<p>On Tuesday (November 22), a plethora of games will be played in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. While Argentina will lock horns with Saudi Arabia in Group C's first game, Mexico and Poland will also square off in the second game from the same group later in the evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the Mexico-Poland face-off, it is an important clash as Argentina is expected to top the group but the winner of this match can end at the second spot. All eyes will be on Robert&nbsp;Lewandowski, Polish side's all-time leading scorer, who will be desperate to ensure a winning start for his side. Ahead of the game,&nbsp;Lewandowski told in Doha in the run-up to the Qatar World Cup, "This is an important game for us. It’s important that we show confidence. We know Mexico play high quality soccer, we know their potential. We’ll fight to win and we’ll do our best. They have a lot of quality and pace, and are dynamic. We’ll have to be ready to stop them causing us problems."</p>

<p>In head-to-head, both Poland and Mexico have won three games each with two ending in a draw. However, Mexicons have defeated Poland in their last two face-offs. <strong>Here's everything to know about the face-off from Group C:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-broadcast-tv-and-ott-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-denmark-vs-tunisia-536352">FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Denmark vs Tunisia?</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>When is the Mexico vs Poland match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></h2>

<p>The&nbsp;Mexico vs Poland FIFA World Cup 2022 fixture, from Group C, will be held at&nbsp;the Stadium 974&nbsp;in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar.</p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The match will get underway at 21:30 PM IST on Tuesday evening (November 22).</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The Indian&nbsp;football fans can be glued to their tv sets to watch the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup matches on TV on&nbsp;<strong>Sports18</strong>&nbsp;and Sports18 HD channels. The live streaming will be available&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<strong>Jio Cinema app</strong>&nbsp;or website.</p>


On Tuesday (November 22), a plethora of games will be played in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. While Argentina will lock horns with Saudi Arabia in Group C's first game, Mexico and Poland will also square off in the second game from the same group later in the evening.

On Tuesday (November 22), a plethora of games will be played in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. While Argentina will lock horns with Saudi Arabia in Group C's first game, Mexico and Poland will also square off in the second game from the same group later in the evening. Talking about the Mexico-Poland face-off, it is an important clash as Argentina is expected to top the group but the winner of this match can end at the second spot. All eyes will be on Robert Lewandowski, Polish side's all-time leading scorer, who will be desperate to ensure a winning start for his side. Ahead of the game, Lewandowski told in Doha in the run-up to the Qatar World Cup, "This is an important game for us. It’s important that we show confidence. We know Mexico play high quality soccer, we know their potential. We’ll fight to win and we’ll do our best. They have a lot of quality and pace, and are dynamic. We’ll have to be ready to stop them causing us problems." In head-to-head, both Poland and Mexico have won three games each with two ending in a draw. However, Mexicons have defeated Poland in their last two face-offs. Here's everything to know about the face-off from Group C: Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Denmark vs Tunisia? When is the Mexico vs Poland match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? The Mexico vs Poland FIFA World Cup 2022 fixture, from Group C, will be held at the Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar. What time will the match be telecast in India? The match will get underway at 21:30 PM IST on Tuesday evening (November 22). Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? The Indian football fans can be glued to their tv sets to watch the FIFA World Cup matches on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. The live streaming will be available on the Jio Cinema app or website.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Mexico vs Poland?

<p>On Tuesday (November 22), a lot of action is packed for the football fans across the globe as the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition will see plenty of games, back-to-back. After Argentina taking on Saudi Arabia, Denmark will open their campaign as they face Tunisia in Group D fixture.</p>

<p>Group D is also a tricky one which comprises Denmark, Tunisia, defending champions France and Australia. While France is expected to top the group, the other remaining three are tricky oppositions as well. A star-studded Denmark side, including Manchester&nbsp;United’s Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joachim Andersen of Crystal Palace, will first hope to kick off their campaign in style with a win over Tunisia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tunisia, on the other hand, will hope for the likes of Youssef Msakni and former Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri to deliver the goods versus the Danish line-up. <strong>Here's everything you need to know about the Denmark vs Tunisia clash:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-broadcast-tv-and-ott-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-argentina-vs-saudi-arabia-536320">FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia?</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>When is the Denmark vs Tunisia&nbsp;match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></p>

<p>The&nbsp;Denmark vs Tunisia&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022 fixture, from Group D, will be held at&nbsp;the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.</p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The match will commence&nbsp;at 18:30 PM IST on Tuesday evening (November 22).</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>In India, football fans can watch the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup matches on TV on&nbsp;<strong>Sports18</strong>&nbsp;and Sports18 HD channels. The live streaming will be provided on the&nbsp;<strong>Jio Cinema app</strong>&nbsp;or website.</p>


On Tuesday (November 22), a lot of action is packed for the football fans across the globe as the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition will see plenty of games, back-to-back.

On Tuesday (November 22), a lot of action is packed for the football fans across the globe as the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition will see plenty of games, back-to-back. After Argentina taking on Saudi Arabia, Denmark will open their campaign as they face Tunisia in Group D fixture. Group D is also a tricky one which comprises Denmark, Tunisia, defending champions France and Australia. While France is expected to top the group, the other remaining three are tricky oppositions as well. A star-studded Denmark side, including Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joachim Andersen of Crystal Palace, will first hope to kick off their campaign in style with a win over Tunisia. Tunisia, on the other hand, will hope for the likes of Youssef Msakni and former Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri to deliver the goods versus the Danish line-up. Here's everything you need to know about the Denmark vs Tunisia clash: Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia? When is the Denmark vs Tunisia match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? The Denmark vs Tunisia FIFA World Cup 2022 fixture, from Group D, will be held at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. What time will the match be telecast in India? The match will commence at 18:30 PM IST on Tuesday evening (November 22). Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? In India, football fans can watch the FIFA World Cup matches on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. The live streaming will be provided on the Jio Cinema app or website.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Denmark vs Tunisia?

<p>Netherlands scored twice in the final minutes through Cody Gakpo and substitute Davy Klaassen to beat Senegal 2-0 in their World Cup Group A match at Al Thumama Stadium on Monday.</p>

<p>The Dutch, who missed out on the 2018 World Cup, looked to be heading for a scrappy goalless draw after wasting several good chances but man-of-the-match Gakpo beat keeper Edouard Mendy and nod in a deep Frenkie De Jong cross with the back of his head.</p>

<p>Klaassen then pounced on a weak Mendy save to score on the rebound nine minutes into stoppage time.</p>

<p>The Dutch join Ecuador, 2-0 winners over Qatar on Sunday, on three points at the top of the group and the top two meet on Friday.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentine-reporter-shockingly-robbed-on-air-during-fifa-world-cup-in-qatar-536200">Argentine reporter shockingly robbed on air during FIFA World Cup in Qatar</a></p>

<p>The 23-year-old Gakpo, who has now scored three goals in his last four internationals, had their first opportunity after four minutes but tried to square the ball to Steven Bergwijn instead of going for goal.</p>

<p>That was followed by a Daley Blind header at the far post that flew wide before Steven Berghuis sent Bergwijn through and he laid it off for the unmarked De Jong in the box.</p>

<p>The midfielder took far too long to release the ball, however, and his effort was blocked.</p>

<p>The African champions were badly missing injured talisman Sadio Mane and did not manage a shot on target until the 65th minute when Boulaye Dia's tried to sneak one past goalkeeper Andries Noppert, making his Dutch debut, from a tight angle.</p>

<p>Senegal had a bit more possession in the second half but despite the relentless drumming from their small fan group in the stands could not find the back of the net.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-saka-bellingham-star-as-england-run-riot-against-iran-with-thumping-6-2-win-536172">FIFA World Cup 2022: Saka, Bellingham star as England run riot against Iran with thumping 6-2 win</a></p>

<p>To make matters worse, Cheikhou Kouyate had to be taken off injured before Gakpo snuck in to snatch the opening goal. Klaassen made sure of the three points with a tap-in in stoppage time after Mendy palmed a Memphis Depay shot into his path.</p>

<p>The Dutch are now undefeated in 16 matches under coach Louis van Gaal. They also stretched an unbeaten record in their opening game at World Cups that dates back to 1938.</p>


Netherlands scored twice in the final minutes through Cody Gakpo and substitute Davy Klaassen to beat Senegal 2-0 in their World Cup Group A match at Al Thumama Stadium on Monday.

Netherlands scored twice in the final minutes through Cody Gakpo and substitute Davy Klaassen to beat Senegal 2-0 in their World Cup Group A match at Al Thumama Stadium on Monday. The Dutch, who missed out on the 2018 World Cup, looked to be heading for a scrappy goalless draw after wasting several good chances but man-of-the-match Gakpo beat keeper Edouard Mendy and nod in a deep Frenkie De Jong cross with the back of his head. Klaassen then pounced on a weak Mendy save to score on the rebound nine minutes into stoppage time. The Dutch join Ecuador, 2-0 winners over Qatar on Sunday, on three points at the top of the group and the top two meet on Friday. Also Read: Argentine reporter shockingly robbed on air during FIFA World Cup in Qatar The 23-year-old Gakpo, who has now scored three goals in his last four internationals, had their first opportunity after four minutes but tried to square the ball to Steven Bergwijn instead of going for goal. That was followed by a Daley Blind header at the far post that flew wide before Steven Berghuis sent Bergwijn through and he laid it off for the unmarked De Jong in the box. The midfielder took far too long to release the ball, however, and his effort was blocked. The African champions were badly missing injured talisman Sadio Mane and did not manage a shot on target until the 65th minute when Boulaye Dia's tried to sneak one past goalkeeper Andries Noppert, making his Dutch debut, from a tight angle. Senegal had a bit more possession in the second half but despite the relentless drumming from their small fan group in the stands could not find the back of the net. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Saka, Bellingham star as England run riot against Iran with thumping 6-2 win To make matters worse, Cheikhou Kouyate had to be taken off injured before Gakpo snuck in to snatch the opening goal. Klaassen made sure of the three points with a tap-in in stoppage time after Mendy palmed a Memphis Depay shot into his path. The Dutch are now undefeated in 16 matches under coach Louis van Gaal. They also stretched an unbeaten record in their opening game at World Cups that dates back to 1938.

Cody Gakpo, Davy Klaassen bag late goals as Netherlands thrash Senegal 2-0 in FIFA World Cup 2022

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off on Novemebr 20 (Sunday) with an impressive opening ceremony followed by&nbsp;Ecuador easing past hosts Qatar, 2-0, in the tournament opener. On Monday (November 21), Harry Kane-starrer England will be locking horns with Iran and the English team management have confirmed that they will be taking a knee in their tournament opener.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the pre-match press conference, head coach Southgate, "We have discussed taking the knee," Southgate said. "We feel we should. It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time. Of course, we understand in the Premier League that clubs have decided to only do that for certain games, big occasions, we feel this is the biggest. "We think it is a strong statement to go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important."</p>

<p>It is to be noted that it is a ritual that England have followed in almost every game following the shocking death of George Floyd in 2020 in US. The national side, however, didn't take the knee in their September fixtures, but will do so at the&nbsp;Khalifa International Stadium against Iran and beyond at the World Cup. They are placed in Group B along with Iran, USA and Wales.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-start-lionel-messi-bench-harry-kane-and-drop-cristiano-ronaldo-wayne-rooney-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-535891">Will start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney ahead of FIFA World Cup</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi dwelled on the grim situation of his country before his nation's FIFA WC opener. It isn't a hidden fact that violent anti-government protests in Iran have led to a fierce crackdown in the past few months. Speaking to reporters, the 32-year-old said, "We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy. Before anything else, I would like to express my condolences to all of the bereaved families in Iran."</p>

<p>Hajsafi &amp; Co. will be eager to give their countrymen something to cheer for with a spirited performance versus England, who will aim to go the distance after a semi-final exit in the last World Cup and finishing second in Euro 2020.</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off on Novemebr 20 (Sunday) with an impressive opening ceremony followed by Ecuador easing past hosts Qatar, 2-0, in the tournament opener.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off on Novemebr 20 (Sunday) with an impressive opening ceremony followed by Ecuador easing past hosts Qatar, 2-0, in the tournament opener. On Monday (November 21), Harry Kane-starrer England will be locking horns with Iran and the English team management have confirmed that they will be taking a knee in their tournament opener. At the pre-match press conference, head coach Southgate, "We have discussed taking the knee," Southgate said. "We feel we should. It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time. Of course, we understand in the Premier League that clubs have decided to only do that for certain games, big occasions, we feel this is the biggest. "We think it is a strong statement to go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important." It is to be noted that it is a ritual that England have followed in almost every game following the shocking death of George Floyd in 2020 in US. The national side, however, didn't take the knee in their September fixtures, but will do so at the Khalifa International Stadium against Iran and beyond at the World Cup. They are placed in Group B along with Iran, USA and Wales. Also read: Will start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney ahead of FIFA World Cup Meanwhile, Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi dwelled on the grim situation of his country before his nation's FIFA WC opener. It isn't a hidden fact that violent anti-government protests in Iran have led to a fierce crackdown in the past few months. Speaking to reporters, the 32-year-old said, "We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy. Before anything else, I would like to express my condolences to all of the bereaved families in Iran." Hajsafi & Co. will be eager to give their countrymen something to cheer for with a spirited performance versus England, who will aim to go the distance after a semi-final exit in the last World Cup and finishing second in Euro 2020.

FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran

<p>As the FIFA World Cup 2022 gets underway on Sunday evening in Qatar with the opening ceremony followed by the first match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador, everyone seems to be super excited. This is for the first time a Muslim country is hosting this event, and more than 3 million tickets are believed to be sold by now. A tournament that constitutes 32 top-playing nations will see 64 matches getting played across eight stadiums in this Middle-east country.</p>

<p>As we already know what is happening on day one, let’s now take a look at what is in store for us on day 2 of the tournament.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-qatar-vs-ecuador-match-prediction-what-to-expect-535822">FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar vs. Ecuador match prediction, what to expect?</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>FIFA World Cup 2022 Day 2 Matches, timings, and venues:</strong></h2>

<p>On day 2 of the FIFA World Cup 2022, two matches will take place. While England takes on Iran in the first match of group B at the Khalifa International Stadium at 18:30 PM IST, the Netherlands will face Senegal in the second match of the day at Al Thumama Stadium at 21:30 PM IST.</p>

<h2><strong>Where and How to Watch&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: TV Broadcast Channel, Live Streaming-OTT&nbsp;Details</strong></h2>

<p>In India, both the matches will be telecasted live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD on TV, while those who wish to live stream it can enjoy the coverage on the Jio Cinema app.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2022-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-qatar-extravaganza-535774/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>


As the FIFA World Cup 2022 gets underway on Sunday evening in Qatar with the opening ceremony followed by the first match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador, everyone seems to be super excited.

As the FIFA World Cup 2022 gets underway on Sunday evening in Qatar with the opening ceremony followed by the first match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador, everyone seems to be super excited. This is for the first time a Muslim country is hosting this event, and more than 3 million tickets are believed to be sold by now. A tournament that constitutes 32 top-playing nations will see 64 matches getting played across eight stadiums in this Middle-east country. As we already know what is happening on day one, let’s now take a look at what is in store for us on day 2 of the tournament. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar vs. Ecuador match prediction, what to expect? FIFA World Cup 2022 Day 2 Matches, timings, and venues: On day 2 of the FIFA World Cup 2022, two matches will take place. While England takes on Iran in the first match of group B at the Khalifa International Stadium at 18:30 PM IST, the Netherlands will face Senegal in the second match of the day at Al Thumama Stadium at 21:30 PM IST. Where and How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2022: TV Broadcast Channel, Live Streaming-OTT Details In India, both the matches will be telecasted live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD on TV, while those who wish to live stream it can enjoy the coverage on the Jio Cinema app.

FIFA World Cup 2022, Day 2 Schedule – Matches, venues and Live streaming-OTT, channel broadcast details!

<p>England, Wales, and five other countries taking part in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 were planning to defy FIFA's guidelines with their captains set to wear 'OneLove' armbands expressing their support for the LGBTQ community. However, the seven countries have now been forced to ditch the move after pressure from FIFA.</p>

<p>England, Wales, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland on Monday announced their captains won't be wearing the special armbands after FIFA warned them of disciplinary action. The football associations of the seven countries released a joint statement expressing their disappointment over the world football governing body's decision.</p>

<p>FIFA had warned the associations that the captain who takes the field with the 'OneLove' armbands will be booked and receive a yellow card even before the start of the game. The yellow card threat has forced these countries to step back as a booking for the captain would affect their results on the pitch.</p>

<p>"FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play. As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in Fifa World Cup games," the seven countries said in a joint statement.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-talk-when-i-want-to-cristiano-ronaldo-on-his-explosive-interview-slamming-manchester-united-536094">'I talk when I want to': Cristiano Ronaldo on his explosive interview slamming Manchester United</a></p>

<p>"We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband. However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play," they added.</p>

<p>The seven countries had written to FIFA earlier this year asking for permission to wear the 'OneLove' armbands to express their support for the LGTQ community. However, their plea was met with no response from FIFA. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, a nation, which has been on the receiving end of intense criticism over its human rights record.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-we-feel-this-is-england-to-take-a-knee-in-their-tournament-opener-vs-iran-535962">FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran</a></p>

<p>The football associations of the seven countries said they were 'very frustrated' by FIFA's decision and that it has left their players and coaches disappointed.</p>

<p>"We are very frustrated by the Fifa decision which we believe is unprecedented – we wrote to Fifa in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football, and had no response. Our players and coaches are disappointed – they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways."</p>

<p>Reacting to FIFA's yellow card threat to teams planning to go ahead with the special bands, Amnesty International slammed the world football's governing body for failing to uphold its own values and responsibilities by imposing sanctions on teams standing up for a cause.</p>

<p>"Last minute threats to sanction players for wearing messages in support of human rights and equality is the latest example of FIFA failing to fully uphold its own values and responsibilities," said&nbsp;Steve Cockburn, the head of Amnesty International’s&nbsp;Economic and Social Justice.</p>

<p>"Sport does not happen in a vacuum and these are issues on which FIFA should be leading, not cracking down on. Agreements on armbands, and better protections for LGBTI communities, should have been reached a long time ago," he added.</p>


England, Wales, and five other countries taking part in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 were planning to defy FIFA's guidelines with their captains set to wear 'OneLove' armbands expressing their support for the LGBTQ community.

England, Wales, and five other countries taking part in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 were planning to defy FIFA's guidelines with their captains set to wear 'OneLove' armbands expressing their support for the LGBTQ community. However, the seven countries have now been forced to ditch the move after pressure from FIFA. England, Wales, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland on Monday announced their captains won't be wearing the special armbands after FIFA warned them of disciplinary action. The football associations of the seven countries released a joint statement expressing their disappointment over the world football governing body's decision. FIFA had warned the associations that the captain who takes the field with the 'OneLove' armbands will be booked and receive a yellow card even before the start of the game. The yellow card threat has forced these countries to step back as a booking for the captain would affect their results on the pitch. "FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play. As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in Fifa World Cup games," the seven countries said in a joint statement. Also Read: 'I talk when I want to': Cristiano Ronaldo on his explosive interview slamming Manchester United "We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband. However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play," they added. The seven countries had written to FIFA earlier this year asking for permission to wear the 'OneLove' armbands to express their support for the LGTQ community. However, their plea was met with no response from FIFA. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, a nation, which has been on the receiving end of intense criticism over its human rights record. Also Read: FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran The football associations of the seven countries said they were 'very frustrated' by FIFA's decision and that it has left their players and coaches disappointed. "We are very frustrated by the Fifa decision which we believe is unprecedented – we wrote to Fifa in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football, and had no response. Our players and coaches are disappointed – they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways." Reacting to FIFA's yellow card threat to teams planning to go ahead with the special bands, Amnesty International slammed the world football's governing body for failing to uphold its own values and responsibilities by imposing sanctions on teams standing up for a cause. "Last minute threats to sanction players for wearing messages in support of human rights and equality is the latest example of FIFA failing to fully uphold its own values and responsibilities," said Steve Cockburn, the head of Amnesty International’s Economic and Social Justice. "Sport does not happen in a vacuum and these are issues on which FIFA should be leading, not cracking down on. Agreements on armbands, and better protections for LGBTI communities, should have been reached a long time ago," he added.

England, Wales & 5 other countries to ditch 'OneLove' armbands in World Cup after FIFA's yellow card warning

<p>The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar has been marred with several controversies off the field with the host nation being at the center of criticism from all corners over their treatment of migrant workers and human rights violations. Questions have also been raised on security in Qatar despite the country having strong rules in place against crime.</p>

<p>Days after a Danish reporter was threatened by Qatari authorities on live TV, an Argentine reporter was shockingly robbed while being on air in Doha. The incident happened post the conclusion of the opening ceremony of the World Cup which was followed by the opening clash between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.</p>

<p>Argentine journalist Dominique Metzger was reporting live from the Corniche area in Doha when someone stole her handbag. Her handbag reportedly consisted of money and some useful documents. Soon after the robbery, Metzger took up the matter with the Qatari police and was offered a rather bizarre response.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">🇶🇦 • ULTIMA HORA: Periodista argentina Dominique Metzger sufrió un acto de robo en Qatar durante su cobertura del mundial. Comentó que las autoridades qataríes le preguntaron qué hacer con el ladrón cuando lo atrapen. <a href="https://twitter.com/estreyaystar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@estreyaystar</a> <a href="https://t.co/kIBUePlObA">pic.twitter.com/kIBUePlObA</a></p>
— BREAKING NEWS (@NewsAlerts_ES) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsAlerts_ES/status/1594430092348096512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-saka-bellingham-star-as-england-run-riot-against-iran-with-thumping-6-2-win-536172">FIFA World Cup 2022: Saka, Bellingham star as England run riot against Iran with thumping 6-2 win</a></p>

<p>Metzger revealed she went to report the incident to the police where she was asked what sort of punishment would she like the robber to face when he is caught. She was asked if she wanted the man to be deported or a prison sentence, to which the Argentine reporter responded by saying that she only wanted her stolen items back safely.</p>

<p>"I went to the station and that was when the cultural differences began. The policewoman said to me: 'We have high-tech cameras everywhere and we are going to locate him [the thief] with face detection. What do you want the justice system to do when we find him," said the Argentine reporter.</p>

<p>"What justice do you want? What sentence do you want us to give him? Do you want him to be sentenced to five years in prison? Do you want him to be deported?" - she added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-iran-players-refuse-to-sing-national-anthem-ahead-of-england-clash-in-fifa-world-cup-2022-536160">WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>Earlier, a Danish reporter was interrupted by Qatari authorities on live TV. The World Cup organisers later issues an apology and confirmed the interruption was a mistake and that an apology was made to the broadcaster for the incident.</p>

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 got underway on Sunday with hosts Qatar getting thrashed 2-0 by Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament. England thumped Iran 6-2 in their first game of the tournament on Monday while Netherlands are locking horns with Senegal in the third game.</p>


The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar has been marred with several controversies off the field with the host nation being at the center of criticism from all corners over their treatment of migrant workers and human rights violations.

The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar has been marred with several controversies off the field with the host nation being at the center of criticism from all corners over their treatment of migrant workers and human rights violations. Questions have also been raised on security in Qatar despite the country having strong rules in place against crime. Days after a Danish reporter was threatened by Qatari authorities on live TV, an Argentine reporter was shockingly robbed while being on air in Doha. The incident happened post the conclusion of the opening ceremony of the World Cup which was followed by the opening clash between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. Argentine journalist Dominique Metzger was reporting live from the Corniche area in Doha when someone stole her handbag. Her handbag reportedly consisted of money and some useful documents. Soon after the robbery, Metzger took up the matter with the Qatari police and was offered a rather bizarre response. 🇶🇦 • ULTIMA HORA: Periodista argentina Dominique Metzger sufrió un acto de robo en Qatar durante su cobertura del mundial. Comentó que las autoridades qataríes le preguntaron qué hacer con el ladrón cuando lo atrapen. @estreyaystar pic.twitter.com/kIBUePlObA — BREAKING NEWS (@NewsAlerts_ES) November 20, 2022 × Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Saka, Bellingham star as England run riot against Iran with thumping 6-2 win Metzger revealed she went to report the incident to the police where she was asked what sort of punishment would she like the robber to face when he is caught. She was asked if she wanted the man to be deported or a prison sentence, to which the Argentine reporter responded by saying that she only wanted her stolen items back safely. "I went to the station and that was when the cultural differences began. The policewoman said to me: 'We have high-tech cameras everywhere and we are going to locate him [the thief] with face detection. What do you want the justice system to do when we find him," said the Argentine reporter. "What justice do you want? What sentence do you want us to give him? Do you want him to be sentenced to five years in prison? Do you want him to be deported?" - she added. Also Read: WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022 Earlier, a Danish reporter was interrupted by Qatari authorities on live TV. The World Cup organisers later issues an apology and confirmed the interruption was a mistake and that an apology was made to the broadcaster for the incident. The FIFA World Cup 2022 got underway on Sunday with hosts Qatar getting thrashed 2-0 by Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament. England thumped Iran 6-2 in their first game of the tournament on Monday while Netherlands are locking horns with Senegal in the third game.

Argentine reporter shockingly robbed on air during FIFA World Cup in Qatar

<p>England absolutely decimated Iran in their FIFA World Cup 2022 opener to get off to a flying start in the tournament. Bukayo Saka bagged a magnificent brace while the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jude Bellingham, and Jack Grealish scored a goal apiece to help power England to a thumping 6-2&nbsp;win at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar.</p>

<p>Iran were a no match to England's attacking prowess and received a proper hammering as their defence failed to cope with the pace of Saka and Sterling in the first half. After Harry Maguire nearly gave England the lead with his powerful header hitting the cross-bar, Bellingham rose to the occasion to bag his first goal for the country in a World Cup.</p>

<p>The highly-rated midfielder timed his jump to perfection to latch on to a cross from Luke Shaw and beat the Iran keeper comfortably to put his side 1-0 up in the game. Saka scored his first eight minutes later to make it 2-0 before Sterling slotted one home on a cross from captain Harry Kane in the first-half stoppage time.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-iran-players-refuse-to-sing-national-anthem-ahead-of-england-clash-in-fifa-world-cup-2022-536160">WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>The game saw a lengthy stoppage time of 14 minutes as Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand suffered a serious head injury and had to be stretchered off the ground. He suffered the injury during a collision with England defender Harry Maguire, who also took a blow to his head.</p>

<p>Saka grabbed his second of the night in the second half as he continued his fine form. The Arsenal youngster made a brilliant run in the Iran box after Sterling found him with a neat pass and slotted it into the bottom left corner to extend England's lead to 4-0 in the 62nd minute.</p>

<p>Mehdi Taremi pulled one back for Iran three minutes later and scored another consolation goal in the stoppage time before the full-time whistle in what was a disappointing night for his country. Substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish also managed to get on the scoresheet for England in the second half to hand Iran a proper hammering.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-wales-5-other-countries-to-ditch-onelove-armbands-in-world-cup-after-fifas-yellow-card-warning-536119">England, Wales &amp; 5 other countries to ditch 'OneLove' armbands in World Cup after FIFA's yellow card warning</a></p>

<p>With the thumping 6-2 win, Gareth Southgate's England are off to a flyer in the Qatar World Cup and will be hoping to continue their fantastic run against the USA in their next clash in Group B. England are favourites to top their group which also consists of Wales, USA, and Iran.</p>

<p>"I can’t describe the feeling. It’s amazing, I’m so happy, I’m so proud, and we’ve got the win as well, so it’s a really special day! We needed a good start, we didn’t play the best coming into the tournament. But we showed everyone how much quality we have and what we can do," said Saka, England's two-goa hero against Iran.</p>

<p>"It’s amazing. We have to be consistent because we have the next game coming up in a few days and we have to come again."</p>


England absolutely decimated Iran in their FIFA World Cup 2022 opener to get off to a flying start in the tournament. Bukayo Saka bagged a magnificent brace while the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jude Bellingham, and Jack Grealish scored a goal apiece to help power England to a thumping 6-2 win at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

England absolutely decimated Iran in their FIFA World Cup 2022 opener to get off to a flying start in the tournament. Bukayo Saka bagged a magnificent brace while the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jude Bellingham, and Jack Grealish scored a goal apiece to help power England to a thumping 6-2 win at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Iran were a no match to England's attacking prowess and received a proper hammering as their defence failed to cope with the pace of Saka and Sterling in the first half. After Harry Maguire nearly gave England the lead with his powerful header hitting the cross-bar, Bellingham rose to the occasion to bag his first goal for the country in a World Cup. The highly-rated midfielder timed his jump to perfection to latch on to a cross from Luke Shaw and beat the Iran keeper comfortably to put his side 1-0 up in the game. Saka scored his first eight minutes later to make it 2-0 before Sterling slotted one home on a cross from captain Harry Kane in the first-half stoppage time. Also Read: WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022 The game saw a lengthy stoppage time of 14 minutes as Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand suffered a serious head injury and had to be stretchered off the ground. He suffered the injury during a collision with England defender Harry Maguire, who also took a blow to his head. Saka grabbed his second of the night in the second half as he continued his fine form. The Arsenal youngster made a brilliant run in the Iran box after Sterling found him with a neat pass and slotted it into the bottom left corner to extend England's lead to 4-0 in the 62nd minute. Mehdi Taremi pulled one back for Iran three minutes later and scored another consolation goal in the stoppage time before the full-time whistle in what was a disappointing night for his country. Substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish also managed to get on the scoresheet for England in the second half to hand Iran a proper hammering. Also Read: England, Wales & 5 other countries to ditch 'OneLove' armbands in World Cup after FIFA's yellow card warning With the thumping 6-2 win, Gareth Southgate's England are off to a flyer in the Qatar World Cup and will be hoping to continue their fantastic run against the USA in their next clash in Group B. England are favourites to top their group which also consists of Wales, USA, and Iran. "I can’t describe the feeling. It’s amazing, I’m so happy, I’m so proud, and we’ve got the win as well, so it’s a really special day! We needed a good start, we didn’t play the best coming into the tournament. But we showed everyone how much quality we have and what we can do," said Saka, England's two-goa hero against Iran. "It’s amazing. We have to be consistent because we have the next game coming up in a few days and we have to come again."

FIFA World Cup 2022: Saka, Bellingham star as England run riot against Iran with thumping 6-2 win

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{1cb1bad6-140a-463a-8232-9b5f014e68cc}{21}" paraid="687810587" >Is it even possible to have a conversation about modern football without the mention of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? Is it even possible to overlook the contribution of these two legends to the sport? Is it possible that both these mega stars can end their careers without ever winning the World Cup? While the answer to the first two questions is a resounding no, the third one still remains in limbo.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{200ad7a9-db31-496d-b7ac-96b56f08b261}{119}" paraid="136468670" >Both Ronaldo and Messi have won everything there is to win at the club level and both of them have also guided their respective national teams to continental glory. However, the FIFA World Cup trophy continues to elude them. It was back in 2006 when the two footballers made their debut in the competition but except for 2014, none of them has come close to achieving the ultimate dream.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{88e875c9-8b49-4519-96f8-c8e89031eec0}{52}" paraid="909501472" >With the footballers slowly approaching the twilight of their careers, there is a strong chance that 2022 can be the final World Cup which will feature them both. Till now, the criticism was mainly against the rest of the side not being good enough to clinch the title. However, Argentina and Portugal both boasts of exciting squads at present and bookmakers have already hailed them as likely title contenders.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{88e875c9-8b49-4519-96f8-c8e89031eec0}{52}" paraid="909501472" >Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-iran-players-refuse-to-sing-national-anthem-ahead-of-england-clash-in-fifa-world-cup-2022-536160">WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{4144c170-d74a-4bf8-a1fa-998222ac15a6}{47}" paraid="1525594005" >But, when it comes to the two legends, the situations ahead of the tournament were poles apart.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{159b8d10-8200-4068-8dd6-557f4a69c733}{216}" paraid="1636247447" >Messi surprised the world in 2021 by joining French champions PSG from FC Barcelona in a move that saw him create a world-class attacking trio with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. While the first season was quite shaky, he found his footing in 2022 with 10 assists – the most in the five top European leagues – and seven goals with an impressive average of 1.2 expected goal involvements per 90 minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{ca443a5c-b303-4147-a064-d6491aa94fbe}{143}" paraid="1612536427" >With the Argentina team showing glimpses of genius in the qualification, Messi was once again the master conductor that made all the instruments click and produced perfect harmony in results. Ahead of the tournament, several Argentine footballers have already come out to say that they want to win the trophy for Messi and there is a combined sentiment that has driven the team in the recent past.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{9e046480-2dd9-4e47-a787-2f7d2b7ab89c}{76}" paraid="1229901498" >On the other hand, it has been a turbulent year for Ronaldo. He has hardly featured for Manchester United in the Premier League and his strained relationship with manager Erik Ten Hag has not helped matters. The story was not much different for the national team as he had a creative average of one goal per 284 minutes – the worst for him since 2009. Even when he got a chance for United, he proved to be wasteful and with just three goals in the entire season till now, he was unable to make his mark.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{9e046480-2dd9-4e47-a787-2f7d2b7ab89c}{76}" paraid="1229901498" >Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-western-hypocrisy-instances-which-prove-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-right-536121">The Western hypocrisy? Glaring instances which might prove FIFA president Gianni Infantino right</a></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{8ca934fb-8e16-4f80-9520-d9fc393ae747}{204}" paraid="1330326993" >On top of the poor run of form, his recent tell-all interview with Piers Morgan once again put him in the crosshairs of the media and experts who questioned his professionalism. The situation reached such a level that his interaction with Portugal and Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes in the dressing room became massive news before both players officially denied any rift between them. In such a situation, questions continue to exist on what mindset he will be in as the tournament begins.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f7be81fa-4be2-498f-a6c3-9fee78b34213}{251}" paraid="480487400" >The stage is officially set and there is no turning back now. Both teams will begin their campaign&nbsp;this week and in the next few weeks, we will know for sure whether any of these two legends can finally add the coveted trophy to their kitty. However, for the two legends who have miraculously never started in the knockout stages of a World Cup, the journey still seems long and quite tricky.&nbsp;</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>


Is it even possible to have a conversation about modern football without the mention of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? Is it even possible to overlook the contribution of these two legends to the sport?

Is it even possible to have a conversation about modern football without the mention of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? Is it even possible to overlook the contribution of these two legends to the sport? Is it possible that both these mega stars can end their careers without ever winning the World Cup? While the answer to the first two questions is a resounding no, the third one still remains in limbo. Both Ronaldo and Messi have won everything there is to win at the club level and both of them have also guided their respective national teams to continental glory. However, the FIFA World Cup trophy continues to elude them. It was back in 2006 when the two footballers made their debut in the competition but except for 2014, none of them has come close to achieving the ultimate dream. With the footballers slowly approaching the twilight of their careers, there is a strong chance that 2022 can be the final World Cup which will feature them both. Till now, the criticism was mainly against the rest of the side not being good enough to clinch the title. However, Argentina and Portugal both boasts of exciting squads at present and bookmakers have already hailed them as likely title contenders. Also read | WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022 But, when it comes to the two legends, the situations ahead of the tournament were poles apart. Messi surprised the world in 2021 by joining French champions PSG from FC Barcelona in a move that saw him create a world-class attacking trio with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. While the first season was quite shaky, he found his footing in 2022 with 10 assists – the most in the five top European leagues – and seven goals with an impressive average of 1.2 expected goal involvements per 90 minutes. With the Argentina team showing glimpses of genius in the qualification, Messi was once again the master conductor that made all the instruments click and produced perfect harmony in results. Ahead of the tournament, several Argentine footballers have already come out to say that they want to win the trophy for Messi and there is a combined sentiment that has driven the team in the recent past. On the other hand, it has been a turbulent year for Ronaldo. He has hardly featured for Manchester United in the Premier League and his strained relationship with manager Erik Ten Hag has not helped matters. The story was not much different for the national team as he had a creative average of one goal per 284 minutes – the worst for him since 2009. Even when he got a chance for United, he proved to be wasteful and with just three goals in the entire season till now, he was unable to make his mark. Also read | The Western hypocrisy? Glaring instances which might prove FIFA president Gianni Infantino right On top of the poor run of form, his recent tell-all interview with Piers Morgan once again put him in the crosshairs of the media and experts who questioned his professionalism. The situation reached such a level that his interaction with Portugal and Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes in the dressing room became massive news before both players officially denied any rift between them. In such a situation, questions continue to exist on what mindset he will be in as the tournament begins. The stage is officially set and there is no turning back now. Both teams will begin their campaign this week and in the next few weeks, we will know for sure whether any of these two legends can finally add the coveted trophy to their kitty. However, for the two legends who have miraculously never started in the knockout stages of a World Cup, the journey still seems long and quite tricky.

FIFA World Cup 2022: For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a final shot at immortality

<p>Taking selfies from the stands and sitting on the grassy pitch, thousands of migrant workers gathered in a Doha stadium to watch the opening match of the first World Cup in the Middle East.</p>

<p>The special fan zone set up at the industrial area on the city's outskirts includes a stadium with a giant TV screen and another big screen set up outside for an overflow crowd. It sits adjacent to several worker camps where many of Qatar's hundreds of thousands of low-income labourers live.</p>

<p>"We are here to enjoy our sweat now," said Ronald Ssenyondo, a 25-year-old Ugandan who was rooting for Qatar on Sunday.</p>

<p>He had been in Qatar for two years, working long hours under the sun to finish stadiums where the tournament was being held.</p>

<p>"I am just overwhelmed with the things I'm seeing now," he said.</p>

<p>The wealthy gas-producing country is home to 2.9 million people, the vast majority of whom are foreign workers ranging from low-income construction workers to high-powered executives.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-iran-players-refuse-to-sing-national-anthem-ahead-of-england-clash-in-fifa-world-cup-2022-536160">WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>Rights groups have accused authorities of failing to protect lower-income workers - including those who built the stadiums and hotels to host World Cup fans - from overwork, unpaid wages and poor living conditions.</p>

<p>The government says it has enacted labour reforms, including a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari rials, or about $275, more than many can earn back home.</p>

<p>Match tickets for the opener cost an average of $200 - but the industrial fan zone was free. Thousands piled in to cheer on Qatar on Monday, groaning when the match ended with Ecuador's win 2-0. Some told Reuters it was the closest they would get to a game all month.</p>

<p>"I'm supporting my sisters and brothers in Ethiopia by sending money back, so I'm coming here because tickets are too much," said Ali Jammal, 26, who has worked in Qatar for five years.</p>

<p>A nurse from Nepal, one of a handful of women watching, said she wouldn't be able to watch any other matches because of her long shifts at a hospital. Mohammad Ansar, a 28-year-old Indian who has been working in Qatar since earlier this year, said he was volunteering with FIFA at two of the upcoming matches, so he would get in to watch them live.</p>

<p>But on Sunday, he was grateful to be with fellow workers watching on a screen - even though Qatar's loss was a disappointment.</p>

<p>"With this stadium for free, they're considering poor people also," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-western-hypocrisy-instances-which-prove-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-right-536121">The Western hypocrisy? Glaring instances which might prove FIFA president Gianni Infantino right</a></p>

<p>Others were watching from their home countries: Amirul Hussein was gathered with friends to watch the opener in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He had worked on stadiums in Qatar for four years and was on a short break back home to visit his family.</p>

<p>"Now I will watch the FIFA World Cup matches with great happiness. Of course, if I could be there, I would feel even better," he said.</p>


Taking selfies from the stands and sitting on the grassy pitch, thousands of migrant workers gathered in a Doha stadium to watch the opening match of the first World Cup in the Middle East.

Taking selfies from the stands and sitting on the grassy pitch, thousands of migrant workers gathered in a Doha stadium to watch the opening match of the first World Cup in the Middle East. The special fan zone set up at the industrial area on the city's outskirts includes a stadium with a giant TV screen and another big screen set up outside for an overflow crowd. It sits adjacent to several worker camps where many of Qatar's hundreds of thousands of low-income labourers live. "We are here to enjoy our sweat now," said Ronald Ssenyondo, a 25-year-old Ugandan who was rooting for Qatar on Sunday. He had been in Qatar for two years, working long hours under the sun to finish stadiums where the tournament was being held. "I am just overwhelmed with the things I'm seeing now," he said. The wealthy gas-producing country is home to 2.9 million people, the vast majority of whom are foreign workers ranging from low-income construction workers to high-powered executives. Also Read: WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022 Rights groups have accused authorities of failing to protect lower-income workers - including those who built the stadiums and hotels to host World Cup fans - from overwork, unpaid wages and poor living conditions. The government says it has enacted labour reforms, including a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 Qatari rials, or about $275, more than many can earn back home. Match tickets for the opener cost an average of $200 - but the industrial fan zone was free. Thousands piled in to cheer on Qatar on Monday, groaning when the match ended with Ecuador's win 2-0. Some told Reuters it was the closest they would get to a game all month. "I'm supporting my sisters and brothers in Ethiopia by sending money back, so I'm coming here because tickets are too much," said Ali Jammal, 26, who has worked in Qatar for five years. A nurse from Nepal, one of a handful of women watching, said she wouldn't be able to watch any other matches because of her long shifts at a hospital. Mohammad Ansar, a 28-year-old Indian who has been working in Qatar since earlier this year, said he was volunteering with FIFA at two of the upcoming matches, so he would get in to watch them live. But on Sunday, he was grateful to be with fellow workers watching on a screen - even though Qatar's loss was a disappointment. "With this stadium for free, they're considering poor people also," he said. Also Read: The Western hypocrisy? Glaring instances which might prove FIFA president Gianni Infantino right Others were watching from their home countries: Amirul Hussein was gathered with friends to watch the opener in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He had worked on stadiums in Qatar for four years and was on a short break back home to visit his family. "Now I will watch the FIFA World Cup matches with great happiness. Of course, if I could be there, I would feel even better," he said.

In a stadium of their own, migrant workers say their sweat made World Cup happen in Qatar

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off in Qatar on November 20. While the mega event was eagerly awaited, a lot of things have made the headlines off the field en route to the tournament's commencement. A lot has been said and written about Qatar's human rights violations and many have slammed the Middle East country, with ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter also admitting that it was a mistake to award the hosting rights to a country like Qatar.</p>

<p>Nonetheless, the West's reporting of Qatar has made heads turn at regular intervals prior to the FIFA WC's opener. It is to be noted that the BBC relegated the FIFA World Cup opening&nbsp;ceremony to the "Red Button" service and online. However, BBC One went ahead by not airing the ceremony live by maintaining its stance on Qatar's orthodox viewpoint on the LGBTQ community and notorious history of human rights violations.</p>

<p><strong>Is it Western hypocrisy?</strong></p>

<p>FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently slammed the West's reporting and said in his first press conference in Doha ahead of the World Cup,&nbsp;"This moral lesson-giving -- one-sided -- is just hypocrisy. I don't want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust." He added, "For what we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years we should apologise for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people."</p>

<p>"Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel a migrant worker," said the FIFA president said while defending Qatar.</p>

<p>It isn't a hidden fact how many Western countries have also been a part of the problem, showing their dominance over developing or poorer countries as well as incidents of racism, slavery, etc. being highlighted for one and all.</p>

<p>It is known that England is taking a knee with regard to supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in the Qatar World Cup. In September 2020, former West Indies pacer Michael Holding slammed England and Australia for choosing when to take a knee. After the West Indies tour of England, where both teams took a knee before proceedings, the then Joe Root-led England didn't take a knee in their following home series versus Pakistan and Australia. Back then, Holding blasted at England Cricket Board (ECB) and Australian captain Aaron Finch while speaking his heart out in Sky Sports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unbelievable-cristiano-ronaldo-becomes-first-ever-to-clock-500m-followers-on-instagram-536105"><strong>UNBELIEVABLE! Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first-ever to clock 500m followers on Instagram</strong></a></p>

<p>Holding told, "Now that the West Indies team has gone home, that doesn't mean that you still shouldn't be respecting the message and exactly what it stands for. If you go back to when taking a knee started and what it stood for, or stands for, it goes back to Colin Kaepernick in America, who took a knee because he wanted to bring attention to the racism and police brutality against people of colour in that country.&nbsp; Yes, it is more acute in the United States than in most other places but people around the entire world took on the mantle of spreading the word and getting this message out that it is time for equality and time for equal justice, and all that."</p>

<p>The former pacer said, "So everybody, all over the world, whether you are black, white, brown, pink or green - you saw the demonstrations all over the world. It was no longer just a black versus white thing; it was a matter of humanity coming together and saying 'listen, we need everyone to be treated equally.&nbsp;So for Pakistan and England not to then take that signal - because you are not doing anything other than going down on one knee - you are not chanting anything, you are not saying anything, all you are doing is making a signal to keep the awareness going. Neither team did it and the ECB came out with a pretty lame statement, as far as I am concerned."</p>

<p>The question to be asked here is how come the England football team is taking a knee -- when they do it selectively in Premier League fixtures -- during Qatar World Cup but their senior men's cricket team didn't during their Pakistan tour, T20 World Cup, etc.</p>

<p>Is the West trying to make a statement in Qatar or just adding fuel to fire in a country which already has a troubled history with many human right issues?</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off in Qatar on November 20. While the mega event was eagerly awaited, a lot of things have made the headlines off the field en route to the tournament's commencement.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off in Qatar on November 20. While the mega event was eagerly awaited, a lot of things have made the headlines off the field en route to the tournament's commencement. A lot has been said and written about Qatar's human rights violations and many have slammed the Middle East country, with ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter also admitting that it was a mistake to award the hosting rights to a country like Qatar. Nonetheless, the West's reporting of Qatar has made heads turn at regular intervals prior to the FIFA WC's opener. It is to be noted that the BBC relegated the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony to the "Red Button" service and online. However, BBC One went ahead by not airing the ceremony live by maintaining its stance on Qatar's orthodox viewpoint on the LGBTQ community and notorious history of human rights violations. Is it Western hypocrisy? FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently slammed the West's reporting and said in his first press conference in Doha ahead of the World Cup, "This moral lesson-giving -- one-sided -- is just hypocrisy. I don't want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust." He added, "For what we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years we should apologise for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people." "Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel a migrant worker," said the FIFA president said while defending Qatar. It isn't a hidden fact how many Western countries have also been a part of the problem, showing their dominance over developing or poorer countries as well as incidents of racism, slavery, etc. being highlighted for one and all. It is known that England is taking a knee with regard to supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in the Qatar World Cup. In September 2020, former West Indies pacer Michael Holding slammed England and Australia for choosing when to take a knee. After the West Indies tour of England, where both teams took a knee before proceedings, the then Joe Root-led England didn't take a knee in their following home series versus Pakistan and Australia. Back then, Holding blasted at England Cricket Board (ECB) and Australian captain Aaron Finch while speaking his heart out in Sky Sports. Also read: UNBELIEVABLE! Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first-ever to clock 500m followers on Instagram Holding told, "Now that the West Indies team has gone home, that doesn't mean that you still shouldn't be respecting the message and exactly what it stands for. If you go back to when taking a knee started and what it stood for, or stands for, it goes back to Colin Kaepernick in America, who took a knee because he wanted to bring attention to the racism and police brutality against people of colour in that country. Yes, it is more acute in the United States than in most other places but people around the entire world took on the mantle of spreading the word and getting this message out that it is time for equality and time for equal justice, and all that." The former pacer said, "So everybody, all over the world, whether you are black, white, brown, pink or green - you saw the demonstrations all over the world. It was no longer just a black versus white thing; it was a matter of humanity coming together and saying 'listen, we need everyone to be treated equally. So for Pakistan and England not to then take that signal - because you are not doing anything other than going down on one knee - you are not chanting anything, you are not saying anything, all you are doing is making a signal to keep the awareness going. Neither team did it and the ECB came out with a pretty lame statement, as far as I am concerned." The question to be asked here is how come the England football team is taking a knee -- when they do it selectively in Premier League fixtures -- during Qatar World Cup but their senior men's cricket team didn't during their Pakistan tour, T20 World Cup, etc. Is the West trying to make a statement in Qatar or just adding fuel to fire in a country which already has a troubled history with many human right issues?

The Western hypocrisy? Glaring instances which might prove FIFA president Gianni Infantino right

<p>Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is least bothered about what people think of him and likes to speak his mind out when he wants to. Ronaldo's comments came after he recently lashed out at his club Manchester United in an explosive interview with controversial English journalist Piers Morgan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ronaldo attended Portugal's pre-match presser on Monday (November 21) ahead of their opening game against Ghana on Thursday (November 21) where he&nbsp;opened up on his sensational interview and said he felt 'provoked' into such a reaction by United manager Erik Ten Hag.</p>

<p>Ten Hag&nbsp;had suspended him earlier this season for refusing to come on as a substitute during a Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur. Ronaldo had also left the stadium before the full-time whistle during the game and was later punished by the club.</p>

<p>The legendary forward remained unrepentant about his interview slamming United and Ten Hag while insisting that the episode won't affect Portugal's performances in the Qatar World Cup.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-start-lionel-messi-bench-harry-kane-and-drop-cristiano-ronaldo-wayne-rooney-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-535891">Will start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney ahead of FIFA World Cup</a></p>

<p>"I have no doubt that this recent episode, that interview, and other episodes with other players that happen sometimes, can sometimes shake the player but won't shake the team," Ronaldo said at the presser.</p>

<p>"I don't have to worry about what others think, I talk when I want to. Everybody in the team knows who I am, what I believe in," he added.</p>

<p>Ronaldo was also asked about his 'awkward' handshake with his Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes last week and refuted the rumours of a rift between the duo. The 37-year-old's images with his Portugal teammate Joao Cancelo had also gone viral where he was seen grabbing the Manchester City by the head.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-we-feel-this-is-england-to-take-a-knee-in-their-tournament-opener-vs-iran-535962">FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran</a></p>

<p>However, Ronaldo denied the rumours of any rifts in the dressing room and said such things pop up during crucial stages of a tournament of the magnitude of the World Cup.</p>

<p>"In these final stages of competitions there's always those type of moments," said Ronaldo.</p>

<p>"We were just playing around, I have a great relationship with him. I was asking him, because his plane was late, I asked him if he came by boat.</p>

<p>The same thing happened with Cancelo, he was a bit sad during training and I grabbed him by the neck and told him 'Come on, you've got this', that's what I said. And then it became another controversy at your end," he added.</p>

<p>Ronaldo also urged the reporters to not bombard his Portugal teammates with questions about him and rather focus on questions about the World Cup.</p>

<p>"The whole atmosphere is excellent, it's bulletproof and iron clad. The next player who comes here, you don't have to ask about that, don't talk about me, you don't have to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo... help them out, ask them about the World Cup," said the Portuguese star.</p>


Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is least bothered about what people think of him and likes to speak his mind out when he wants to. Ronaldo's comments came after he recently lashed out at his club Manchester United in an explosive interview with controversial English journalist Piers Morgan.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is least bothered about what people think of him and likes to speak his mind out when he wants to. Ronaldo's comments came after he recently lashed out at his club Manchester United in an explosive interview with controversial English journalist Piers Morgan. Ronaldo attended Portugal's pre-match presser on Monday (November 21) ahead of their opening game against Ghana on Thursday (November 21) where he opened up on his sensational interview and said he felt 'provoked' into such a reaction by United manager Erik Ten Hag. Ten Hag had suspended him earlier this season for refusing to come on as a substitute during a Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur. Ronaldo had also left the stadium before the full-time whistle during the game and was later punished by the club. The legendary forward remained unrepentant about his interview slamming United and Ten Hag while insisting that the episode won't affect Portugal's performances in the Qatar World Cup. Also Read: Will start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney ahead of FIFA World Cup "I have no doubt that this recent episode, that interview, and other episodes with other players that happen sometimes, can sometimes shake the player but won't shake the team," Ronaldo said at the presser. "I don't have to worry about what others think, I talk when I want to. Everybody in the team knows who I am, what I believe in," he added. Ronaldo was also asked about his 'awkward' handshake with his Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes last week and refuted the rumours of a rift between the duo. The 37-year-old's images with his Portugal teammate Joao Cancelo had also gone viral where he was seen grabbing the Manchester City by the head. Also Read: FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran However, Ronaldo denied the rumours of any rifts in the dressing room and said such things pop up during crucial stages of a tournament of the magnitude of the World Cup. "In these final stages of competitions there's always those type of moments," said Ronaldo. "We were just playing around, I have a great relationship with him. I was asking him, because his plane was late, I asked him if he came by boat. The same thing happened with Cancelo, he was a bit sad during training and I grabbed him by the neck and told him 'Come on, you've got this', that's what I said. And then it became another controversy at your end," he added. Ronaldo also urged the reporters to not bombard his Portugal teammates with questions about him and rather focus on questions about the World Cup. "The whole atmosphere is excellent, it's bulletproof and iron clad. The next player who comes here, you don't have to ask about that, don't talk about me, you don't have to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo... help them out, ask them about the World Cup," said the Portuguese star.

'I talk when I want to': Cristiano Ronaldo on his explosive interview slamming Manchester United

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition got going on Sunday evening (November 20) in Qatar. After a blazing opening ceremony, the proceedings got underway with hosts Qatar squaring off with Ecuador. After Ecuador's 2-0 win over Qatar, the second game of the showpiece event will see England take on Iran at the&nbsp;Khalifa International Stadium. Harry Kane-led England will start as favourites but they will not like to take their opposition lightly and aim to start with a bang in their tournament opener.</p>

<p>Gareth Southgate-led England have made giant strides since the last edition of the World Cup, in Russia. During the 2018 edition, England ended as the semi-finalists and followed it up with a second-spot finish at the Euro 2020. Hence, they will like to build on it and go the distance this time around in the ongoing mega event. For that, they will aim to start well in Group B, also comprising the USA, Wales and Iran.</p>

<p>Ahead of the match, Southgate told reporters that England will be taking a knee ahead of their face-off versus Iran. "We have discussed taking the knee.&nbsp;We feel we should. It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time. Of course, we understand in the Premier League that clubs have decided to only do that for certain games, big occasions, we feel this is the biggest. "We think it is a strong statement to go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important," the coach added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-we-feel-this-is-england-to-take-a-knee-in-their-tournament-opener-vs-iran-535962">FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>When is the England vs Iran match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></h2>

<p>The second match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played between heavyweights England and Iran from Group B at the&nbsp;Khalifa International Stadium.</p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The match will kick off at 18:30 PM IST on Monday evening (November 21).</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>In India, fans can enjoy the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup matches on TV on&nbsp;<strong>Sports18</strong>&nbsp;and Sports18 HD channels. For those who wish to watch the proceedings online can refer to the&nbsp;<strong>Jio Cinema app</strong>&nbsp;or website. They can watch for free.</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition got going on Sunday evening (November 20) in Qatar. After a blazing opening ceremony, the proceedings got underway with hosts Qatar squaring off with Ecuador.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition got going on Sunday evening (November 20) in Qatar. After a blazing opening ceremony, the proceedings got underway with hosts Qatar squaring off with Ecuador. After Ecuador's 2-0 win over Qatar, the second game of the showpiece event will see England take on Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium. Harry Kane-led England will start as favourites but they will not like to take their opposition lightly and aim to start with a bang in their tournament opener. Gareth Southgate-led England have made giant strides since the last edition of the World Cup, in Russia. During the 2018 edition, England ended as the semi-finalists and followed it up with a second-spot finish at the Euro 2020. Hence, they will like to build on it and go the distance this time around in the ongoing mega event. For that, they will aim to start well in Group B, also comprising the USA, Wales and Iran. Ahead of the match, Southgate told reporters that England will be taking a knee ahead of their face-off versus Iran. "We have discussed taking the knee. We feel we should. It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time. Of course, we understand in the Premier League that clubs have decided to only do that for certain games, big occasions, we feel this is the biggest. "We think it is a strong statement to go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important," the coach added. Also read: FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran When is the England vs Iran match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? The second match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played between heavyweights England and Iran from Group B at the Khalifa International Stadium. What time will the match be telecast in India? The match will kick off at 18:30 PM IST on Monday evening (November 21). Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? In India, fans can enjoy the FIFA World Cup matches on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. For those who wish to watch the proceedings online can refer to the Jio Cinema app or website. They can watch for free.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch England vs Iran?

<p>FIFA World cup 2022 is all set to get underway&nbsp;on Sunday, November 20th in Qatar, with the host nation&nbsp;facing Ecuador in the first match of the tournament. This mega event promises to deliver an unimaginable experience for all its viewers, be the ones watching it live inside the stadium or at home. To find out where you can watch the matches live on TV or online, go through this article.</p>

<h2><strong>When is the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></h2>

<p>The first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played between the hosts Qatar and Ecuador from Group A at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-for-3-hours-a-day-you-cant-drink-a-beer-you-will-survive-fifa-president-on-beer-ban-at-qatar-world-cup-535609">If for 3 hours a day you can't drink a beer, you will survive: FIFA president on beer ban at Qatar World Cup</a></p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The match will begin at 21:30 PM IST after the opening ceremony is conducted, where a few global and one Indian superstar is set to perform.</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>In India, fans can enjoy the superlative experience of watching the FIFA World Cup on TV on <strong>Sports18</strong> and Sports18 HD channels. While those who wish to watch it online, can go to the <strong>Jio Cinema app</strong> or website and watch it for free.</p>

<p><strong>Here have a look at the squads of both teams –</strong></p>

<p><strong>Qatar’s World Cup squad -</strong></p>

<p><strong>Goalkeepers&nbsp;</strong>﻿- Saad Al Sheeb, Meshaal Barshim, Youssef Hassan</p>

<p><strong>Defenders﻿&nbsp;</strong>- Pedro Miguel, Mosab Kheder, Tarek Salman, Bassam Al-Rawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Ismail Muhammad, Homam Ahmed, Jassem Jaber</p>

<p><strong>Midfielders&nbsp;</strong>﻿- Ali Assadalla, Assim Madibo, Mohammed Waad, Salem Al Hajri, Mustafa Tarek, Karim Boudiaf, Abdulaziz Hatem</p>

<p><strong>Attackers&nbsp;</strong>﻿- Naif Al Hadhrami, Ahmed Aladdin, Hassan Al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Muhammad Muntari, Khaled Mounir</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-opening-ceremony-when-and-where-to-watch-who-are-the-performers-535560">FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony: When and where to watch? Who are the performers?</a></p>

<p><strong>Ecuador’s World Cup squad –</strong></p>

<p><strong>Goalkeepers</strong> - Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez,&nbsp; Alexander Dominguez</p>

<p><strong>Defenders</strong> - Piero Hincapie, Robert Arboleda, Felix Torres, William Pacho, Pervis Estupinan,&nbsp; Angelo Preciado, Xavier Arreaga, Diego Palacios , Jackson Porozo</p>

<p><strong>Midfielders</strong> - Jose Cifuentes, Carlos Gruezo, Angel Mena, Jeremy Sarmiento, Jhegson Mendez, Gonzalo Plata, Alan Franco, Moises Caicedo, Kevin Rodriguez</p>

<p><strong>Forwards</strong> - Djorkaeff Reasco, Enner Valencia, Michael Estrada, Aytron Preciado, Romario Ibarra</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


FIFA World cup 2022 is all set to get underway on Sunday, November 20th in Qatar, with the host nation facing Ecuador in the first match of the tournament. This mega event promises to deliver an unimaginable experience for all its viewers, be the ones watching it live inside the stadium or at home.

FIFA World cup 2022 is all set to get underway on Sunday, November 20th in Qatar, with the host nation facing Ecuador in the first match of the tournament. This mega event promises to deliver an unimaginable experience for all its viewers, be the ones watching it live inside the stadium or at home. To find out where you can watch the matches live on TV or online, go through this article. When is the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? The first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played between the hosts Qatar and Ecuador from Group A at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. ALSO READ: If for 3 hours a day you can't drink a beer, you will survive: FIFA president on beer ban at Qatar World Cup What time will the match be telecast in India? The match will begin at 21:30 PM IST after the opening ceremony is conducted, where a few global and one Indian superstar is set to perform. Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? In India, fans can enjoy the superlative experience of watching the FIFA World Cup on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. While those who wish to watch it online, can go to the Jio Cinema app or website and watch it for free. Here have a look at the squads of both teams – Qatar’s World Cup squad - Goalkeepers ﻿- Saad Al Sheeb, Meshaal Barshim, Youssef Hassan Defenders﻿ - Pedro Miguel, Mosab Kheder, Tarek Salman, Bassam Al-Rawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Ismail Muhammad, Homam Ahmed, Jassem Jaber Midfielders ﻿- Ali Assadalla, Assim Madibo, Mohammed Waad, Salem Al Hajri, Mustafa Tarek, Karim Boudiaf, Abdulaziz Hatem Attackers ﻿- Naif Al Hadhrami, Ahmed Aladdin, Hassan Al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Muhammad Muntari, Khaled Mounir ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony: When and where to watch? Who are the performers? Ecuador’s World Cup squad – Goalkeepers - Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez, Alexander Dominguez Defenders - Piero Hincapie, Robert Arboleda, Felix Torres, William Pacho, Pervis Estupinan, Angelo Preciado, Xavier Arreaga, Diego Palacios , Jackson Porozo Midfielders - Jose Cifuentes, Carlos Gruezo, Angel Mena, Jeremy Sarmiento, Jhegson Mendez, Gonzalo Plata, Alan Franco, Moises Caicedo, Kevin Rodriguez Forwards - Djorkaeff Reasco, Enner Valencia, Michael Estrada, Aytron Preciado, Romario Ibarra

FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming Channel in India: When and where to watch

<p>Ecuador eased past World Cup debutants Qatar 2-0 on Sunday with two goals from veteran striker Enner Valencia in a first opening game defeat for a host nation in the tournament's history.</p>

<p>Ecuador's all-time top scorer, nicknamed "Superman" at home, scored an early penalty and added a well-taken 31st-minute header to give the South Americans a commanding first-half lead as the Qataris looked overcome by the enormity of the occasion.</p>

<p>It could have been even worse for the hosts in front of a 67,372 crowd at the tent-shaped Al Bayt stadium had Valencia, 33, not had a third minute header disallowed for a marginal offside after goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb had flapped at the ball.</p>

<p>It was Alsheeb who later tripped Valencia when he was through on goal and then dived the wrong way as the Ecuadorean coolly dispatched the resulting penalty in the 16th minute.</p>

<p>For his second, Valencia was unmarked but still showed great technique to stoop and take Angelo Preciado's cross almost from behind him to head past Alsheeb again.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ecuador-captain-enner-valencia-scores-first-goal-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-535885">WATCH: Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scores first goal of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>That goal killed the Group A game as a contest and the second half was played at a slow pace, with many Qataris leaving before the end as Ecuador's fans chanted "Ole!"</p>

<p>Despite an enviously long time to bond and train together, including summer camps in Europe, Qatar looked largely toothless. Almoez Ali had their best chance at the end of the first half, heading wide but then judged offside.</p>

<p>Mohammed Muntari also fired over in the dying minutes.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ronaldo-and-messi-pose-together-in-a-stunning-pictue-to-break-the-internet-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-535857">Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>Both sides now have to play Senegal and the Netherlands in the group stage, with Qatar's chances of picking up points or qualifying looking slim on this performance.</p>

<p>Ecuador are dreaming of surpassing their best ever previous World Cup showing when they reached the last 16 in 2006.</p>


Ecuador eased past World Cup debutants Qatar 2-0 on Sunday with two goals from veteran striker Enner Valencia in a first opening game defeat for a host nation in the tournament's history.

Ecuador eased past World Cup debutants Qatar 2-0 on Sunday with two goals from veteran striker Enner Valencia in a first opening game defeat for a host nation in the tournament's history. Ecuador's all-time top scorer, nicknamed "Superman" at home, scored an early penalty and added a well-taken 31st-minute header to give the South Americans a commanding first-half lead as the Qataris looked overcome by the enormity of the occasion. It could have been even worse for the hosts in front of a 67,372 crowd at the tent-shaped Al Bayt stadium had Valencia, 33, not had a third minute header disallowed for a marginal offside after goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb had flapped at the ball. It was Alsheeb who later tripped Valencia when he was through on goal and then dived the wrong way as the Ecuadorean coolly dispatched the resulting penalty in the 16th minute. For his second, Valencia was unmarked but still showed great technique to stoop and take Angelo Preciado's cross almost from behind him to head past Alsheeb again. Also Read: WATCH: Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scores first goal of FIFA World Cup 2022 That goal killed the Group A game as a contest and the second half was played at a slow pace, with many Qataris leaving before the end as Ecuador's fans chanted "Ole!" Despite an enviously long time to bond and train together, including summer camps in Europe, Qatar looked largely toothless. Almoez Ali had their best chance at the end of the first half, heading wide but then judged offside. Mohammed Muntari also fired over in the dying minutes. Also Read: Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022 Both sides now have to play Senegal and the Netherlands in the group stage, with Qatar's chances of picking up points or qualifying looking slim on this performance. Ecuador are dreaming of surpassing their best ever previous World Cup showing when they reached the last 16 in 2006.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Ecuador ease past hapless Qatar in tournament opener

<p>Former England captain Wayne Rooney said he wi start Lionel Messi, drop Cristiano Ronaldo and bench England striker Harry Kane if given a choice between starting, benching, and dropping one between the trio. Rooney is part of the Indian channel Sports18's elite panel for the FIFA World Cup coverage.</p>

<p>The Manchester United legend was recently mocked and targeted by his former United teammate Ronaldo in an explosive interview with controversial English journalist Piers Morgan. Responding to Rooney's criticism of him earlier this season, Ronaldo accused the Manchester United great of being jealous of him.</p>

<p>Rooney had criticised Ronaldo over his behavior after the Portuguese forward refused to come on as a substitute and left the stadium early during United's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspurs. Ronaldo came up with a rather disrespectful response for his former teammate when asked about him during the interview.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ecuador-captain-enner-valencia-scores-first-goal-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-535885">WATCH: Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scores first goal of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>"I don’t know why he criticises me so badly… probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level," Ronaldo said in his interview.</p>

<p>“I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him. Which is true," he went on.</p>

<p>However, Rooney had come up with a classy response when recently asked about Ronaldo's comments. The former England striker said he still considers Ronaldo and Messi the two greatest footballers of al time despite the bitter comments from his former teammate.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ronaldo-and-messi-pose-together-in-a-stunning-pictue-to-break-the-internet-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-535857">Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>However, when it came to picking his favourites between Ronaldo, Messi and Kane, Rooney snubbed the Portuguese to keep the other two in his team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All three Ronaldo, Messi, and Kane will be hoping to inspire their respective teams to glory&nbsp;in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022. Ronaldo's Portugal will open their campaign against Ghana on Thursday while Argentina will face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. England will be up against Iran in their opening game on Monday.</p>


Former England captain Wayne Rooney said he wi start Lionel Messi, drop Cristiano Ronaldo and bench England striker Harry Kane if given a choice between starting, benching, and dropping one between the trio.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney said he wi start Lionel Messi, drop Cristiano Ronaldo and bench England striker Harry Kane if given a choice between starting, benching, and dropping one between the trio. Rooney is part of the Indian channel Sports18's elite panel for the FIFA World Cup coverage. The Manchester United legend was recently mocked and targeted by his former United teammate Ronaldo in an explosive interview with controversial English journalist Piers Morgan. Responding to Rooney's criticism of him earlier this season, Ronaldo accused the Manchester United great of being jealous of him. Rooney had criticised Ronaldo over his behavior after the Portuguese forward refused to come on as a substitute and left the stadium early during United's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspurs. Ronaldo came up with a rather disrespectful response for his former teammate when asked about him during the interview. Also Read: WATCH: Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scores first goal of FIFA World Cup 2022 "I don’t know why he criticises me so badly… probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level," Ronaldo said in his interview. “I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him. Which is true," he went on. However, Rooney had come up with a classy response when recently asked about Ronaldo's comments. The former England striker said he still considers Ronaldo and Messi the two greatest footballers of al time despite the bitter comments from his former teammate. Also Read: Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022 However, when it came to picking his favourites between Ronaldo, Messi and Kane, Rooney snubbed the Portuguese to keep the other two in his team. All three Ronaldo, Messi, and Kane will be hoping to inspire their respective teams to glory in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022. Ronaldo's Portugal will open their campaign against Ghana on Thursday while Argentina will face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. England will be up against Iran in their opening game on Monday.

Will start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney ahead of FIFA World Cup

<p>Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has attained somewhat of a cult hero status when it comes to World Cups. With his frizzy hair and headband, it is impossible to miss the veteran who currently holds the record for the highest number of appearances as a goalkeeper for Mexico. Although on first look, his statistics may not reveal the impact he has had in the tournament but a quick search on YouTube and one will be flooded with videos of his amazing saves. With the FIFA World Cup 2022 just round the corner, it can be the last time that he will play in this competition and football fans from around the world will be expecting more heroics from the footballer nicknamed ‘Memo’. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-and-wales-set-to-defy-fifa-with-onelove-rainbow-armbands-in-support-of-lgbtq-rights-535640">England and Wales set to defy FIFA with 'OneLove' rainbow armbands</a></p>

<p>Ochoa was handed his Mexico debut in 2005 against Hungary and although he was included in the 2006 World Cup squad, it was strictly as the third-choice keeper. However, in 2010, he went into the competition as a top performer for Mexican club Americas, but the result was same. He saw Mexico get eliminated from the group stages of the competition without playing a single minute.</p>

<p><strong>First impressions</strong></p>

<p>By the time Mexico reached Brazil for the 2014 edition of the tournament, there was no denying Ochoa as the first choice. Already a veteran with experiences in both the French and Spanish leagues, he started the campaign with a clean sheet against Cameroon, but his stardom will come against Brazil. Against an attack boasting on world class talents like Oscar and Neymar, he pulled off six saves – including a blinder against Fred – to earn a well-deserved point for his national team. Even the legendary Pele went on to compare him to England legend Gordon Banks for his saves.</p>

<p>The great run of form continued against Croatia as he quickly gained popularity due to his athletic saves and acute awareness. In the Round of 16, he once again faced the might of Netherlands and although Mexico lost due to a late penalty, Ochoa was a name that almost all football fans knew.</p>

<p><strong>New year, same old Ochoa</strong></p>

<p>What followed were a barrage of transfer rumours ranging from Chelsea to Arsenal. But he continued to play in the La Liga followed by a move to Belgian champions Standard Liege.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/portugal-captain-cristiano-ronaldo-eyes-elite-world-cup-record-amid-manchester-united-woes-535621">Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo eyes elite World Cup record amid Manchester United woes</a></p>

<p>In 2018, Ochoa looked like he picked up just where he left in 2014. He pulled off an impressive 25 saves in just four games – the same as Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but in fewer matches. In a group consisting of heavyweights like Germany and South Korea, he proved to be difference maker and before ultimately losing to Brazil, Ochoa looked almost invincible between the posts.</p>

<p><strong>Farewell with a hint of controversy</strong></p>

<p>Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Ochoa actually found himself in a bit of a controversy. Kavak, a company where the veteran goalkeeper holds a huge number of shares, is also sponsoring the Argentina football team and that has not gone down well with some experts and also fans.</p>

<p>However, all that is in the past. Mexico once again has a tough challenge in front of them with Argentina and Poland featuring in their group. In that case, keeping a clean sheet will be nothing short of gold dust for El Tri and if fans will once again be expecting magic from Guillermo Ochoa.</p>

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Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has attained somewhat of a cult hero status when it comes to World Cups. With his frizzy hair and headband, it is impossible to miss the veteran who currently holds the record for the highest number of appearances as a goalkeeper for Mexico.

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has attained somewhat of a cult hero status when it comes to World Cups. With his frizzy hair and headband, it is impossible to miss the veteran who currently holds the record for the highest number of appearances as a goalkeeper for Mexico. Although on first look, his statistics may not reveal the impact he has had in the tournament but a quick search on YouTube and one will be flooded with videos of his amazing saves. With the FIFA World Cup 2022 just round the corner, it can be the last time that he will play in this competition and football fans from around the world will be expecting more heroics from the footballer nicknamed ‘Memo’. Also read | England and Wales set to defy FIFA with 'OneLove' rainbow armbands Ochoa was handed his Mexico debut in 2005 against Hungary and although he was included in the 2006 World Cup squad, it was strictly as the third-choice keeper. However, in 2010, he went into the competition as a top performer for Mexican club Americas, but the result was same. He saw Mexico get eliminated from the group stages of the competition without playing a single minute. First impressions By the time Mexico reached Brazil for the 2014 edition of the tournament, there was no denying Ochoa as the first choice. Already a veteran with experiences in both the French and Spanish leagues, he started the campaign with a clean sheet against Cameroon, but his stardom will come against Brazil. Against an attack boasting on world class talents like Oscar and Neymar, he pulled off six saves – including a blinder against Fred – to earn a well-deserved point for his national team. Even the legendary Pele went on to compare him to England legend Gordon Banks for his saves. The great run of form continued against Croatia as he quickly gained popularity due to his athletic saves and acute awareness. In the Round of 16, he once again faced the might of Netherlands and although Mexico lost due to a late penalty, Ochoa was a name that almost all football fans knew. New year, same old Ochoa What followed were a barrage of transfer rumours ranging from Chelsea to Arsenal. But he continued to play in the La Liga followed by a move to Belgian champions Standard Liege. Also read | Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo eyes elite World Cup record amid Manchester United woes In 2018, Ochoa looked like he picked up just where he left in 2014. He pulled off an impressive 25 saves in just four games – the same as Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but in fewer matches. In a group consisting of heavyweights like Germany and South Korea, he proved to be difference maker and before ultimately losing to Brazil, Ochoa looked almost invincible between the posts. Farewell with a hint of controversy Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Ochoa actually found himself in a bit of a controversy. Kavak, a company where the veteran goalkeeper holds a huge number of shares, is also sponsoring the Argentina football team and that has not gone down well with some experts and also fans. However, all that is in the past. Mexico once again has a tough challenge in front of them with Argentina and Poland featuring in their group. In that case, keeping a clean sheet will be nothing short of gold dust for El Tri and if fans will once again be expecting magic from Guillermo Ochoa.

FIFA World Cup 2022: The enigma called Guillermo Ochoa

<p>Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scored the first goal at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in the tournament opener at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. Valencia managed to find the back of the net inside just three minutes of kick-off as Ecuador locked horns with hosts Qatar in the first game of the tournament.</p>

<p>Valencia managed to get in a strong header on a brilliant pass from Felix Torres to put the ball in the back of the net and thought he had the first goal of the tournament after a terrible mistake from Qatar keeper&nbsp;Saad Al Sheeb. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR as Valencia was deemed off-side in the build-up.</p>

<p>However, Ecuador were arguably the better of the two teams on the pitch in the initial few minutes of the game and it didn't take them too long to go ahead as Valencia kept testing the Qatari defence with his solid runs forward. The Ecuador skipper managed to get on the scoresheet finally in the 16th minute after being awarded a penalty for a foul from Al Sheeb.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-pressure-spains-ferran-torres-on-his-relationship-with-coach-luis-enriques-daughter-ahead-of-fifa-wc-535873">'No pressure': Spain's Ferran Torres on his relationship with coach Luis Enrique's daughter ahead of FIFA WC</a></p>

<p>Valencia was brought down inside the box by the Qatar keeper after finding himself in a one-on-one situation in front of the goal. It was a terrible challenge from the Qatari keeper and Valencia made sure to punish the hosts for his mistake by slotting it home from the spot.</p>

<p>The Ecuador striker looked calm and composed as he tucked the ball in the bottom right corner to send Al Sheeb the wrong way and score the first goal of the competition.</p>

<p><strong>Watch the first goal of FIFA World Cup 2022:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">GOOOOOOL<br />
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Ecuador scores the FIRST goal of the Qatar World Cup 2022! 🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨 <a href="https://t.co/df6k9f74BX">pic.twitter.com/df6k9f74BX</a></p>
— South American Fútbol Show (@SouthAmFutbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthAmFutbol/status/1594365929713958912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ronaldo-and-messi-pose-together-in-a-stunning-pictue-to-break-the-internet-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-535857">Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>Valencia doubled Ecuador's lead in the 31st minute with a sensational header after latching on to a fine crosss from &nbsp;Angelo Preciado. Michael Estrada too tried to send it in but it was Valenica, who managed to make the contact with the ball and coneected a strong header to beat Al Sheeb for the third time in the game for his second goal.</p>

<p>With the goal, the Ecuador skipper put his team in cruise control in their opener and also extended his taly to five goals in the World Cup for his country.</p>

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Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scored the first goal at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in the tournament opener at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. Valencia managed to find the back of the net inside just three minutes of kick-off as Ecuador locked horns with hosts Qatar in the first game of the tournament.

Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scored the first goal at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in the tournament opener at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. Valencia managed to find the back of the net inside just three minutes of kick-off as Ecuador locked horns with hosts Qatar in the first game of the tournament. Valencia managed to get in a strong header on a brilliant pass from Felix Torres to put the ball in the back of the net and thought he had the first goal of the tournament after a terrible mistake from Qatar keeper Saad Al Sheeb. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR as Valencia was deemed off-side in the build-up. However, Ecuador were arguably the better of the two teams on the pitch in the initial few minutes of the game and it didn't take them too long to go ahead as Valencia kept testing the Qatari defence with his solid runs forward. The Ecuador skipper managed to get on the scoresheet finally in the 16th minute after being awarded a penalty for a foul from Al Sheeb. Also Read: 'No pressure': Spain's Ferran Torres on his relationship with coach Luis Enrique's daughter ahead of FIFA WC Valencia was brought down inside the box by the Qatar keeper after finding himself in a one-on-one situation in front of the goal. It was a terrible challenge from the Qatari keeper and Valencia made sure to punish the hosts for his mistake by slotting it home from the spot. The Ecuador striker looked calm and composed as he tucked the ball in the bottom right corner to send Al Sheeb the wrong way and score the first goal of the competition. Watch the first goal of FIFA World Cup 2022: GOOOOOOL Ecuador scores the FIRST goal of the Qatar World Cup 2022! 🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/df6k9f74BX — South American Fútbol Show (@SouthAmFutbol) November 20, 2022 × Also Read: Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022 Valencia doubled Ecuador's lead in the 31st minute with a sensational header after latching on to a fine crosss from Angelo Preciado. Michael Estrada too tried to send it in but it was Valenica, who managed to make the contact with the ball and coneected a strong header to beat Al Sheeb for the third time in the game for his second goal. With the goal, the Ecuador skipper put his team in cruise control in their opener and also extended his taly to five goals in the World Cup for his country.

WATCH: Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scores first goal of FIFA World Cup 2022

<p>The wait is officially over as the world's biggest football extravaganza is all set to get underway in Qatar from Sunday (November 20) with the host nation taking on Ecuador in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The tournament will feature some of the best players from across the globe with the world's best teams battling it out for the ultimate prize.</p>

<p>Defending champions France will be looking to successfully defend their crown while Cristiano Ronaldo would hope to bow out in stellar fashion in what will be his last World Cup for Portugal. Argentina will once again look up to Lionel Messi for inspiration while Brazil will be keen on ending their long-standing trophy drought.</p>

<p><strong>Here is a look at the top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Brazil</strong></p>

<p>Brazil are set to bring the Samba flavour to Qatar with their fascinating style of play. Tite's squad has a great mix of youth and experience with the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Thiago Silva and Alisson in their ranks. Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002 but will start favourites this time around considering the quality of their squad.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-and-wales-set-to-defy-fifa-with-onelove-rainbow-armbands-in-support-of-lgbtq-rights-535640">England and Wales set to defy FIFA with 'OneLove' rainbow armbands in support of LGBTQ rights</a></p>

<p><strong>Argentina</strong></p>

<p>Lionel Messi will be hoping to sign off on a high if this proves to be his last World Cup. It will not only be his teammates who will be willing to give their all to give the Argentine legend the farewell he deserves, but millions across the world will be hoping for Messi to add the elusive World Cup to his trophy cabinet.</p>

<p>Argentina's recent form has been brilliant and they had into the World Cup as the reigning Copa America champions. They have a solid defence and an attack comprising the likes of Messi, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala among others. They have enough firepower in their team to go the distance this time around.</p>

<p><strong>France</strong></p>

<p>Defending champions France will once again head into the tournament as overwhelming favourites this year. Didier Deschamps' men will be hoping to become the third team after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958,1962) to win successive World Cup titles. They have the majority of the players from the 2018 World Cup-winning team still at their disposal and will be gunning for glory in Qatar.</p>

<p>Though France suffered a huge blow on the eve of the World Cup losing&nbsp;Karim Benzema out to injury,&nbsp;Deschamps still believes his team has what it takes to defend the title. In a statement, he said,&nbsp;"I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us."</p>

<p><strong>Netherlands</strong></p>

<p>The Netherlands didn't enjoy the best of campaigns in the 2018 World Cup but they have since managed to revamp their squad under manager Louis Van Gal and will be looking to go the distance. The Dutch have always been one of the strong teams at the World Cups over the years and it's no different this time around.</p>

<p>While they have a leader at the back in Virgil Van Dijk, who remains one of the best defenders in the world despite his struggles at Liverpool this season, their attack comprising of the likes of Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay is capable of changing games on their own. With the brain of Frenkie de Jong in the midfield, the Netherlands will be hoping to shine in Qatar this year.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/portugal-captain-cristiano-ronaldo-eyes-elite-world-cup-record-amid-manchester-united-woes-535621">Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo eyes elite World Cup record amid Manchester United woes</a></p>

<p><strong>Portugal</strong></p>

<p>Portugal might not be clear favourites but can't be written off considering the amount of talent and experience in their squad. While an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo might not produce similar numbers as he was doing before, the legendary forward still has the hunger to win it all for his team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Portugal are bursting with potential and promise with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and&nbsp;Joao Felix among others in their ranks. With Pepe still there at the back and the likes of Ruben Dias and Diogo Dalot adding much-needed young blood to their defence, Portugal will be fancying their chances of winning the ultimate trophy.</p>

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The wait is officially over as the world's biggest football extravaganza is all set to get underway in Qatar from Sunday (November 20) with the host nation taking on Ecuador in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

The wait is officially over as the world's biggest football extravaganza is all set to get underway in Qatar from Sunday (November 20) with the host nation taking on Ecuador in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The tournament will feature some of the best players from across the globe with the world's best teams battling it out for the ultimate prize. Defending champions France will be looking to successfully defend their crown while Cristiano Ronaldo would hope to bow out in stellar fashion in what will be his last World Cup for Portugal. Argentina will once again look up to Lionel Messi for inspiration while Brazil will be keen on ending their long-standing trophy drought. Here is a look at the top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title: Brazil Brazil are set to bring the Samba flavour to Qatar with their fascinating style of play. Tite's squad has a great mix of youth and experience with the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Thiago Silva and Alisson in their ranks. Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002 but will start favourites this time around considering the quality of their squad. Also Read: England and Wales set to defy FIFA with 'OneLove' rainbow armbands in support of LGBTQ rights Argentina Lionel Messi will be hoping to sign off on a high if this proves to be his last World Cup. It will not only be his teammates who will be willing to give their all to give the Argentine legend the farewell he deserves, but millions across the world will be hoping for Messi to add the elusive World Cup to his trophy cabinet. Argentina's recent form has been brilliant and they had into the World Cup as the reigning Copa America champions. They have a solid defence and an attack comprising the likes of Messi, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala among others. They have enough firepower in their team to go the distance this time around. France Defending champions France will once again head into the tournament as overwhelming favourites this year. Didier Deschamps' men will be hoping to become the third team after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958,1962) to win successive World Cup titles. They have the majority of the players from the 2018 World Cup-winning team still at their disposal and will be gunning for glory in Qatar. Though France suffered a huge blow on the eve of the World Cup losing Karim Benzema out to injury, Deschamps still believes his team has what it takes to defend the title. In a statement, he said, "I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us." Netherlands The Netherlands didn't enjoy the best of campaigns in the 2018 World Cup but they have since managed to revamp their squad under manager Louis Van Gal and will be looking to go the distance. The Dutch have always been one of the strong teams at the World Cups over the years and it's no different this time around. While they have a leader at the back in Virgil Van Dijk, who remains one of the best defenders in the world despite his struggles at Liverpool this season, their attack comprising of the likes of Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay is capable of changing games on their own. With the brain of Frenkie de Jong in the midfield, the Netherlands will be hoping to shine in Qatar this year. Also Read: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo eyes elite World Cup record amid Manchester United woes Portugal Portugal might not be clear favourites but can't be written off considering the amount of talent and experience in their squad. While an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo might not produce similar numbers as he was doing before, the legendary forward still has the hunger to win it all for his team. Portugal are bursting with potential and promise with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix among others in their ranks. With Pepe still there at the back and the likes of Ruben Dias and Diogo Dalot adding much-needed young blood to their defence, Portugal will be fancying their chances of winning the ultimate trophy. ×

Brazil to France: Top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title

<p>Defending world champions France suffered a massive blow to their title defence as their star striker Karin Benzema got ruled out of the FIFA World Cup due to an injury.</p>

<p>Benzema got injured during training, per a report by the French Football Federation on Saturday. The recently crowned Ballon d’Or winner&nbsp;had been struggling with a muscle problem for some time now. He&nbsp;was forced to leave France’s training ground one day before the start of the mega event in Qatar.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/qatar-world-cup-2022-fifa-chief-speaks-on-migrant-workers-535557"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Qatar World Cup 2022: FIFA Chief speaks on migrant workers</strong></a></p>

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<p>France’s head coach Didier Deschamps in a statement said he obviously feels sad for Benzema and that despite losing him at such a crucial hour, Didier is confident of an exceptional performance from his team in this year's world cup.</p>

<p>"I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us," Didier Deschamps said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brazil-to-france-top-five-contenders-for-the-fifa-world-cup-2022-title-535650">Brazil to France: Top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title</a></p>

<p>Playing for Real Madrid for over a decade now, Benzema has&nbsp;earned quite a name for himself. The past season was arguably his best in terms of goals scored as he netted 44 times in 46 games helping his club win the La Liga and Champions League. This feat of his helped won him his first Ballon d’Or as well.</p>

<p>Benzema&nbsp;was France’s highest goal-scorer during their 2014 campaign. However,&nbsp;he missed the next edition in Russia in 2018 as he was serving a six-year suspension in a blackmailing scandal. But since his return to the international set up last year, the Frenchman has found the back of the net 10 times&nbsp;in 16 games.</p>

<p>Alongside Benzema, France will also miss the services of Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, and Christopher Nkunku all due to injuries.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-where-and-when-to-watch-qatar-vs-ecuador-match-535615">FIFA World Cup 2022: When and where to watch first match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador?</a></p>

<p>The defending champions will open their world cup campaign on Tuesday against Australia in a group D match.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Defending world champions France suffered a massive blow to their title defence as their star striker Karin Benzema got ruled out of the FIFA World Cup due to an injury.

Defending world champions France suffered a massive blow to their title defence as their star striker Karin Benzema got ruled out of the FIFA World Cup due to an injury. Benzema got injured during training, per a report by the French Football Federation on Saturday. The recently crowned Ballon d’Or winner had been struggling with a muscle problem for some time now. He was forced to leave France’s training ground one day before the start of the mega event in Qatar. WATCH | Qatar World Cup 2022: FIFA Chief speaks on migrant workers × France’s head coach Didier Deschamps in a statement said he obviously feels sad for Benzema and that despite losing him at such a crucial hour, Didier is confident of an exceptional performance from his team in this year's world cup. "I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us," Didier Deschamps said. ALSO READ: Brazil to France: Top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title Playing for Real Madrid for over a decade now, Benzema has earned quite a name for himself. The past season was arguably his best in terms of goals scored as he netted 44 times in 46 games helping his club win the La Liga and Champions League. This feat of his helped won him his first Ballon d’Or as well. Benzema was France’s highest goal-scorer during their 2014 campaign. However, he missed the next edition in Russia in 2018 as he was serving a six-year suspension in a blackmailing scandal. But since his return to the international set up last year, the Frenchman has found the back of the net 10 times in 16 games. Alongside Benzema, France will also miss the services of Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, and Christopher Nkunku all due to injuries. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022: When and where to watch first match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador? The defending champions will open their world cup campaign on Tuesday against Australia in a group D match. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Big blow to France as Karim Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup due to injury

<p>Qatar's ruler opened the World Cup on Sunday with a call for people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences, speaking as the host nation faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and LGBT rights.</p>

<p>The Muslim Gulf nation is staking its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament and has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination. Governing body FIFA hopes the spotlight will now turn to action on the pitch.</p>

<p>Organisers have also denied allegations of bribery for winning the rights to host soccer's biggest event.</p>

<p>"People of all races, nationalities, beliefs and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens across the continents to share in the exciting moments," Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said in a speech in a tent-shaped stadium.</p>

<p>"How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together at the same time."</p>

<p>Sheikh Tamim arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to a roaring crowd, and took their seats alongside other Arab leaders.</p>

<p>A show then unfolded on the pitch, featuring three camels, American actor Morgan Freeman and a performance of a new tournament song called Dreamers featuring singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-pressure-spains-ferran-torres-on-his-relationship-with-coach-luis-enriques-daughter-ahead-of-fifa-wc-535873">'No pressure': Spain's Ferran Torres on his relationship with coach Luis Enrique's daughter ahead of FIFA WC</a></p>

<p>Saudi Arabia's crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, were among leaders at the stadium ahead of the first match between the hosts and Ecuador.</p>

<p>Inside Al Bayt Stadium many seats were still vacant with gridlock on the expressway leading to the arena. Cheers went up as Qatar's team appeared for their opening match.</p>

<p>The soccer tournament, the first held in the Middle East and the most expensive in its history, is a culmination of Qatar's soft power push, after a 3-1/2 year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that ended in 2021.</p>

<p>The UAE, whose rapprochement with Doha has been slower than that of Riyadh and Cairo, sent its vice president who is also ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup fans have opted to stay.</p>

<p>For the first time, a direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Doha landed in Qatar on Sunday despite the absence of formal bilateral ties, in a deal brokered by FIFA to carry both Palestinians and Israelis to the tournament.</p>

<p>The Gulf state's Deputy Prime Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah, in remarks on state media, said Qatar was reaping benefits of years of "hard work and sound planning".</p>

<p>Denmark's and Germany's team captains will wear One Love armbands as they prepare to compete in a conservative Muslim state where same-sex relations are illegal. Organisers say all are welcome, while warning against public affection.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022">Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>Throngs of fans were already arriving in Qatar, but the main rush will be later this week.</p>

<p>Daniel Oordt from the Netherlands, clad in orange, told Reuters there was a feeling of "constant pressure around you not to say the wrong thing or make the wrong move", adding, "It's not a fun atmosphere to have at a World Cup".</p>

<p>Argentina fan Julio Cesar though said he expected a great atmosphere. "We'll drink before the match," he added, after alcohol sales at stadiums were banned just days before the tournament.</p>

<p>Visitors sipped beer at the FIFA Fan Festival in central Doha. Outside the city's edges, hundreds of workers gathered in a sports arena in an industrial zone, without alcohol. They can watch matches there, priced out of the stadiums many toiled to build along with other infrastructure for the event.</p>

<p>"Of course I didn't buy a ticket. They're expensive and I should use that money for other things - like sending it back home to my family," Ghanaian national Kasim, a security guard who has worked in Qatar for four years, told Reuters.</p>

<p>Crowd control will be key with some 1.2 million visitors expected - more than a third of Qatar's population.</p>

<p>Workers were putting final touches to Doha's landscape, including draping a purple tarpaulin over an unfinished building near the stadium where the final will be held.</p>

<p>At Lagoona Mall, residents were going about their business.</p>

<p>"I came now because I don't know how bad the traffic will be later this week," said Egyptian woman Esraa, out grocery shopping.</p>


Qatar's ruler opened the World Cup on Sunday with a call for people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences, speaking as the host nation faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and LGBT rights.

Qatar's ruler opened the World Cup on Sunday with a call for people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences, speaking as the host nation faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and LGBT rights. The Muslim Gulf nation is staking its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament and has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination. Governing body FIFA hopes the spotlight will now turn to action on the pitch. Organisers have also denied allegations of bribery for winning the rights to host soccer's biggest event. "People of all races, nationalities, beliefs and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens across the continents to share in the exciting moments," Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said in a speech in a tent-shaped stadium. "How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together at the same time." Sheikh Tamim arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to a roaring crowd, and took their seats alongside other Arab leaders. A show then unfolded on the pitch, featuring three camels, American actor Morgan Freeman and a performance of a new tournament song called Dreamers featuring singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi. Also Read: 'No pressure': Spain's Ferran Torres on his relationship with coach Luis Enrique's daughter ahead of FIFA WC Saudi Arabia's crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, were among leaders at the stadium ahead of the first match between the hosts and Ecuador. Inside Al Bayt Stadium many seats were still vacant with gridlock on the expressway leading to the arena. Cheers went up as Qatar's team appeared for their opening match. The soccer tournament, the first held in the Middle East and the most expensive in its history, is a culmination of Qatar's soft power push, after a 3-1/2 year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that ended in 2021. The UAE, whose rapprochement with Doha has been slower than that of Riyadh and Cairo, sent its vice president who is also ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup fans have opted to stay. For the first time, a direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Doha landed in Qatar on Sunday despite the absence of formal bilateral ties, in a deal brokered by FIFA to carry both Palestinians and Israelis to the tournament. The Gulf state's Deputy Prime Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah, in remarks on state media, said Qatar was reaping benefits of years of "hard work and sound planning". Denmark's and Germany's team captains will wear One Love armbands as they prepare to compete in a conservative Muslim state where same-sex relations are illegal. Organisers say all are welcome, while warning against public affection. Also Read: Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022 Throngs of fans were already arriving in Qatar, but the main rush will be later this week. Daniel Oordt from the Netherlands, clad in orange, told Reuters there was a feeling of "constant pressure around you not to say the wrong thing or make the wrong move", adding, "It's not a fun atmosphere to have at a World Cup". Argentina fan Julio Cesar though said he expected a great atmosphere. "We'll drink before the match," he added, after alcohol sales at stadiums were banned just days before the tournament. Visitors sipped beer at the FIFA Fan Festival in central Doha. Outside the city's edges, hundreds of workers gathered in a sports arena in an industrial zone, without alcohol. They can watch matches there, priced out of the stadiums many toiled to build along with other infrastructure for the event. "Of course I didn't buy a ticket. They're expensive and I should use that money for other things - like sending it back home to my family," Ghanaian national Kasim, a security guard who has worked in Qatar for four years, told Reuters. Crowd control will be key with some 1.2 million visitors expected - more than a third of Qatar's population. Workers were putting final touches to Doha's landscape, including draping a purple tarpaulin over an unfinished building near the stadium where the final will be held. At Lagoona Mall, residents were going about their business. "I came now because I don't know how bad the traffic will be later this week," said Egyptian woman Esraa, out grocery shopping.

FIFA World Cup 2022 gets underway with stakes high for host Qatar

<p>Spain forward Ferran Torres has played down talks of dealing with additional pressure because of his relationship with manager Luis Enrique's daughter. Torres will be one of the key players for Spain as Enrique's men hope to go all the way in the showpiece event in Qatar this year.</p>

<p>The 2010 champions are not the favourites but are certainly capable of pulling off a remarkable campaign in the World Cup this time around with significant talent and experience in their ranks. Ahead of the start of their campaign, Torres was asked if he feels there is additional pressure on him due to his relationship with his coach's daughter.</p>

<p>The Barcelona forward clarified he and Enrique know how to differentiate between family and profession while stating that his relationship will not at all serve as an obstacle for him at the World Cup.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ronaldo-and-messi-pose-together-in-a-stunning-pictue-to-break-the-internet-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-535857">Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>"Not at all," said Torres when asked if there was extra pressure on him due to his relationship with&nbsp;Sira Martinez, daughter of Spain manager Enrique.</p>

<p>"I think the coach and I, we know how to differentiate between when it's family and when we are manager and player. I think we have to get on with it in a natural way, just that and we're getting along fine," he added.</p>

<p>Torres and Martinez had gone public about their relationship for the first time earlier this year. While Torres is playing for Spain and Barcelona, Martinez is a&nbsp;show-jumper. The 22-year-od often shares pictures with the Spanish footballer on her social media accounts.</p>

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<p>Spain coach Enrique too joked about Torres and his daughter being together when asked which player from his squad, he felt was an extension of him on the field. "Very easy - it's Mr. Ferran Torres - otherwise my daughter will come after me and chop off my head," said Enrique, who is one of the best managers in the world.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-one-to-replace-karim-benzema-in-world-cup-squad-confirms-french-coach-didier-deschamps-535820">FIFA World Cup 2022: No one will replace Karim Benzema in France squad, confirms coach Didier Deschamps</a></p>

<p>Spain have not managed to perform up to the expectations in major events recently but Enrique will be hopeful of bringing a change in the country's fortunes in the World Cup this year. While they have enough experience in their squad in the form of Sergio Busquets, Dani Carvajal, Jordi Alba, and Alvaro Morata among others, Spain also have some of the best young talents in the world.</p>

<p>Youngsters like Ansu Fati, Torres, Pedri, and Gavi among others will be hopeful of making the most of the opportunities in what will be their maiden World Cup campaign.</p>

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Spain forward Ferran Torres has played down talks of dealing with additional pressure because of his relationship with manager Luis Enrique's daughter. Torres will be one of the key players for Spain as Enrique's men hope to go all the way in the showpiece event in Qatar this year.

Spain forward Ferran Torres has played down talks of dealing with additional pressure because of his relationship with manager Luis Enrique's daughter. Torres will be one of the key players for Spain as Enrique's men hope to go all the way in the showpiece event in Qatar this year. The 2010 champions are not the favourites but are certainly capable of pulling off a remarkable campaign in the World Cup this time around with significant talent and experience in their ranks. Ahead of the start of their campaign, Torres was asked if he feels there is additional pressure on him due to his relationship with his coach's daughter. The Barcelona forward clarified he and Enrique know how to differentiate between family and profession while stating that his relationship will not at all serve as an obstacle for him at the World Cup. Also Read: Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022 "Not at all," said Torres when asked if there was extra pressure on him due to his relationship with Sira Martinez, daughter of Spain manager Enrique. "I think the coach and I, we know how to differentiate between when it's family and when we are manager and player. I think we have to get on with it in a natural way, just that and we're getting along fine," he added. Torres and Martinez had gone public about their relationship for the first time earlier this year. While Torres is playing for Spain and Barcelona, Martinez is a show-jumper. The 22-year-od often shares pictures with the Spanish footballer on her social media accounts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sira Martinez (@siramartinezc) × Spain coach Enrique too joked about Torres and his daughter being together when asked which player from his squad, he felt was an extension of him on the field. "Very easy - it's Mr. Ferran Torres - otherwise my daughter will come after me and chop off my head," said Enrique, who is one of the best managers in the world. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: No one will replace Karim Benzema in France squad, confirms coach Didier Deschamps Spain have not managed to perform up to the expectations in major events recently but Enrique will be hopeful of bringing a change in the country's fortunes in the World Cup this year. While they have enough experience in their squad in the form of Sergio Busquets, Dani Carvajal, Jordi Alba, and Alvaro Morata among others, Spain also have some of the best young talents in the world. Youngsters like Ansu Fati, Torres, Pedri, and Gavi among others will be hopeful of making the most of the opportunities in what will be their maiden World Cup campaign. ×

'No pressure': Spain's Ferran Torres on his relationship with coach Luis Enrique's daughter ahead of FIFA WC

<p>Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi posed together in a stunning photograph to take the internet by storm ahead of the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The eternal rivals, who will be bidding for glory at the World Cup, can be seen oozing class while making their moves on a chess board.</p>

<p>Over the years, Messi and Ronaldo have been involved in one of the greatest rivalries in world football. Two of the best to have graced the sport, the duo has produced several mouth-watering contests in the past decade and continues&nbsp;to enthrall the fans with their impressive performances on the pitch.</p>

<p>The iconic duo is rarely spotted sharing a moment together on the pitch considering their epic rivalry but they came together for a promotional campaign recently. Messi and Ronaldo can be seen sitting opposite each other over a chessboard in a picture shared by both on social media.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-prize-money-how-much-will-the-winners-and-runners-up-take-home-535797">FIFA World Cup 2022 prize money: How much will the winners and runners-up take home?</a></p>

<p>The posts broke the internet as soon as it hit the social media accounts of the two legends with fans gushing over the 'legendary picture'. "Victory is a State of Mind. A long tradition of crafting trunks," reads the caption of the picture shared by both Ronaldo and Messi.</p>

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<p>Ronaldo will be leading Portugal while Messi will be spearheading Argentina's charge at the FIFA World Cup 2022. Both teams are among the favourites to win the title this year with an abundance of talent in their ranks. Both Messi and Ronaldo are set to make their final appearances in a World Cup this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-all-you-need-to-know-535729">FIFA World Cup 2022 – All You Need to Know about the Qatar extravaganza</a></p>

<p>While the Portuguese has already confirmed this will be his last World Cup, Messi is yet to take a call on his future but is unlikely to continue till the next World Cup as he is 35 at present. Portugal will begin their World Cup campaign with a clash against Ghana on Thursday while Argentina will lock horns with Saudi Arabia in their opener on Tuesday.</p>

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi posed together in a stunning photograph to take the internet by storm ahead of the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The eternal rivals, who will be bidding for glory at the World Cup, can be seen oozing class while making their moves on a chess board.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi posed together in a stunning photograph to take the internet by storm ahead of the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The eternal rivals, who will be bidding for glory at the World Cup, can be seen oozing class while making their moves on a chess board. Over the years, Messi and Ronaldo have been involved in one of the greatest rivalries in world football. Two of the best to have graced the sport, the duo has produced several mouth-watering contests in the past decade and continues to enthrall the fans with their impressive performances on the pitch. The iconic duo is rarely spotted sharing a moment together on the pitch considering their epic rivalry but they came together for a promotional campaign recently. Messi and Ronaldo can be seen sitting opposite each other over a chessboard in a picture shared by both on social media. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022 prize money: How much will the winners and runners-up take home? The posts broke the internet as soon as it hit the social media accounts of the two legends with fans gushing over the 'legendary picture'. "Victory is a State of Mind. A long tradition of crafting trunks," reads the caption of the picture shared by both Ronaldo and Messi. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) × View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) × Ronaldo will be leading Portugal while Messi will be spearheading Argentina's charge at the FIFA World Cup 2022. Both teams are among the favourites to win the title this year with an abundance of talent in their ranks. Both Messi and Ronaldo are set to make their final appearances in a World Cup this year. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022 – All You Need to Know about the Qatar extravaganza While the Portuguese has already confirmed this will be his last World Cup, Messi is yet to take a call on his future but is unlikely to continue till the next World Cup as he is 35 at present. Portugal will begin their World Cup campaign with a clash against Ghana on Thursday while Argentina will lock horns with Saudi Arabia in their opener on Tuesday. ×

Ronaldo and Messi pose together in a stunning picture to break the internet ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022

France striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after tearing a muscle in his left thigh. Watch this video to know more.

Karim Benzema ruled out of 2022 World Cup in Qatar

<p>Hours after France lost striker Karim Benzema to injury in potentially their biggest setback to the world cup defense, coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that no one will be replacing the 34-year-old in the World Cup squad.</p>

<p>French striker and the man in form, Karim Benzema on Saturday got ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2022, which is about to begin in a few hours' time in Qatar, due to an injury while training. Benzema is believed to have injured his left thigh while he was already carrying a muscle problem for some time. The injury came at a horrible time as France was preparing for their World Cup opener against Australia on Tuesday.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-france-as-karim-benzema-ruled-out-of-fifa-world-cup-due-to-injury-535704">Big blow to France as Karim Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup due to injury</a></p>

<p>During an interaction with the French TV channel Telefoot, when France’s coach Deschamps was asked who is going to replace Benzema in the squad, he clearly said none. Adding further he said, “It is a big blow, of course. Karim had done everything. He was in session and with an almost innocuous gesture... here it is the other leg (the left) and in front when it was the 'hamstring on the other."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Benzema returned to the French squad last year only after facing a six-year suspension in a blackmailing –scandal. Upon his arrival he played 16 matches for his country, scoring ten goals.</p>

<p>In his previous season with Real Madrid, the star striker was at the top of his game. In all competitions, he scored 44 goals in 46 matches, helping his team win La Liga and even the Champions League. Courtesy of an incredible form, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2022-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-qatar-extravaganza-535774/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>


Hours after France lost striker Karim Benzema to injury in potentially their biggest setback to the world cup defense, coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that no one will be replacing the 34-year-old in the World Cup squad.

Hours after France lost striker Karim Benzema to injury in potentially their biggest setback to the world cup defense, coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that no one will be replacing the 34-year-old in the World Cup squad. French striker and the man in form, Karim Benzema on Saturday got ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2022, which is about to begin in a few hours' time in Qatar, due to an injury while training. Benzema is believed to have injured his left thigh while he was already carrying a muscle problem for some time. The injury came at a horrible time as France was preparing for their World Cup opener against Australia on Tuesday. ALSO READ: Big blow to France as Karim Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup due to injury During an interaction with the French TV channel Telefoot, when France’s coach Deschamps was asked who is going to replace Benzema in the squad, he clearly said none. Adding further he said, “It is a big blow, of course. Karim had done everything. He was in session and with an almost innocuous gesture... here it is the other leg (the left) and in front when it was the 'hamstring on the other." Meanwhile, Benzema returned to the French squad last year only after facing a six-year suspension in a blackmailing –scandal. Upon his arrival he played 16 matches for his country, scoring ten goals. In his previous season with Real Madrid, the star striker was at the top of his game. In all competitions, he scored 44 goals in 46 matches, helping his team win La Liga and even the Champions League. Courtesy of an incredible form, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career.

FIFA World Cup 2022: No one will replace Karim Benzema in France squad, confirms coach Didier Deschamps

<p>The 32 best teams from around the globe will battle it out for the ultimate trophy in the FIFA World Cup 2022 which gets underway in Qatar on Sunday (November 20). Hosts Qatar will kick off the proceedings by locking horns with Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament at the Al Bayt Stadium.</p>

<p>The biggest football extravaganza of the year will consist of a total of 64 matches and the winners will be crowned world champions at the Lusail Stadium post the final on December 18. The winners will not only earn the elusive trophy and a place in history but will also take home a staggering amount of prize money.</p>

<p><strong>How much money will the FIFA World Cup 2022 winners earn?</strong></p>

<p>The champions of the FIFA World Cup 2022 are set to take home a whopping sum of USD 42 million. The runners-up will be awarded a sum of USD 30 million for making it to the final. Teams finishing third and fourth will take home a sum of USD 27 million and USD 25 million, respectively.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-qatar-fifa-world-cup-2022-bts-star-jungkook-and-indias-nora-fatehi-to-perform-in-opening-ceremony-535755">Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony LIVE updates</a></p>

<p>Those finishing between the 5th to 8th spots will be awarded a sum of USD 17 million each while those finishing between the 9th to 16th spots will take home USD 13 million each. The rest of the teams will be awarded USD 9 million each for participating in the tournament.</p>

<p>All 32 teams will also receive USD 1.5 million each for making it to the group stages. The amount will be paid to all the teams to cover their preparation&nbsp;costs in Qatar.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-france-as-karim-benzema-ruled-out-of-fifa-world-cup-due-to-injury-535704">Big blow to France as Karim Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup due to injury</a></p>

<p><strong>Most expensive World Cup ever</strong></p>

<p>Qatar is the first middle eastern country to be hosting a football World Cup and has invested heavily in infrastructure to accommodate millions of fans who will be visiting the country over the course of the next few weeks. As per Bloomberg, Qatar has invested around a staggering $300 billion to make the World Cup a reality making the tournament the most expensive World Cup in football history.</p>

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The 32 best teams from around the globe will battle it out for the ultimate trophy in the FIFA World Cup 2022 which gets underway in Qatar on Sunday (November 20).

The 32 best teams from around the globe will battle it out for the ultimate trophy in the FIFA World Cup 2022 which gets underway in Qatar on Sunday (November 20). Hosts Qatar will kick off the proceedings by locking horns with Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament at the Al Bayt Stadium. The biggest football extravaganza of the year will consist of a total of 64 matches and the winners will be crowned world champions at the Lusail Stadium post the final on December 18. The winners will not only earn the elusive trophy and a place in history but will also take home a staggering amount of prize money. How much money will the FIFA World Cup 2022 winners earn? The champions of the FIFA World Cup 2022 are set to take home a whopping sum of USD 42 million. The runners-up will be awarded a sum of USD 30 million for making it to the final. Teams finishing third and fourth will take home a sum of USD 27 million and USD 25 million, respectively. Also Read: Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony LIVE updates Those finishing between the 5th to 8th spots will be awarded a sum of USD 17 million each while those finishing between the 9th to 16th spots will take home USD 13 million each. The rest of the teams will be awarded USD 9 million each for participating in the tournament. All 32 teams will also receive USD 1.5 million each for making it to the group stages. The amount will be paid to all the teams to cover their preparation costs in Qatar. Also Read: Big blow to France as Karim Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup due to injury Most expensive World Cup ever Qatar is the first middle eastern country to be hosting a football World Cup and has invested heavily in infrastructure to accommodate millions of fans who will be visiting the country over the course of the next few weeks. As per Bloomberg, Qatar has invested around a staggering $300 billion to make the World Cup a reality making the tournament the most expensive World Cup in football history. ×

FIFA World Cup 2022 prize money: How much will the winners and runners-up take home?

According to FIFA, an estimated 1.2 million football fans from across the world are expected to land in Qatar for the tournament. Watch this video to know more.

More than a million foreign fans expected to attend 2022 FIFA World Cup

<p>FIFA World Cup 2022 is all set to kick start&nbsp;in Qatar on Sunday, November 20th. The mega event, which is the most expensive Word Cup ever, will begin with the opening ceremony&nbsp; followed by the first match between host Qatar and Ecuador. Also, this is for the first time in history that the Football World Cup is being hosted in the Middle East. Here is all you need to know&nbsp;about the FIFA World Cup this year -</p>

<p><strong>1. Qatar World Cup is the most expensive ever</strong></p>

<p>The FIFA World Cup in Qatar is set to be the most expensive edition of this football carnival in history. A whopping amount of around $300 billion has been spent to stage this tournament.</p>

<p><strong>2. FIFA World Cup is hosted in the Middle East for the first&nbsp;time</strong></p>

<p>This is for the first time that a Middle-eastern country is hosting a FIFA World Cup. Host Qatar will take on Ecuador in the opening match on Sunday, November 20th.</p>

<p><strong>3. 8 stadiums will host FIFA World Cup 2022 matches</strong></p>

<p>A total of 64 scheduled matches of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be organized in eight football stadiums across Qatar – Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brazil-to-france-top-five-contenders-for-the-fifa-world-cup-2022-title-535650">Brazil to France: Top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title</a></p>

<p><strong>4. 32 counties to participate in this year’s world Cup</strong></p>

<p>A total of 32 countries will be contesting for the world cup trophy in Qatar this time. All teams are put into different groups (total 8) and they will be playing the group matches that will determine which team advances to the knockouts.</p>

<p><strong>5. More than 3 million tickets sold</strong></p>

<p>Qatar, a tiny Muslim-conservative country with a population of nearly 3 million, has already sold as many tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2022.</p>

<p><strong>6. Argentina and&nbsp;Brazil are among the favourites to win the title&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Five-time world cup champions Brazil and former winners Argentina are among the two countries that are expected to lift the trophy in Qatar this time. Both teams have star players, like Lionel Messi in Argentina and Neymar in Brazil.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-where-and-when-to-watch-qatar-vs-ecuador-match-535615">FIFA World Cup 2022: When and where to watch first match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador?</a></p>

<p><strong>7. Messi and&nbsp;Ronaldo are likely to play their last World Cups</strong></p>

<p>Two of the greatest ever players to grace this beautiful sport, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing their last world cup this time. While both made their world cup debuts in the 2006 edition, Messi and Ronaldo are yet to lift the most coveted trophy in football.</p>

<p><strong>8. France suffers&nbsp;injury scare, star striker Karim Benzema ruled out</strong></p>

<p>Defending world champions <a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/big-blow-to-france-as-karim-benzema-ruled-out-of-fifa-world-cup-due-to-injury-535704">France suffered an injury scare</a> just ahead of the opening day of the FIFA World Cup 2022 with their star striker Karim Benzema getting ruled out due to injury. The Ballon d’Or winner got himself injured while training on Saturday.</p>

<p><strong>9. Four-time world cup winner Italy failed to qualify</strong></p>

<p>Four-time world Cup winners Italy was the biggest team to not qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022. A last-minute loss at the hands of North Macedonia during the World Cup qualifiers cost Italy a chance to head to Qatar for yet another World Cup trophy.</p>

<p><strong>10. Where and when to watch the FIFA world cup in India?</strong></p>

<p>The FIFA World Cup is set to begin on Sunday, November 20th&nbsp;with host Qatar facing Ecuador in the opening match. In India, fans can watch this live event on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. While those who wish to watch it online can download the Jio Cinema app and can follow the live streaming&nbsp;there.</p>


FIFA World Cup 2022 is all set to kick start in Qatar on Sunday, November 20th. The mega event, which is the most expensive Word Cup ever, will begin with the opening ceremony followed by the first match between host Qatar and Ecuador.

FIFA World Cup 2022 is all set to kick start in Qatar on Sunday, November 20th. The mega event, which is the most expensive Word Cup ever, will begin with the opening ceremony followed by the first match between host Qatar and Ecuador. Also, this is for the first time in history that the Football World Cup is being hosted in the Middle East. Here is all you need to know about the FIFA World Cup this year - 1. Qatar World Cup is the most expensive ever The FIFA World Cup in Qatar is set to be the most expensive edition of this football carnival in history. A whopping amount of around $300 billion has been spent to stage this tournament. 2. FIFA World Cup is hosted in the Middle East for the first time This is for the first time that a Middle-eastern country is hosting a FIFA World Cup. Host Qatar will take on Ecuador in the opening match on Sunday, November 20th. 3. 8 stadiums will host FIFA World Cup 2022 matches A total of 64 scheduled matches of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be organized in eight football stadiums across Qatar – Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium. ALSO READ: Brazil to France: Top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title 4. 32 counties to participate in this year’s world Cup A total of 32 countries will be contesting for the world cup trophy in Qatar this time. All teams are put into different groups (total 8) and they will be playing the group matches that will determine which team advances to the knockouts. 5. More than 3 million tickets sold Qatar, a tiny Muslim-conservative country with a population of nearly 3 million, has already sold as many tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2022. 6. Argentina and Brazil are among the favourites to win the title Five-time world cup champions Brazil and former winners Argentina are among the two countries that are expected to lift the trophy in Qatar this time. Both teams have star players, like Lionel Messi in Argentina and Neymar in Brazil. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022: When and where to watch first match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador? 7. Messi and Ronaldo are likely to play their last World Cups Two of the greatest ever players to grace this beautiful sport, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing their last world cup this time. While both made their world cup debuts in the 2006 edition, Messi and Ronaldo are yet to lift the most coveted trophy in football. 8. France suffers injury scare, star striker Karim Benzema ruled out Defending world champions France suffered an injury scare just ahead of the opening day of the FIFA World Cup 2022 with their star striker Karim Benzema getting ruled out due to injury. The Ballon d’Or winner got himself injured while training on Saturday. 9. Four-time world cup winner Italy failed to qualify Four-time world Cup winners Italy was the biggest team to not qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022. A last-minute loss at the hands of North Macedonia during the World Cup qualifiers cost Italy a chance to head to Qatar for yet another World Cup trophy. 10. Where and when to watch the FIFA world cup in India? The FIFA World Cup is set to begin on Sunday, November 20th with host Qatar facing Ecuador in the opening match. In India, fans can watch this live event on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. While those who wish to watch it online can download the Jio Cinema app and can follow the live streaming there.

FIFA World Cup 2022 – All You Need to Know about the Qatar extravaganza

The most expensive FIFA World Cup ever is all set to kick off in Qatar on Sunday. The mega event will begin with the opening ceremony first followed by the first match between Qatar and Ecuador. Also, this is for the first time in history that the Football World Cup is being hosted in the Middle East.

FIFA World Cup 2022: All you need to know about the Qatar extravaganza

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has arrived to Doha to attend the 2022 Qatar World Cup's opening ceremony on Sunday

Saudi crown prince in Qatar for World Cup opening ceremony

<p>Just two days before the start of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the organisers on Friday announced that the sale of beer will not be permitted inside the stadiums during the games, leaving a few other major sponsors worried. This step did put FIFA’s multi-million dollar contract with Budweiser, worth nearly $75mn, in limbo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations, and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” FIFA said in an abrupt statement earlier.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-qatar-does-a-u-turn-on-beer-sale-inside-stadiums-fifas-stance-with-budweiser-brand-in-limbo-535337">Ahead of World Cup, Qatar does a U-Turn on beer sale, FIFA’s $75mn Budweiser deal in limbo</a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the owner of American beer giant, Budweiser said on Friday that restrictions at World Cup matches were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/budweiser-reacts-to-fifa-world-cup-beer-restrictions-says-it-is-beyond-our-control-535415">"beyond our control"</a>.</p>

<p>As reported by the Guardian, one representative of another major sponsor has said many partners have ‘felt let down by the FIFA’ and that there have been informal discussions held about potential contract breaches also.</p>

<p>“Everyone has a gripe in some way or form,” they added. “There is a lot of ‘regrouping’ going [on] to understand what the options are contractually speaking.”</p>

<p>Although Qatar, a Muslim-conservative nation will not allow its fans to bring liquor into their country, they have stated clearly that the sale of beer will be permitted during the games only in the hospitality boxes - where the cheapest suites are nearly £20,000 a match, while in some fan zones after 7 pm, where it will cost nearly £12 for 500ml of Budweiser.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-flight-carrying-poland-players-to-qatar-escorted-by-f-16-fighter-jets-535368">FIFA World Cup: Flight carrying Poland players to Qatar escorted by F-16 fighter jets</a></p>

<p>The Football Supporters Association, however, looked displeased with this news and one of their spokespeople said, "Some fans like a beer at a match and some don’t, but the real issue is the last-minute U-turn which speaks to a wider problem – the total lack of communication and clarity from the organizing committee towards supporters".</p>

<p>"If they can change their minds on this at a moment’s notice, with no explanation, supporters will have understandable concerns about whether they will fulfill other promises relating to accommodation, transport or cultural issues."</p>


Just two days before the start of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the organisers on Friday announced that the sale of beer will not be permitted inside the stadiums during the games, leaving a few other major sponsors worried.

Just two days before the start of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the organisers on Friday announced that the sale of beer will not be permitted inside the stadiums during the games, leaving a few other major sponsors worried. This step did put FIFA’s multi-million dollar contract with Budweiser, worth nearly $75mn, in limbo. “Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations, and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” FIFA said in an abrupt statement earlier. ALSO READ: Ahead of World Cup, Qatar does a U-Turn on beer sale, FIFA’s $75mn Budweiser deal in limbo Meanwhile, the owner of American beer giant, Budweiser said on Friday that restrictions at World Cup matches were "beyond our control". As reported by the Guardian, one representative of another major sponsor has said many partners have ‘felt let down by the FIFA’ and that there have been informal discussions held about potential contract breaches also. “Everyone has a gripe in some way or form,” they added. “There is a lot of ‘regrouping’ going [on] to understand what the options are contractually speaking.” Although Qatar, a Muslim-conservative nation will not allow its fans to bring liquor into their country, they have stated clearly that the sale of beer will be permitted during the games only in the hospitality boxes - where the cheapest suites are nearly £20,000 a match, while in some fan zones after 7 pm, where it will cost nearly £12 for 500ml of Budweiser. Also Read: FIFA World Cup: Flight carrying Poland players to Qatar escorted by F-16 fighter jets The Football Supporters Association, however, looked displeased with this news and one of their spokespeople said, "Some fans like a beer at a match and some don’t, but the real issue is the last-minute U-turn which speaks to a wider problem – the total lack of communication and clarity from the organizing committee towards supporters". "If they can change their minds on this at a moment’s notice, with no explanation, supporters will have understandable concerns about whether they will fulfill other promises relating to accommodation, transport or cultural issues."

FIFA World Cup: Sponsors left worried after Qatar does a U-turn on beer sale in stadiums

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