelt note for Qatar. <strong>Here's what he wrote:</strong></p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>A football tournament without hooligans. And being at last years Wembley disgrace &amp; now in Qatar, Qatar is the standout!&nbsp;<br />
Maybe EVERY football tournament can be in the Middle East so our fan experience can be memorable!</em></p>
</blockquote>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A football tournament without hooligans. And being at last years Wembley disgrace &amp; now in Qatar, Qatar is the standout!<br />
Maybe EVERY football tournament can be in the Middle East so our fan experience can be memorable! 🙏🏽 <a href="https://t.co/jr2igYVijw">pic.twitter.com/jr2igYVijw</a></p>
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1604754608877879297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><em>Well, Qatar 2022 was off to a poor start but held its nerves to end it on a glorious high!</em></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/argentina-deserved-to-win-the-match-says-argentine-envoy-to-india-hugo-javier-gobbi-544456/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition was a magnanimous affair which came to a fitting end on Sunday (December 18). With Argentina and defending champions France setting up a clash in the big-ticket finale, at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the contest was expected to go down to the wire.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition was a magnanimous affair which came to a fitting end on Sunday (December 18). With Argentina and defending champions France setting up a clash in the big-ticket finale, at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the contest was expected to go down to the wire. The summit clash lived up to expectations with Lionel Messi achieving his dream of lifting his maiden WC trophy in his last appearance in the mega event; bringing curtains to what has been an eventful and exhilarating campaign in Qatar. Undoubtedly, Qatar 2022 ended as one of the best-organised World Cups. The fate of the mega event was hanging in the balance in the run-up to the tournament, which was held in the Middle East for the first time. Nothing came easy for Qatar -- who were constantly marred with several questions (by human rights activists, media, etc.) with fans also having their doubts regarding the smooth running of the showpiece event. Qatar 2022 battled all odds to emerge on top. From a lot being said and written about the plight of migrant workers, Western media trying to tarnish Qatar's image of pulling off an event of such a magnitude, War-tainted Russia's ban, ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter regretting his decision to award hosting rights to Qatar, the country's rigid stance on the LGBTQ community, the death of journalists, etc. (with even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request of spreading the message of peace ahead of the finale being much-talked about before FIFA's eventual rejection), many such aspects hit the headlines. Hence, there was a lot at stake. However, the tournament ended in style -- producing some enthralling results, upsets and the emergence of the African, Asian and Arab football teams -- for all involved. Also read: 'You have....' - Roger Federer lauds Lionel Messi with a heartfelt post after Argentina win FIFA World Cup Qatar lost some battles en route winning the WAR The migrant workers' plight Qatar, a country where foreigners account for the majority of the 2.9 million population, faced intense criticism from human rights groups regarding its treatment of migrant workers. It is to be noted that Britain’s Guardian reported, in 2021, that at least 6,500 migrant workers — many of them working on World Cup projects — had succumbed to death in Qatar. In response to such claims, Qatar said that the deaths were directly proportionate to the size of the migrant workforce -- including many non-manual workers. In addition, it stated that every life lost was indeed a tragedy! Death of journos Khalid al-Misslam, Roger Pearce and Grant Wahl were the three journalists who lost their lives during the Qatar WC -- adding much hullabaloo to the already-existing negativity. FIFA Director of Media Relations Bryan Swanson revealed on social media that books are available at each stadium's media centre for colleagues to send condolence messages. However, the damage was long done by then. Sharing an image of the three books devoted to the late journalists, Swanson wrote, "We are opening books of condolence in the FIFA media centres at all remaining stadiums following the tragic deaths of Khalid al-Misslam, Roger Pearce and Grant Wahl during this tournament. Thoughts remain with their families and friends during this difficult time." LGBTQ stance It is to be noted that homosexuality in Qatar is illegal and a punishable offence -- where one can be jailed up to three years. Hence, many diehard LGBTQ football fans revealed that they would prefer to watch Qatar 2022 on tv sets at home than risk their lives travelling to the Middle East. To control the matters from going out of hand, a Qatar government official told CNN in a statement, "Everyone is welcome in Qatar,” the statement read, adding: “Our track record has shown that we have warmly welcomed all people regardless of background. There has never been an issue and every event has been delivered safely. Everyone is welcome in Qatar, but we are a conservative country and any public display of affection, regardless of orientation, is frowned upon. We simply ask for people to respect our culture." Rejecting 'fake claims' Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee also came forward and rejected accusations when news started circulating that there are fake paid football fans in attendance at the World Cup. In a statement, the Supreme Committee shut all such allegations and termed it “disappointing and unsurprising”. “Fans from all over the world – many of whom have made Qatar their home – have contributed to the local atmosphere recently, organising fan walks and parades throughout the country, and welcoming the various national teams at their hotels,” it said in a statement. “Numerous journalists and commentators on social media have questioned whether these are ‘real’ fans. We thoroughly reject these assertions, which are both disappointing and unsurprising.” In addition, Iranian protests over their government's imposition of hijab -- forcing the latter to ease out on few aspects -- and China's protests against their government's Zero-Covid policy (after seeing fans in Qatar, on tv sets, enter stadiums without any COVID protocol whatsoever) also grabbed eyeballs. The ball does the talking making Qatar 2022 a blockbuster success Thus, there was plenty on Qatar's plate with none trusting their capabilities. Nonetheless, the ball did the talking on their behalf; resulting in many humdingers before the mother-of-all-clash in the finale. The likes of Saudi Arabia, Japan, Morocco, etc. made a mark which made for a riveting watch. Saudi, ranked 51st in the world, went past eventual winners Argentina, Morocco became the first-ever African nation to reach the last four and Japan toppled past winners such as Germany and Spain. Among the young rising talents, the likes of Jude Bellingham (England), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Goncalo Ramos (Portugal), Julian Alvarez (Argentina), Josko Gvardiol (Croatia), etc. ended as the breakout stars. Meanwhile, notable stars Neymar Jr. Cristiano Ronaldo, Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, etc., failed to deliver as per their overall stature. Among some emphatic encounters, Argentina-France, Argentina-Netherlands, Japan-Germany, Croatia-Brazil, Morocco-Portugal, Portugal-Ghana, France-England and many others kept football fanatics awake till late at night across the globe. While a lot can be said and written about rules/laws in the Middle East nation, Qatar can be proud of hosting the WC for the first time with people set to remember the footballing action than the off-field controversies (some of them coming from targetted groups). The going was tough but they sure went past all obstacles to host a memorable event; paving way for many more FIFA WCs to be held in Asia. Also read: From Japan-Germany to Argentina-France final: Reliving top 5 matches of FIFA World Cup 2022 On Monday, England cricketer Kevin Pietersen shared a heartfelt note for Qatar. Here's what he wrote: A football tournament without hooligans. And being at last years Wembley disgrace & now in Qatar, Qatar is the standout! Maybe EVERY football tournament can be in the Middle East so our fan experience can be memorable! A football tournament without hooligans. And being at last years Wembley disgrace & now in Qatar, Qatar is the standout! Maybe EVERY football tournament can be in the Middle East so our fan experience can be memorable! 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/jr2igYVijw — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) December 19, 2022 × Well, Qatar 2022 was off to a poor start but held its nerves to end it on a glorious high! ×

FIFA World Cup: Qatar 2022 may have lost many battles but won the war

When the Qatar World Cup started, there were protests in western countries over but the tournament only ended up exposing the West's hypocrisy & politics of convenience.

Gravitas: World Cup Final: What happened to the outrage?

Argentina's World Cup winners led by captain Lionel Messi returned home from Qatar on Tuesday ahead of a welcome home party in the nation's capital.

WION Sports: World champions Argentina return home to a rapturous welcome

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{ba1879a5-6e8f-4a29-8a50-a52362cfbb2f}{143}" paraid="1638122439" >At the age of 23, Kylian Mbappe has a career record that most footballers can only dream of achieving in their entire careers. While the Frenchman had to watch from a distance as his PSG teammate Lionel Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup title with Argentina, it did not take away from the fact that Mbappe had a tournament to remember. With 8 goals from just 6 matches, the 23-year-old took his total tally in the competition to 12 – tied with Brazilian legend Pele – and even claimed the Golden Boot on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{c89c4939-09b5-4aba-a5bf-ffc5c53b96d9}{164}" paraid="1054858481" >This year’s competition was hailed as the final chance at immortality for the two legends of the modern game – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While Ronaldo struggled to find a place in the Portugal side which crashed out in the quarterfinals, Messi emerged as the main talisman for Argentina once again.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{a8e27d17-1b0e-49df-a35e-e31d3fb514fc}{171}" paraid="661915560" >However, the man matching Messi at every step of the way was Mbappe. The Frenchman is not necessarily the most loved man in the sport – partly due to the several rumours floating about his alleged attitude problem and also the massive fee that he commands for the Ligue 1 champions. &nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{c4bf9a2c-00b5-4799-94bd-cc361448c9d4}{56}" paraid="409787831" >In a situation where France’s World Cup campaign was severely hampered by a slew of injuries, the youngster took it upon himself to make life easy for coach Didier Deschamps and his side. When it comes to club football, Mbappe has already established himself as a major force in 2022. He came into the World Cup as the leading scorer in the French league with 12 goals and when it came to the Champions League, he averaged more than one goal a game – a feat rarely seen in the group stages.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{9d3c1885-ef5c-4c5c-8a1a-7c72d127eaa7}{172}" paraid="612347919" >Add to that, the experience of winning the trophy in 2016 and France had a megastar of their own.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{9d3c1885-ef5c-4c5c-8a1a-7c72d127eaa7}{172}" paraid="612347919" >Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wions-fifa-world-cup-2022-best-xi-which-players-made-the-first-team-544527">WION's FIFA World Cup 2022 best XI: Which players made the first team?</a></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{0da7f0d4-7310-4e10-84c4-02f778a53a5b}{85}" paraid="271258259" >It was business as usual in the first group stage match against Australia as Mbappe scored the final goal in the 4-1 rout. In the next match, he turned from accomplice to saviour as he scored the all-important brace to guide the defending champions to the Round of 16 – a feat that proved crucial due to their loss against Tunisia in the final game. Poland was the next obstacle in France’s path and Mbappe showed his&nbsp;class once again. A precise shot following a piercing run into the box resulted in the first goal and about ten minutes later, Mbappe showed the power of his deft touch to score from outside the box.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{ce369639-7b1a-4d68-ba20-b9e3d4a8ea83}{153}" paraid="2089645082" >At this point, emotions were running high and most experts predicted Mbappe to easily break Just Fontaine’s record of 9 goals in a single World Cup campaign. However, fate had other plans.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{ce369639-7b1a-4d68-ba20-b9e3d4a8ea83}{153}" paraid="2089645082" ><img alt="Mbappe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b4884699-ef39-4bbf-9b80-2b1c651411b1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_334J8Z8.jpg" /></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{6ade5f22-c5be-4648-a103-e0a7a526c960}{241}" paraid="80083020" >A silent performance against England in the quarters and a somewhat inconsistent show against Morocco in the semis meant that he came to the final with 5 goals to his name. Now, it is important to understand that this was no small feat in itself as he was tied with Messi as the top-scorer of the tournament and&nbsp;had one more goal than the 2018 campaign when France became champions.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{34ef0cd0-297b-4843-97a5-cfa58bfcb310}{2}" paraid="636272532" >Sadly, things looked grim&nbsp;for France in the summit clash. Nearly 80 minutes were done in the gap and Argentina were safely cruising to victory. Mbappe was a silent spectator as he struggled to create chances but what happened next will go down in history. A penalty to the defending champions and Mbappe made no mistakes from the spot. Four steps and a confident shot to the right of the goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and France were back in contention. The French crowd had finally found their voice once again and with the momentum behind them, the French team launched an all-out attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{34ef0cd0-297b-4843-97a5-cfa58bfcb310}{2}" paraid="636272532" >Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/check-back-with-me-in-7-years-lionel-messis-fans-2015-prediction-goes-viral-after-argentina-win-fifa-wc-544504">'Check back with me in 7 years' - Lionel Messi's fan's 2015 prediction goes viral after Argentina win FIFA WC</a></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{8a0f945c-5773-4135-ad0d-5fa6cb779d66}{157}" paraid="2059734493" >He received the ball near the halfway line and after a quick link-up play with Marcus Thuram, the ball was chipped toward him at the edge of the penalty box. People say that fortune favours the brave and it was there in full display as the youngster went for an audacious volley and levelled the game for France.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{8f3de56e-3f6a-46c9-a0d2-7589b754488b}{226}" paraid="1604784883" >What followed the equaliser were 40 minutes of frantic football. In the second half of the extra time, Messi handed Argentina the lead but Mbappe was not to be denied. Another penalty towards the end of the game and he was there to claim a historic hat-trick. Same corner, same force and same result – Mbappe wrote his name in the history books as the second player to score a hat-trick in the final.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{b13b28a6-c541-4b1a-bd1b-52f7dbfbf09d}{110}" paraid="1917555720" >Even in the penalty shootout, he went first for his team. Here was a player who has played 120 minutes in one of the most intense games of his career and had already taken two spot kicks. But he once again stepped up to the occasion and calmly converted his chance. Sadly, fortune finally ran out as two of his teammates missed their chances and a historic performance did not end in a historic victory.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{525ae689-5ffb-4183-a3b4-c2851468afa8}{100}" paraid="1033418480" >However, while the entire world was concentrated on the golden epilogue to Messi’s sparkling career, no one could deny the brand-new chapter that Mbappe had presented to the world. With Ronaldo and Messi both unlikely to play another World Cup, the Frenchman will enter the next edition as an even bigger force and with age of his side, he has certainly staked his claim to become a future legend.&nbsp;</p>


At the age of 23, Kylian Mbappe has a career record that most footballers can only dream of achieving in their entire careers. While the Frenchman had to watch from a distance as his PSG teammate Lionel Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup title with Argentina, it did not take away from the fact that Mbappe had a tournament to remember.

At the age of 23, Kylian Mbappe has a career record that most footballers can only dream of achieving in their entire careers. While the Frenchman had to watch from a distance as his PSG teammate Lionel Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup title with Argentina, it did not take away from the fact that Mbappe had a tournament to remember. With 8 goals from just 6 matches, the 23-year-old took his total tally in the competition to 12 – tied with Brazilian legend Pele – and even claimed the Golden Boot on Sunday. This year’s competition was hailed as the final chance at immortality for the two legends of the modern game – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While Ronaldo struggled to find a place in the Portugal side which crashed out in the quarterfinals, Messi emerged as the main talisman for Argentina once again. However, the man matching Messi at every step of the way was Mbappe. The Frenchman is not necessarily the most loved man in the sport – partly due to the several rumours floating about his alleged attitude problem and also the massive fee that he commands for the Ligue 1 champions. In a situation where France’s World Cup campaign was severely hampered by a slew of injuries, the youngster took it upon himself to make life easy for coach Didier Deschamps and his side. When it comes to club football, Mbappe has already established himself as a major force in 2022. He came into the World Cup as the leading scorer in the French league with 12 goals and when it came to the Champions League, he averaged more than one goal a game – a feat rarely seen in the group stages. Add to that, the experience of winning the trophy in 2016 and France had a megastar of their own. Also read | WION's FIFA World Cup 2022 best XI: Which players made the first team? It was business as usual in the first group stage match against Australia as Mbappe scored the final goal in the 4-1 rout. In the next match, he turned from accomplice to saviour as he scored the all-important brace to guide the defending champions to the Round of 16 – a feat that proved crucial due to their loss against Tunisia in the final game. Poland was the next obstacle in France’s path and Mbappe showed his class once again. A precise shot following a piercing run into the box resulted in the first goal and about ten minutes later, Mbappe showed the power of his deft touch to score from outside the box. At this point, emotions were running high and most experts predicted Mbappe to easily break Just Fontaine’s record of 9 goals in a single World Cup campaign. However, fate had other plans. A silent performance against England in the quarters and a somewhat inconsistent show against Morocco in the semis meant that he came to the final with 5 goals to his name. Now, it is important to understand that this was no small feat in itself as he was tied with Messi as the top-scorer of the tournament and had one more goal than the 2018 campaign when France became champions. Sadly, things looked grim for France in the summit clash. Nearly 80 minutes were done in the gap and Argentina were safely cruising to victory. Mbappe was a silent spectator as he struggled to create chances but what happened next will go down in history. A penalty to the defending champions and Mbappe made no mistakes from the spot. Four steps and a confident shot to the right of the goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and France were back in contention. The French crowd had finally found their voice once again and with the momentum behind them, the French team launched an all-out attack. Also read | 'Check back with me in 7 years' - Lionel Messi's fan's 2015 prediction goes viral after Argentina win FIFA WC He received the ball near the halfway line and after a quick link-up play with Marcus Thuram, the ball was chipped toward him at the edge of the penalty box. People say that fortune favours the brave and it was there in full display as the youngster went for an audacious volley and levelled the game for France. What followed the equaliser were 40 minutes of frantic football. In the second half of the extra time, Messi handed Argentina the lead but Mbappe was not to be denied. Another penalty towards the end of the game and he was there to claim a historic hat-trick. Same corner, same force and same result – Mbappe wrote his name in the history books as the second player to score a hat-trick in the final. Even in the penalty shootout, he went first for his team. Here was a player who has played 120 minutes in one of the most intense games of his career and had already taken two spot kicks. But he once again stepped up to the occasion and calmly converted his chance. Sadly, fortune finally ran out as two of his teammates missed their chances and a historic performance did not end in a historic victory. However, while the entire world was concentrated on the golden epilogue to Messi’s sparkling career, no one could deny the brand-new chapter that Mbappe had presented to the world. With Ronaldo and Messi both unlikely to play another World Cup, the Frenchman will enter the next edition as an even bigger force and with age of his side, he has certainly staked his claim to become a future legend.

Yearender 2022: Kylian Mbappe establishes himself as rightful heir to GOAT crown

According to Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Google's search engine recorded its highest ever traffic in 25 years during this year's FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France.

Trending on WION: Google search records highest-ever traffic in 25 years during FIFA World Cup Final

From Mbappe's smoothest goal to Richarlison's bicycle kick, let's relive top 5 goals of FIFA World Cup 2022

Recognizing the great performances throughout the 29 days of anticipations, and celebrations in Qatar, FIFA announced number of awards which includes the Golden Boot, Golden Glove, Golden Ball, Young Player and Fair Play awards.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Awards: Lionel Messi bags the Golden Ball

It is time for the greatest sport and a billion plus audience is expected to tune in for the FIFA World Cup final at the iconic stadium in Qatar. It will be two time champions Argentina taking on the defending champions France.

FIFA World Cup final between France and Argentina; Lionel Messi will be playing his last WC match

<p><strong>FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France:&nbsp;</strong>The world on Sunday gear up for the biggest sporting event – the final of FIFA World Cup 2022 between France and Argentina in Qatar. The clash everyone was eagerly waiting for is finally upon us as either of Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi will be crowned the world champion tonight.</p>

<p>While Argentina will be playing their sixth World Cup final, last-time winners France will play their fourth. Both teams have won the FIFA World Cup twice in the past with Argentina doing it in 1978 and 1986, whereas, France was crowned champions for the first time in 1998. In 2018 in Russia, they defeated Croatia 4-2 to claim top prize for the second time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-france-get-a-lucky-break-as-entire-squad-trains-after-virus-setback-544075">FIFA World Cup 2022: France get a lucky break as entire squad trains after virus setback</a></p>

<p>Ahead of the mega-clash where two star-studded teams will lock horns for the ultimate prize in football, let’s have a look at where and when the final match of the FIFA World Cup will be taking place.</p>

<p><strong>Here is everything you need to know about FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France: –</strong></p>

<p><strong>When is the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France?</strong></p>

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France<strong>&nbsp;</strong>will take place between Argentina and France on 18th December, Sunday.</p>

<p><strong>Where is the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France?</strong></p>

<p>The final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France will take place at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.</p>

<p><strong>What time will the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France&nbsp;start?</strong></p>

<p>The&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France&nbsp;will start at 18:00 PM local time while the fans in India can watch the live coverage at 20:30 PM IST.</p>

<p><strong>Where can we watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps,&nbsp; and broadcast&nbsp;TV Channel Argentina vs France?</strong></p>

<p>For the fans based out in India, they can watch FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France live on TV on Sports 18 and Sports 18 HD channels, while those who wish to stream online can enjoy watching the clash on JioCinema app.</p>

<p><strong>FIFA World Cup 2022 Semi-finals results</strong></p>

<p>While Argentina beat last-time finalists Croatia 3-0 in the first semi-final, France handed Morocco its first defeat in this FIFA World Cup 2022 in the second semi with a 2-0 win.</p>

<p><strong>FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France Head-to-Head</strong></p>

<p>Both Argentina and France have met 13 times the past across all competitions; at the FIFA World Cups, this will be their fourth meeting. While Argentina lost their last encounter against France in 2018, they were victorious over the Les Bleus on the first two occasions.</p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-final-2022-live-coverage-argentina-vs-france-live-updates-lusail-stadium-ready-for-the-final-showdown-544211"><strong>Follow Live Updates of&nbsp;FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France here</strong></a></h2>


FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France: The world on Sunday gear up for the biggest sporting event – the final of FIFA World Cup 2022 between France and Argentina in Qatar.

FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France: The world on Sunday gear up for the biggest sporting event – the final of FIFA World Cup 2022 between France and Argentina in Qatar. The clash everyone was eagerly waiting for is finally upon us as either of Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi will be crowned the world champion tonight. While Argentina will be playing their sixth World Cup final, last-time winners France will play their fourth. Both teams have won the FIFA World Cup twice in the past with Argentina doing it in 1978 and 1986, whereas, France was crowned champions for the first time in 1998. In 2018 in Russia, they defeated Croatia 4-2 to claim top prize for the second time. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022: France get a lucky break as entire squad trains after virus setback Ahead of the mega-clash where two star-studded teams will lock horns for the ultimate prize in football, let’s have a look at where and when the final match of the FIFA World Cup will be taking place. Here is everything you need to know about FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France: – When is the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France? The FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France will take place between Argentina and France on 18th December, Sunday. Where is the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France? The final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France will take place at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. What time will the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France start? The FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France will start at 18:00 PM local time while the fans in India can watch the live coverage at 20:30 PM IST. Where can we watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, and broadcast TV Channel Argentina vs France? For the fans based out in India, they can watch FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France live on TV on Sports 18 and Sports 18 HD channels, while those who wish to stream online can enjoy watching the clash on JioCinema app. FIFA World Cup 2022 Semi-finals results While Argentina beat last-time finalists Croatia 3-0 in the first semi-final, France handed Morocco its first defeat in this FIFA World Cup 2022 in the second semi with a 2-0 win. FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming apps, Argentina vs France Head-to-Head Both Argentina and France have met 13 times the past across all competitions; at the FIFA World Cups, this will be their fourth meeting. While Argentina lost their last encounter against France in 2018, they were victorious over the Les Bleus on the first two occasions. Follow Live Updates of FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France here

FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming & TV broadcast channel : Watch Argentina vs France online on mobile

<p>The final of FIFA World Cup 2022 is about to get underway in a couple of hours at the Lusail Stadium between France and Argentina. While billions of football fans across world will be cheering for either Lionel Messi' Argentina or Kylian Mbappe's France, the Indian cricket team members, who are currently in Bangladesh for the Test series, will be cheering for their favourites too.</p>

<p>On Sunday morning, the Indian team beat Bangladesh by 188 runs in the first Test in Chattogram. KL Rahul, India's stand-in skipper for this game, attended the presser where he was asked to predict&nbsp;the winner of the FIFA World Cup final, and how his team will be watching the mega clash between two former winners France and Argentina.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-2018-world-cup-winner-paul-pogba-wishes-fellow-teammates-good-luck-ahead-of-argentina-clash-544236">WATCH: 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba wishes fellow teammates good luck ahead of Argentina clash</a></p>

<p>Answering to that question, KL said, "Whichever team we were supporting are all out already. There were few Brazil fans, there were few England fans. So, I don't really know who is an Argentina or France supporter, so we'll just enjoy the game. We're watching the game together, and we'll have a good meal.</p>

<p>"Like I said five days after a game is really tiring, so enjoy tonight, watch the game. Final of the World Cup, we all love football. Most of you have seen we're always playing football, before warmups, even back in the room," Rahul added.</p>

<p>Rahul also said players&nbsp;will divided a bit on whom to support in tonight's final, adding&nbsp;that is what the fun factor will be.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"FIFA was big early on but the boys have relaxed a bit, there are other priorities, so it'll be interesting to watch the game today. We will be divided a little bit, that's what make watching sport fun," Rahul concluded.</p>

<p>India, meanwhile, after taking a 1-0 lead in the Test series, will move to Dhaka for the second Test which begins on December 22nd.&nbsp;</p>


The final of FIFA World Cup 2022 is about to get underway in a couple of hours at the Lusail Stadium between France and Argentina. While billions of football fans across world will be cheering for either Lionel Messi' Argentina or Kylian Mbappe's France, the Indian cricket team members, who are currently in Bangladesh for the Test series, will be cheering for their favourites too.

The final of FIFA World Cup 2022 is about to get underway in a couple of hours at the Lusail Stadium between France and Argentina. While billions of football fans across world will be cheering for either Lionel Messi' Argentina or Kylian Mbappe's France, the Indian cricket team members, who are currently in Bangladesh for the Test series, will be cheering for their favourites too. On Sunday morning, the Indian team beat Bangladesh by 188 runs in the first Test in Chattogram. KL Rahul, India's stand-in skipper for this game, attended the presser where he was asked to predict the winner of the FIFA World Cup final, and how his team will be watching the mega clash between two former winners France and Argentina. ALSO READ: WATCH: 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba wishes fellow teammates good luck ahead of Argentina clash Answering to that question, KL said, "Whichever team we were supporting are all out already. There were few Brazil fans, there were few England fans. So, I don't really know who is an Argentina or France supporter, so we'll just enjoy the game. We're watching the game together, and we'll have a good meal. "Like I said five days after a game is really tiring, so enjoy tonight, watch the game. Final of the World Cup, we all love football. Most of you have seen we're always playing football, before warmups, even back in the room," Rahul added. Rahul also said players will divided a bit on whom to support in tonight's final, adding that is what the fun factor will be. "FIFA was big early on but the boys have relaxed a bit, there are other priorities, so it'll be interesting to watch the game today. We will be divided a little bit, that's what make watching sport fun," Rahul concluded. India, meanwhile, after taking a 1-0 lead in the Test series, will move to Dhaka for the second Test which begins on December 22nd.

Here's how the Indian cricket team will be watching France-Argentina World Cup final

FIFA World Cup final Live Streaming Online: ARG vs FRA - On Sunday (December 15), France will take on Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final. After a riveting group stage, which saw plenty of upsets, Round of 16 and enthralling quarterfinals, the action has moved to the summit clash which will see two modern-day greats such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe square off as their respective sides will clash for the mega title.

FIFA World Cup final Live Streaming Online: ARG vs FRA - On Sunday (December 15), France will take on Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final. After a riveting group stage, which saw plenty of upsets, Round of 16 and enthralling quarterfinals, the action has moved to the summit clash which will see two modern-day greats such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe square off as their respective sides will clash for the mega title. In WC head-to-head battles, Argentina enjoy a 2-1 lead over France in three matches but the last face-off saw Kylian Mbappe blitz guide his side to a 4-3 win in the 2018 edition. Overall, Argentina holds the edge over France with six wins, three defeats and an equal number of games ending in a draw. Nonetheless, both sides will be wary of the fact that anything can happen during the finale and past records won't matter. Talking about both sides' run in the ongoing edition, Argentina started off on a disastrous note with a loss in their opening tie, versus Saudi Arabia. Since then, they have been on a winning spree. Meanwhile, France lost one game in the group stage but have moved past teams such as Poland, England and Morocco to make it to their second successive WC final. Who will walk away with the coveted title? Here's everything to know about the Argentina vs France FIFA World Cup 2022 final live streaming details: Where to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France Live App & Live online Channel in India ? Football fans in India can enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France match on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels, while those who wish to stream online can watch it live on the Jio Cinema app or website. FIFA World Cup 2022 Final Argentina vs France: Match Details Date – Sunday, December 18, 2022 Time – 08:30PM IST Venue – Lusail stadium Qatar Live Telecast– Sports18 LIVE Streaming – Jio Cinema app Country Media Rights Licensee Africa Algeria beIN Sports Angola SuperSport International Benin SuperSport International Botswana SuperSport International Burkina Faso SuperSport International Burundi SuperSport International Cameroon SuperSport International Cape Verde Islands SuperSport International Central African Republic SuperSport International Chad SuperSport International Comoros beIN Sports Congo Brazzaville SuperSport International Democratic Republic of Congo SuperSport International Djibouti beIN Sports Egypt beIN Sports Equatorial Guinea SuperSport International Eritrea SuperSport International eSwatini SuperSport International Ethiopia SuperSport International Gabon SuperSport International Gambia SuperSport International Ghana SuperSport International Guinea Conakry SuperSport International Guinea-Bissau SuperSport International Ivory Coast SuperSport International Kenya SuperSport International Lesotho SuperSport International Liberia SuperSport International Libya beIN Sports Madagascar SuperSport International Malawi SuperSport International Mali SuperSport International Mauritania beIN Sports Mauritius SuperSport International Morocco beIN Sports Mozambique SuperSport International Namibia SuperSport International Niger SuperSport International Nigeria SuperSport International Republic of Congo New World TV (Free to Air) Republic of South Africa SABC Reunion TF1 Rwanda SuperSport International Sao Tome & Principe SuperSport International Senegal SuperSport International Seychelles SuperSport International Sierra Leone SuperSport International Somalia beIN Sports South Sudan beIN Sports Sudan beIN Sports Tanzania SuperSport International Togo SuperSport International Tunisia beIN Sports Uganda SuperSport International Zambia SuperSport International Zimbabwe SuperSport International Americas Anguilla DirecTV Latin America Antigua and Barbuda DirecTV Latin America Argentina New IP Co., LLC Aruba DirecTV Latin America Bahamas DirecTV Latin America Barbados DirecTV Latin America Belize DirecTV Latin America Bermuda DirecTV Latin America Bolivia New IP Co., LLC Bonaire DirecTV Latin America Brazil Livemode Serviços Digitais British Virgin Islands DirecTV Latin America Canada CTV Specialty Television Enterprises Inc Cayman Islands DirecTV Latin America Chile New IP Co., LLC Colombia New IP Co., LLC Costa Rica New IP Co., LLC Cuba ICRT - Cuba Curacao DirecTV Latin America Dominica DirecTV Latin America Dominican Republic DirecTV Latin America Ecuador New IP Co., LLC El Salvador New IP Co., LLC Grenada DirecTV Latin America Guadeloupe TF1 Guatemala New IP Co., LLC Guyana DirecTV Latin America Haiti DirecTV Latin America Honduras New IP Co., LLC Jamaica DirecTV Latin America Martinique TF1 Mexico New IP Co., LLC Montserrat DirecTV Latin America Nicaragua New IP Co., LLC Palau FBC Panama New IP Co., LLC Paraguay New IP Co., LLC Peru New IP Co., LLC Puerto Rico FOX Broadcasting Company and FOX Sports St. Kitts and Nevis DirecTV Latin America St. Lucia DirecTV Latin America St. Pierre-Miquelon TF1 St. Vincent DirecTV Latin America Suriname DirecTV Latin America Trinidad and Tobago DirecTV Latin America Turks and Caicos DirecTV Latin America U.S. Virgin Islands DirecTV Latin America Uruguay New IP Co., LLC USA FOX Broadcasting Company and FOX Sports Venezuela New IP Co., LLC Asia Afghanistan ABU Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Bahrain beIN Sports Bangladesh Viacom18 India Bhutan Viacom18 India Brunei Astro Measat Malaysia Cambodia Cambodian Broadcasting Service Co Ltd. China PR CCTV Chinese Taipei ELTA TECHNOLOGY CO.LTD Hong Kong PCCW India Viacom18 India Indonesia PT Surya Citra Televisi Iran beIN Sports Iraq beIN Sports Japan Dentsu Inc. Jordan beIN Sports Korea DPR SBS Korea Kuwait beIN Sports Kyrgyzstan Saran Media International Limited Lebanon beIN Sports Macao TDM - Teledifusao de Macau Malaysia Astro Measat Malaysia Maldives Viacom18 India Mongolia Content Distribution LLC Myanmar DARUMA Myanmar Skynet Nepal Viacom18 India Oman beIN Sports Pakistan Viacom18 India Palestine beIN Sports Philippines TAP Digital Media Ventures Corp. Qatar beIN Sports Saudi Arabia beIN Sports Singapore StarHub South Korea SBS Korea Sri Lanka Viacom18 India Syria beIN Sports Tajikistan Saran Media International Limited Thailand SAT Thailand Timor Leste ETO - TELCO Turkmenistan Saran Media International Limited United Arab Emirates beIN Sports Uzbekistan Saran Media International Limited Vietnam VTV - Vietnam Television Yemen beIN Sports Europe Albania European Broadcasting Union Andorra TF1 Armenia European Broadcasting Union Austria European Broadcasting Union Azerbaijan European Broadcasting Union Belarus European Broadcasting Union Belgium European Broadcasting Union Bosnia & Herzegovina European Broadcasting Union Bulgaria European Broadcasting Union Channel Islands BBC Croatia European Broadcasting Union Cyprus European Broadcasting Union Czech Republic European Broadcasting Union Denmark Sveriges Television AB Estonia European Broadcasting Union Faroe Islands Sveriges Television AB Finland Yleisradio - Finnish Broadcasting Company France TF1 Georgia European Broadcasting Union Germany ARD Greece Antenna TV Greenland Sveriges Television AB Hungary European Broadcasting Union Iceland European Broadcasting Union Ireland (Eire) FIFA European Broadcasting Union Isle of Man BBC Israel European Broadcasting Union Italy RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana Kazakhstan European Broadcasting Union Kosovo European Broadcasting Union Latvia European Broadcasting Union Liechtenstein European Broadcasting Union Lithuania European Broadcasting Union Luxembourg European Broadcasting Union Malta European Broadcasting Union Moldova European Broadcasting Union Monaco TF1 Montenegro European Broadcasting Union Netherlands European Broadcasting Union North Macedonia European Broadcasting Union Norway Sveriges Television AB Poland European Broadcasting Union Portugal European Broadcasting Union Romania European Broadcasting Union Russia MatchTV San Marino RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana Serbia European Broadcasting Union Slovakia European Broadcasting Union Slovenia European Broadcasting Union Spain Mediapro Sweden Sveriges Television AB Switzerland European Broadcasting Union Turkey European Broadcasting Union Ukraine European Broadcasting Union United Kingdom BBC Vatican City RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana Oceania American Samoa FOX Broadcasting Company and FOX Sports Australia SBS Australia Cook Islands FBC Federated States of Micronesia FBC Fiji FBC French Polynesia TF1 French T.O.M. Territories TF1 Futuna Island TF1 Kiribatu (Gilbert Islands) FBC Nauru FBC New Caledonia TF1 New Zealand SKY New Zealand Niue FBC Papua New Guinea FBC Samoan Islands FBC Solomon Islands FBC Tonga FBC Tuvalu (formerly Ellice Island) FBC Vanuatu FBC Wallis Island TF1 Where will the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France be held? The FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France, will take place in Qatar on December 18. When will the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France match start? – Date FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France match will begin at Lusail stadium Qatar, Dec 18, 8:30 PM IST What Time will the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France match begin?- Time FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France match will begin at 8:30 PM IST What is the venue of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France match? – Venu FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France match will begin at Lusail stadium Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France full Squad: Argentina full Squad Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Franco Armani Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodriguez, Alexis Mac Allister, Alejandro Gomez, Enzo Fernandez, Exequiel Palacios Forwards: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Angel Di Maria, Paulo Dybala, Angel Correa, Thiago Almeda France full Squad Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda Defenders: Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Axel Disasi, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane Midfielders: Youssouf Fofana, Eduardo Camavinga, Matteo Guendouzi, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jordan Veretout Forwards: Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani

FIFA World Cup final Live Streaming Online: ARG vs FRA live Streaming & Broadcast in more than 200+ countries

<p>The stage is set for the final showdown of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Lusail Stadium of Qatar. The match will be played between Argentina and France, after the closing ceremony of the world’s largest sports tournament is over. &nbsp;The match will be played at 8:30 PM IST, while the closing ceremony will begin at 7:00 PM IST. The ceremony will be 15 minutes long and is themed “A night to remember.” Bollywood star Nora Fatehi is expected to perform at the event. “The final ceremony will last 15 minutes and reference the world coming together for the 29 days of the tournament through poetry and music,” FIFA said in a statement.</p>

<h2>FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony date and time</h2>

<p>FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony will be held at the Lusail stadium in Qatar on Sunday, 18th December. The ceremony will be held right before the match between Argentina and France. The event starts at 7:00 PM IST and 5:30 PM GST (Gulf Standard Time).</p>

<h2>How to watch FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony in India?</h2>

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony will be broadcast live in India on Sports18 and Sports18 HD TV channels, with free live streaming available on the Jio Cinema app and website. The ceremony will last for 15 minutes. After the ceremony, the much-awaited France vs Argentina final match will also be live-streamed on the same channels.</p>

<h2>Which stars will perform at FIFA’s closing ceremony?</h2>

<p>FIFA has kept its cards close to its chest about who will perform at the closing ceremony in order to maintain the level of excitement. But that doesn't mean the event is completely shrouded in secrecy. Friends of Davido revealed earlier this month that he had been chosen to perform at the ceremony. The American-Nigerian singer was recently spotted in Qatar, so it appears that he will be among those performing on Sunday. Ozuna, a Puerto Rican artist, will be joining him. Arhbo, one of his songs, was included on the FIFA official soundtrack for the tournament. Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi will also perform at the FIFA closing ceremony. Previously, she has also performed in FIFA World’s Cup opening ceremony as well as the FIFA Fan festival. During her previous performances, Nora had successfully stolen the show with her breath-taking dance steps on Bollywood music, including ‘O Saki Saki’ and FIFA’s official song “Light the Sky’.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The stage is set for the final showdown of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Lusail Stadium of Qatar. The match will be played between Argentina and France, after the closing ceremony of the world’s largest sports tournament is over.

The stage is set for the final showdown of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Lusail Stadium of Qatar. The match will be played between Argentina and France, after the closing ceremony of the world’s largest sports tournament is over. The match will be played at 8:30 PM IST, while the closing ceremony will begin at 7:00 PM IST. The ceremony will be 15 minutes long and is themed “A night to remember.” Bollywood star Nora Fatehi is expected to perform at the event. “The final ceremony will last 15 minutes and reference the world coming together for the 29 days of the tournament through poetry and music,” FIFA said in a statement. FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony date and time FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony will be held at the Lusail stadium in Qatar on Sunday, 18th December. The ceremony will be held right before the match between Argentina and France. The event starts at 7:00 PM IST and 5:30 PM GST (Gulf Standard Time). How to watch FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony in India? The FIFA World Cup 2022 closing ceremony will be broadcast live in India on Sports18 and Sports18 HD TV channels, with free live streaming available on the Jio Cinema app and website. The ceremony will last for 15 minutes. After the ceremony, the much-awaited France vs Argentina final match will also be live-streamed on the same channels. Which stars will perform at FIFA’s closing ceremony? FIFA has kept its cards close to its chest about who will perform at the closing ceremony in order to maintain the level of excitement. But that doesn't mean the event is completely shrouded in secrecy. Friends of Davido revealed earlier this month that he had been chosen to perform at the ceremony. The American-Nigerian singer was recently spotted in Qatar, so it appears that he will be among those performing on Sunday. Ozuna, a Puerto Rican artist, will be joining him. Arhbo, one of his songs, was included on the FIFA official soundtrack for the tournament. Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi will also perform at the FIFA closing ceremony. Previously, she has also performed in FIFA World’s Cup opening ceremony as well as the FIFA Fan festival. During her previous performances, Nora had successfully stolen the show with her breath-taking dance steps on Bollywood music, including ‘O Saki Saki’ and FIFA’s official song “Light the Sky’.

FIFA World Cup closing ceremony LIVE: Check when and where to watch, date, time, venue and livestream details

<p>FIFA World Cup final is a global showstopper every four years. At the showpiece event's moments of reckoning such as the final match, cities worldwide wear flamboyant looks including the designated spots of big-screen celebrations. But in Qatar, the celebrations even outside the venues are not as flamboyant this time. The latest is the famous Kim Jong-un lookalike who expressed on social media that FIFA World Cup in Qatar has failed the vibe check from him as everyone around him is sober.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Howard, in earlier days of FIFA World Cup this month, shared videos of himself sarcastically “lobbying for North Korea 2030”. Howard’s North Korea filtered sarcasm has touched a chord with football fans.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kim-jong-un-lookalike-set-to-make-impression-at-singapore-summit-143132">Kim Jong-Un lookalike set to make impression at Singapore summit</a></strong></p>

<p>In Qatar, regular football fans have no access to alcohol at matches. Only spectators in the stadiums' high-end luxury suites have easy access to booze.</p>

<p>“I have been to the World Cup in Brazil and Russia, it was a blast,” Howard X, the Kim Jong-un lookalike said on Twitter on the evening before Argentina Vs. France FIFA World Cup final.</p>

<p>“This one in Qatar has a sterile vibe to it as everyone around me is sober. The only place that you can get a beer is a 20 minute walk from subway. One has to show (their) foreigner pass and go through airport style security,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Howard, in earlier days of FIFA World Cup this month, shared videos of himself sarcastically “lobbying for North Korea 2030”. Howard’s North Korea-filtered sarcasm has touched a chord with football fans both on and off the social media.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kim-jong-un-and-roderigo-duterte-look-alikes-take-hong-kong-by-storm-195117">Kim Jong-un and Roderigo Duterte look-alikes take Hong Kong by storm</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kim-jong-un-and-roderigo-duterte-look-alikes-take-hong-kong-by-storm-195117/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Howard X, a music producer by profession, is an Australian citizen of Chinese descent. He is also an&nbsp;impersonator of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator. Often, Howard has made it clear that he imitates the North Korean leader to satirise him, not to glorify him.</p>

<p>Among his numerous prank-filled appearances at global sports events, his visit to the North Korean cheerleaders on Valentine's Day at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018 garnered global media attention.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


FIFA World Cup final is a global showstopper every four years. At the showpiece event's moments of reckoning such as the final match, cities worldwide wear flamboyant looks including the designated spots of big-screen celebrations.

FIFA World Cup final is a global showstopper every four years. At the showpiece event's moments of reckoning such as the final match, cities worldwide wear flamboyant looks including the designated spots of big-screen celebrations. But in Qatar, the celebrations even outside the venues are not as flamboyant this time. The latest is the famous Kim Jong-un lookalike who expressed on social media that FIFA World Cup in Qatar has failed the vibe check from him as everyone around him is sober. Howard, in earlier days of FIFA World Cup this month, shared videos of himself sarcastically “lobbying for North Korea 2030”. Howard’s North Korea filtered sarcasm has touched a chord with football fans. ALSO READ - Kim Jong-Un lookalike set to make impression at Singapore summit In Qatar, regular football fans have no access to alcohol at matches. Only spectators in the stadiums' high-end luxury suites have easy access to booze. “I have been to the World Cup in Brazil and Russia, it was a blast,” Howard X, the Kim Jong-un lookalike said on Twitter on the evening before Argentina Vs. France FIFA World Cup final. “This one in Qatar has a sterile vibe to it as everyone around me is sober. The only place that you can get a beer is a 20 minute walk from subway. One has to show (their) foreigner pass and go through airport style security,” he said. Howard, in earlier days of FIFA World Cup this month, shared videos of himself sarcastically “lobbying for North Korea 2030”. Howard’s North Korea-filtered sarcasm has touched a chord with football fans both on and off the social media. WATCH - Kim Jong-un and Roderigo Duterte look-alikes take Hong Kong by storm × Howard X, a music producer by profession, is an Australian citizen of Chinese descent. He is also an impersonator of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator. Often, Howard has made it clear that he imitates the North Korean leader to satirise him, not to glorify him. Among his numerous prank-filled appearances at global sports events, his visit to the North Korean cheerleaders on Valentine's Day at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018 garnered global media attention. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kim Jong-un lookalike says FIFA World Cup in Qatar failed his vibe check as all around are sober

fifa-world-cup-0

Fifa World Cup, News on Fifa World Cup, stories on Fifa World Cup, articles on Fifa World Cup, Fifa World Cup stories at Wion, Fifa World Cup news, Fifa World Cup latest news

fifa world-cup-0