The calendar year is set to end in style with the Qatar World Cup to get underway on November 20. The forthcoming showpiece event will see 32 teams taking part in the competition, which will end on December 18.&nbsp;Countries from Asia, Africa, America and other continents will be&nbsp;represented in what will be the maiden World&nbsp;Cup to be hosted in the Middle East.&nbsp;

Ahead of the mega event, WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo got a chance to interact with Andre Villas-Boas, football manager and Laureus ambassador. The former Chelsea manager, who&nbsp;won the Europa League with FC Porto at 33, spoke at length about his country Portugal's chances in Qatar 2022, who are&nbsp;no more a one-man army solely reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo.&nbsp;

Will Portugal give a fitting farewell to Cristiano Ronaldo? Is this the year for them in Qatar World Cup?

Listen,&nbsp;the past six years have been the best ever. We have won the Euro and the Nations League.&nbsp;The talent coming through doesn't stop. We have a coach (Fernando Santos) who has brought a lot of success. I sincerely have good hopes as we have most positions covered. We have excellent wingers and creative and technically-gifted midfielders. The No. 9 was always our big problem but let's hope Ronaldo can provide us with solutions and give us that result.&nbsp;

Posssible line-up (4-3-3) for Portugal for FIFA World Cup 2022:&nbsp;Anthony Lopes (GK), Pepe, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Joao Moutinho, Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo, Otavio.&nbsp;

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The forthcoming World Cup can be&nbsp;the last appearance at the showpiece event for modern-day greats Lionel Messi and Ronaldo. On being asked how blessed have we all been to witness them in tandem, Villas-Boas said, "These two are fighting for a long time. They've given us spectacle throughout. They are the two biggest stars ever in football. We wish they could stay longer in time to continue to give us plenty to cheer for. It looks like this World Cup will be their last and they will be up for it."

The calendar year is set to end in style with the Qatar World Cup to get underway on November 20. The forthcoming showpiece event will see 32 teams taking part in the competition, which will end on December 18.

The calendar year is set to end in style with the Qatar World Cup to get underway on November 20. The forthcoming showpiece event will see 32 teams taking part in the competition, which will end on December 18. Countries from Asia, Africa, America and other continents will be represented in what will be the maiden World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East. Ahead of the mega event, WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo got a chance to interact with Andre Villas-Boas, football manager and Laureus ambassador. The former Chelsea manager, who won the Europa League with FC Porto at 33, spoke at length about his country Portugal's chances in Qatar 2022, who are no more a one-man army solely reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo. Will Portugal give a fitting farewell to Cristiano Ronaldo? Is this the year for them in Qatar World Cup? Listen, the past six years have been the best ever. We have won the Euro and the Nations League. The talent coming through doesn't stop. We have a coach (Fernando Santos) who has brought a lot of success. I sincerely have good hopes as we have most positions covered. We have excellent wingers and creative and technically-gifted midfielders. The No. 9 was always our big problem but let's hope Ronaldo can provide us with solutions and give us that result. Posssible line-up (4-3-3) for Portugal for FIFA World Cup 2022: Anthony Lopes (GK), Pepe, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Joao Moutinho, Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo, Otavio. ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE | You need to get football into schools, says Andre Villas-Boas on the future of Indian football The forthcoming World Cup can be the last appearance at the showpiece event for modern-day greats Lionel Messi and Ronaldo. On being asked how blessed have we all been to witness them in tandem, Villas-Boas said, "These two are fighting for a long time. They've given us spectacle throughout. They are the two biggest stars ever in football. We wish they could stay longer in time to continue to give us plenty to cheer for. It looks like this World Cup will be their last and they will be up for it."

EXCLUSIVE | I sincerely have good hopes: Andre Villas-Boas on Portugal's chances in Qatar World Cup

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday.

Qatar has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers, who along with other foreigners comprise the bulk of the country's population. Qatari authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters about the rights groups' report. The government of Qatar has said that its labour system is still a work in progress, but denied a 2021 Amnesty report that thousands of migrant workers were still being exploited.

Last week, a YouGov survey of more than 17,000 fans from 15 countries -- 10 of them European -- commissioned by Amnesty showed 73% of respondents would support a proposal for FIFA to compensate migrant workers, while 10% opposed it.

Minky Worden, the director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said that sponsors should use their "considerable leverage" to apply pressure on FIFA and Qatar to fulfill their responsibilities to workers.

"Brands buy rights to sponsor the World Cup because they want to be associated with joy, fair competition and spectacular human achievement on the field -- not rampant wage theft and the deaths of workers who made the World Cup possible," said Worden.

The three human rights organisations said they had written to FIFA's 14 corporate partners and World Cup sponsors in July and that four of them -- AB InBev/Budweiser, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's had indicated their support for ensuring remedy for workers.

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Ten other sponsors -- Visa, Hyundai-Kia, Wanda Group, Qatar Energy, Qatar Airways, Vivo, Hisense, Mengniu, Crypto and Byju's -- have not responded to written requests to discuss tournament-related abuses, the organisations said in a statement https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/20/fifa-world-cup-all-sponsors-should-back-remedies-workers.

In May, Amnesty and other rights groups had called on FIFA to earmark $440 million to compensate migrant workers in Qatar. FIFA said then that it was assessing Amnesty's proposition and that workers had received payments of a total $22.6 million as of December 2021, with an additional $5.7 million committed by contractors.

It added last week that a wide range of measures had been implemented in recent years to improve protection for workers in Qatar, which will host the World Cup from Nov. 20.

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday.

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday. Qatar has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers, who along with other foreigners comprise the bulk of the country's population. Qatari authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters about the rights groups' report. The government of Qatar has said that its labour system is still a work in progress, but denied a 2021 Amnesty report that thousands of migrant workers were still being exploited. Last week, a YouGov survey of more than 17,000 fans from 15 countries -- 10 of them European -- commissioned by Amnesty showed 73% of respondents would support a proposal for FIFA to compensate migrant workers, while 10% opposed it. Minky Worden, the director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said that sponsors should use their "considerable leverage" to apply pressure on FIFA and Qatar to fulfill their responsibilities to workers. "Brands buy rights to sponsor the World Cup because they want to be associated with joy, fair competition and spectacular human achievement on the field -- not rampant wage theft and the deaths of workers who made the World Cup possible," said Worden. The three human rights organisations said they had written to FIFA's 14 corporate partners and World Cup sponsors in July and that four of them -- AB InBev/Budweiser, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's had indicated their support for ensuring remedy for workers. ALSO READ | Injured duo Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Politano leave Italy camp before England face-off Ten other sponsors -- Visa, Hyundai-Kia, Wanda Group, Qatar Energy, Qatar Airways, Vivo, Hisense, Mengniu, Crypto and Byju's -- have not responded to written requests to discuss tournament-related abuses, the organisations said in a statement https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/20/fifa-world-cup-all-sponsors-should-back-remedies-workers. In May, Amnesty and other rights groups had called on FIFA to earmark $440 million to compensate migrant workers in Qatar. FIFA said then that it was assessing Amnesty's proposition and that workers had received payments of a total $22.6 million as of December 2021, with an additional $5.7 million committed by contractors. It added last week that a wide range of measures had been implemented in recent years to improve protection for workers in Qatar, which will host the World Cup from Nov. 20.

Rights groups turn to sponsors to press FIFA, Qatar on migrant worker compensation

The World Cup in Qatar will kick off a day earlier than scheduled, governing body FIFA said on Thursday after its ruling bureau agreed unanimously to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation's first match on Sunday, November&nbsp;20. The original plan was for the opening ceremony to be held before Qatar's game on Nov. 21 against Ecuador, which would have created the unusual situation of two matches — Senegal v Netherlands and England v Iran — being held before the ceremony.

Normally, the ceremony is conducted before the kick-off of the first game of the tournament. Hosts Qatar will now make their World Cup debut against Ecuador at 1900 local time after an opening ceremony at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium. The change is in line with the long-standing tradition of opening matches involving hosts or holders.

The Group A match between Senegal and Netherlands, originally scheduled to be the tournament opener, has been pushed back by six hours from 1300 local time on Nov. 21 to the 1900 slot vacated by Qatar v Ecuador. England's Group B match with Iran and the United States'&nbsp;opener against Wales, which are also scheduled for Nov. 21, remain unaffected by the change.

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The plan has been signed off by a committee comprising of the heads of FIFA's six regional confederations and president Gianni Infantino. "The decision followed an assessment of the competition and operational implications, as well as a thorough consultation process and an agreement with key stakeholders and the host country," FIFA said.

The change stretches the World Cup to 29 days until the Dec. 18 final and comes after several rounds of ticket sales, with organisers having sold 1.8 million tickets so far. "Ticket holders will be duly notified by email that the relevant matches have been rescheduled and their tickets will remain valid irrespective of the new date/time," FIFA added.

"In addition, FIFA will seek to address any issues arising from this change in a case-by-case basis." 
 
It will be the first World Cup staged in the Middle East and has been pushed back to later in the year than its typical June-July schedule to avoid the region's punishing summer heat.

The World Cup in Qatar will kick off a day earlier than scheduled, governing body FIFA said on Thursday after its ruling bureau agreed unanimously to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation's first match on Sunday, November 20.

The World Cup in Qatar will kick off a day earlier than scheduled, governing body FIFA said on Thursday after its ruling bureau agreed unanimously to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation's first match on Sunday, November 20. The original plan was for the opening ceremony to be held before Qatar's game on Nov. 21 against Ecuador, which would have created the unusual situation of two matches — Senegal v Netherlands and England v Iran — being held before the ceremony. Normally, the ceremony is conducted before the kick-off of the first game of the tournament. Hosts Qatar will now make their World Cup debut against Ecuador at 1900 local time after an opening ceremony at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium. The change is in line with the long-standing tradition of opening matches involving hosts or holders. The Group A match between Senegal and Netherlands, originally scheduled to be the tournament opener, has been pushed back by six hours from 1300 local time on Nov. 21 to the 1900 slot vacated by Qatar v Ecuador. England's Group B match with Iran and the United States' opener against Wales, which are also scheduled for Nov. 21, remain unaffected by the change. ALSO READ | Qatar World Cup to kick off sooner than expected as FIFA allows hosts to play first - Report The plan has been signed off by a committee comprising of the heads of FIFA's six regional confederations and president Gianni Infantino. "The decision followed an assessment of the competition and operational implications, as well as a thorough consultation process and an agreement with key stakeholders and the host country," FIFA said. The change stretches the World Cup to 29 days until the Dec. 18 final and comes after several rounds of ticket sales, with organisers having sold 1.8 million tickets so far. "Ticket holders will be duly notified by email that the relevant matches have been rescheduled and their tickets will remain valid irrespective of the new date/time," FIFA added. "In addition, FIFA will seek to address any issues arising from this change in a case-by-case basis." It will be the first World Cup staged in the Middle East and has been pushed back to later in the year than its typical June-July schedule to avoid the region's punishing summer heat.

FIFA moves Qatar World Cup start forward by a day, to kick off on November 20

Football fans worldwide may be in for a treat, considering how the biggest footballing event in the world is seemingly inching close faster than what fans were expecting. A report by Reuters suggests that FIFA has moved to prepone the highly anticipated&nbsp;World Cup by a day in addition to offering the host nation the tournament's first draw.&nbsp;

Should FIFA's ruling regarding the change in dates pass, fans will be able to enjoy the opening ceremony and Qatar's first game on Sunday, i.e. November 20th. In accordance with the new dates, the tournament will span from 20 November through to 18 December 2022.&nbsp;Per the previous schedule, the opening ceremony was set to take place before the Group A contest between Qatar and&nbsp;Ecuador&nbsp;on November 21st.

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However, this created an extremely unusual situation considering how&nbsp;two games were scheduled to be&nbsp;played before the opening ceremony. The Group A game between the African champions Senegal and Netherlands and the Group B game between England and Iran were scheduled to take place before the opening ceremony&nbsp;even though it is customary for the ceremony to be held&nbsp;before all the action.

The plan to prepone the event was put in motion after Qatar expressed interest in opening the tournament as it has become the norm for the host country to kick off the action. However, the Bureau of the FIFA Council, consisting&nbsp;of president Gianni Infantino and the heads of the six FIFA regional confederations, needs to arrive at a consensus regarding the issue before a change&nbsp;in dates can be authorized.&nbsp;

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The scheduled match between England and Iran and other Group B games will remain unaffected by the change of dates. However, the Senegal vs. Netherlands match will most likely face a short delay. Although the motion to change the dates was moved on short notice, it is expected to be agreed upon soon.&nbsp;

Football fans worldwide may be in for a treat, considering how the biggest footballing event in the world is seemingly inching close faster than what fans were expecting.

Football fans worldwide may be in for a treat, considering how the biggest footballing event in the world is seemingly inching close faster than what fans were expecting. A report by Reuters suggests that FIFA has moved to prepone the highly anticipated World Cup by a day in addition to offering the host nation the tournament's first draw. Should FIFA's ruling regarding the change in dates pass, fans will be able to enjoy the opening ceremony and Qatar's first game on Sunday, i.e. November 20th. In accordance with the new dates, the tournament will span from 20 November through to 18 December 2022. Per the previous schedule, the opening ceremony was set to take place before the Group A contest between Qatar and Ecuador on November 21st. ALSO READ I 'No party at all': World Cup fans can face up to 7 years in Jail if caught having one-night stands in Qatar However, this created an extremely unusual situation considering how two games were scheduled to be played before the opening ceremony. The Group A game between the African champions Senegal and Netherlands and the Group B game between England and Iran were scheduled to take place before the opening ceremony even though it is customary for the ceremony to be held before all the action. The plan to prepone the event was put in motion after Qatar expressed interest in opening the tournament as it has become the norm for the host country to kick off the action. However, the Bureau of the FIFA Council, consisting of president Gianni Infantino and the heads of the six FIFA regional confederations, needs to arrive at a consensus regarding the issue before a change in dates can be authorized. ALSO READ I FIFA World Cup 2022: Stadiums to be alcohol-free for mega event in Qatar The scheduled match between England and Iran and other Group B games will remain unaffected by the change of dates. However, the Senegal vs. Netherlands match will most likely face a short delay. Although the motion to change the dates was moved on short notice, it is expected to be agreed upon soon.

Qatar World Cup to kick off sooner than expected as FIFA allows hosts to play first - Report

While Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United continues to remain a mystery for one and all, Lionel Messi is also making heads turn on whether he would stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for another year or not.&nbsp;

Earlier, it was reported that the French club is keen to release both Neymar and Messi and revamp their squad around superstar Kylian Mbappe. It is now being reported that PSG is keen to offer a contract extension to Messi. The club is looking&nbsp;to extend Messi's stay by a year.&nbsp;As per a report in Marca, PSG have&nbsp;hinted to the 35-year-old superstar footballer that they are planning to offer him a fresh contract. While the offer hasn't&nbsp;officially been presented as of now, the Argentine captain has stressed that he will make a final decision regarding his stay post the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, to be held later&nbsp;this year.

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For the unversed, Messi would still have about six more months in his contract by the time Qatar 2022 comes to an end. Thus, he would have the option of exploring the market before making the final call. Amid all this, there are&nbsp;reports also surfacing online that Messi's boyhood club Barcelona is eager to resign him. If there is any truth to such claims, the Argentine might go back to his former club and finish off his stellar career with the Spanish giants. His exit from Barcelona had made heads turn and it was quite an emotional moment for Messi.&nbsp;

At PSG, Messi hasn't been at his usual best. While many blame the former manager Mauricio Pochettino for not making full use of his abilities, the Argentine was also not at his consistent best and only returned with 14&nbsp;goals across 34 competitions in his maiden season -- ending with the worst-ever season in&nbsp;his professional career. Winning the Ligue 1 title with the club was the only bright spot for Messi in 2021/22 season.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United continues to remain a mystery for one and all, Lionel Messi is also making heads turn on whether he would stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for another year or not.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United continues to remain a mystery for one and all, Lionel Messi is also making heads turn on whether he would stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for another year or not. Earlier, it was reported that the French club is keen to release both Neymar and Messi and revamp their squad around superstar Kylian Mbappe. It is now being reported that PSG is keen to offer a contract extension to Messi. The club is looking to extend Messi's stay by a year. As per a report in Marca, PSG have hinted to the 35-year-old superstar footballer that they are planning to offer him a fresh contract. While the offer hasn't officially been presented as of now, the Argentine captain has stressed that he will make a final decision regarding his stay post the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, to be held later this year. ALSO READ | UNBELIEVABLE! Saudi club makes irresistible offer for Man United's Cristiano Ronaldo: Report For the unversed, Messi would still have about six more months in his contract by the time Qatar 2022 comes to an end. Thus, he would have the option of exploring the market before making the final call. Amid all this, there are reports also surfacing online that Messi's boyhood club Barcelona is eager to resign him. If there is any truth to such claims, the Argentine might go back to his former club and finish off his stellar career with the Spanish giants. His exit from Barcelona had made heads turn and it was quite an emotional moment for Messi. At PSG, Messi hasn't been at his usual best. While many blame the former manager Mauricio Pochettino for not making full use of his abilities, the Argentine was also not at his consistent best and only returned with 14 goals across 34 competitions in his maiden season -- ending with the worst-ever season in his professional career. Winning the Ligue 1 title with the club was the only bright spot for Messi in 2021/22 season.

PSG looking to extend Lionel Messi's stay by a year, Argentina captain to decide post Qatar 2022: Report

Australia beat Peru after a dramatic shootout to clinch their place in the 2022 World Cup at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Doha.

The match had ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes as both teams prepared for a shootout to decide the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals later this year.

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Although Peru is ranked higher in the FIFA standings ranked 22nd in the world but they were outsmarted by Australia ranked 42nd in the world.

Peru's Alex Valera missed the penalty as Australia clinched the crucial playoff between the Asian and South American qualifiers 5-4.

Watch:&nbsp;Good news for Israeli football fans as they can now fly to Qatar

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Australia's substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star as he was brought in just minutes before the end of play as Australia bit the bullet.

Redmayne made two saves as Australia entered the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time.&nbsp;

Redmayne danced around the goaline much like Bruce Grobbelaar when Liverpool won the European Cup in 1984 to distract the Peruvians and the trick worked as Luis Advincila fired a shot against the post and Valera's kick was saved as Australia entered the World Cup for the sixth time.

The Australians had missed the first penalty shot but swiftly converted the next five in front of thousands of Peru supporters.

The last place in the finals will be decided on Tuesday when Costa Rica clashes against New Zealand.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Australia beat Peru after a dramatic shootout to clinch their place in the 2022 World Cup at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Doha. The match had ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes as both teams prepared for a shootout to decide the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals later this year.

Australia beat Peru after a dramatic shootout to clinch their place in the 2022 World Cup at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Doha. The match had ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes as both teams prepared for a shootout to decide the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals later this year. Also Read: Gareth Bale-led Wales beat Ukraine, qualify for 2022 World Cup Although Peru is ranked higher in the FIFA standings ranked 22nd in the world but they were outsmarted by Australia ranked 42nd in the world. Peru's Alex Valera missed the penalty as Australia clinched the crucial playoff between the Asian and South American qualifiers 5-4. Watch: Good news for Israeli football fans as they can now fly to Qatar Australia's substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star as he was brought in just minutes before the end of play as Australia bit the bullet. Redmayne made two saves as Australia entered the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time. Redmayne danced around the goaline much like Bruce Grobbelaar when Liverpool won the European Cup in 1984 to distract the Peruvians and the trick worked as Luis Advincila fired a shot against the post and Valera's kick was saved as Australia entered the World Cup for the sixth time. The Australians had missed the first penalty shot but swiftly converted the next five in front of thousands of Peru supporters. The last place in the finals will be decided on Tuesday when Costa Rica clashes against New Zealand. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru

Roberto Mancini has vowed to stay on as Italy manager, telling reporters on Monday that he wanted to eventually win the World Cup despite the European champions failing to qualify for the showpiece event for the second time in a row.

Italy missed out on the tournament in Qatar later this year after a shock 1-0 defeat at home by North Macedonia in last week's playoff semi-final.

There were no calls for Mancini's removal, however, with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina backing him to continue in his role.

"I have talked with the (FIGC) president, we agree on everything. I'm glad, we'll talk again in the next few days," Mancini said ahead of Tuesday's friendly away to Turkey.

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"Now we're focusing on this match, then we'll discuss what we need to improve in the future. That's all.

"I feel like staying because I am still young. I wanted to win one European Championship and one World Cup, so for the World Cup I'll have to wait a little."

Mancini said it would be up to Gravina to decide if a change was needed in the squad but added that Italy were planning to call up a new generation of players.

"We will certainly add younger players, hoping they can have important experiences at their clubs because this is important. We'll work on this and we'll see what the general situation is," he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/canada-beat-jamaica-4-0-to-bring-an-end-to-36-year-long-wait-for-a-spot-in-fifa-world-cup-466296">Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 to bring an end to 36-year long wait for a spot in FIFA World Cup</a>

"The squad in these years deserved a lot. It has not been just the Euros but a three-year path with a streak of matches without any defeat and we need to acknowledge that."

Mancini's side won the Euros during a world record 37-match unbeaten streak stretching back to September 2018, coming after their humiliating failure to qualify for that year’s World Cup.

Veteran defender Leonardo Bonucci told reporters on Monday that he and fellow centre back Giorgio Chiellini had decided to stay and play against Turkey.

"Giorgio and I felt we had to set an example to support a young squad in need of experience and of understanding that the only way is forward," he said.

Roberto Mancini has vowed to stay on as Italy manager, telling reporters on Monday that he wanted to eventually win the World Cup despite the European champions failing to qualify for the showpiece event for the second time in a row.

Roberto Mancini has vowed to stay on as Italy manager, telling reporters on Monday that he wanted to eventually win the World Cup despite the European champions failing to qualify for the showpiece event for the second time in a row. Italy missed out on the tournament in Qatar later this year after a shock 1-0 defeat at home by North Macedonia in last week's playoff semi-final. There were no calls for Mancini's removal, however, with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina backing him to continue in his role. "I have talked with the (FIGC) president, we agree on everything. I'm glad, we'll talk again in the next few days," Mancini said ahead of Tuesday's friendly away to Turkey. ALSO READ: Portugal ready to avoid an upset: Cristiano Ronaldo after North Macedonia dump Italy out of FIFA World Cup "Now we're focusing on this match, then we'll discuss what we need to improve in the future. That's all. "I feel like staying because I am still young. I wanted to win one European Championship and one World Cup, so for the World Cup I'll have to wait a little." Mancini said it would be up to Gravina to decide if a change was needed in the squad but added that Italy were planning to call up a new generation of players. "We will certainly add younger players, hoping they can have important experiences at their clubs because this is important. We'll work on this and we'll see what the general situation is," he said. ALSO READ: Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 to bring an end to 36-year long wait for a spot in FIFA World Cup "The squad in these years deserved a lot. It has not been just the Euros but a three-year path with a streak of matches without any defeat and we need to acknowledge that." Mancini's side won the Euros during a world record 37-match unbeaten streak stretching back to September 2018, coming after their humiliating failure to qualify for that year’s World Cup. Veteran defender Leonardo Bonucci told reporters on Monday that he and fellow centre back Giorgio Chiellini had decided to stay and play against Turkey. "Giorgio and I felt we had to set an example to support a young squad in need of experience and of understanding that the only way is forward," he said.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini vows to stay despite missing out on FIFA World Cup 2022

The government of Qatar said on Tuesday its labour system is still a work in progress but denied accusations in a report by Amnesty International that thousands of migrant workers in the 2022 World Cup host nation were being trapped and exploited.

A 48-page report by Amnesty, Reality Check 2021, said that practices such as withholding salaries and charging workers to change jobs was still rife, despite labour reforms in 2014, as the country prepares to host the soccer tournament next year.

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"Apparent complacency by the authorities is leaving thousands of workers at continued risk of exploitation by unscrupulous employers, with many unable to change jobs and facing wage theft," Mark Dummett, Amnesty`s global issues programme director, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

"They have little hope of remedy, compensation or justice. After the World Cup, the fate of the workers who remain in Qatar will be even more uncertain."

However, a statement from Qatar`s Government Communication Office rejected the claims that labour reforms have not resulted in changes on the ground for thousands of migrant workers.

"Amnesty fails to document a single story from among the 242,870 workers who have successfully changed jobs since barriers were removed in September 2020, or from the more than 400,000 workers who have directly benefitted from the new minimum wage through salary increases and other financial incentives," the statement said.

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"Qatar has never shied away from acknowledging that its labour system is still a work in progress," it added. "The government is committed to engaging collaboratively and constructively with international partners and critics to further improve standards for all migrant workers in Qatar."

The 2022 World Cup is scheduled to begin on Nov. 21 and will feature 32 teams.

The government of Qatar said on Tuesday its labour system is still a work in progress but denied accusations in a report by Amnesty International that thousands of migrant workers in the 2022 World Cup host nation were being trapped and exploited.

The government of Qatar said on Tuesday its labour system is still a work in progress but denied accusations in a report by Amnesty International that thousands of migrant workers in the 2022 World Cup host nation were being trapped and exploited. A 48-page report by Amnesty, Reality Check 2021, said that practices such as withholding salaries and charging workers to change jobs was still rife, despite labour reforms in 2014, as the country prepares to host the soccer tournament next year. ALSO READ: World Cup qualifier: Lionel Messi will start for Argentina vs Brazil, Neymar out injured "Apparent complacency by the authorities is leaving thousands of workers at continued risk of exploitation by unscrupulous employers, with many unable to change jobs and facing wage theft," Mark Dummett, Amnesty`s global issues programme director, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "They have little hope of remedy, compensation or justice. After the World Cup, the fate of the workers who remain in Qatar will be even more uncertain." However, a statement from Qatar`s Government Communication Office rejected the claims that labour reforms have not resulted in changes on the ground for thousands of migrant workers. "Amnesty fails to document a single story from among the 242,870 workers who have successfully changed jobs since barriers were removed in September 2020, or from the more than 400,000 workers who have directly benefitted from the new minimum wage through salary increases and other financial incentives," the statement said. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup: Gay Australian footballer Josh Cavallo 'scared' to play in Qatar "Qatar has never shied away from acknowledging that its labour system is still a work in progress," it added. "The government is committed to engaging collaboratively and constructively with international partners and critics to further improve standards for all migrant workers in Qatar." The 2022 World Cup is scheduled to begin on Nov. 21 and will feature 32 teams.

Qatar denies Amnesty's claims of migrant workers' exploitation in preparation for 2022 World Cup

The qualifying for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia is set to continue in Doha with five teams set to compete in the T20 World Cup Asia A Qualifier from October 23, 2021 onwards. 
 
Hosts Qatar are joined by Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives and Saudi Arabia with one place in the ICC Men`s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier up for grabs. 
 
It's the first time an ICC event is being staged in Qatar, with the matches to be hosted at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium. 
 
Qatar (21) enter the event as the highest ranked side on the ICC Men`s T20I Team Rankings, with Kuwait (27), Saudi Arabia (28), Bahrain (43) and Maldives (74) all aiming to qualify for the T20 World Cup for the first time.

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In all, there will be 10 matches, with each team playing each other once in the round-robin format. The event will also complete the Asia regional finals with Nepal, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong and The Philippines already through to the Global Qualifier. 
 
Qatar captain, Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry, said: "It's a great feeling, we are all pumped up and working hard for the event. We know it`s a big tournament and we've been through this stage before. The last time we played Asia qualifiers we beat higher ranked teams but one mishap and we didn`t make it into the Global Qualifiers. We are glad that we are hosting a major ICC tournament in Qatar, which is the path to Australia 2022 and we will put up a good show for our nation and cricket lovers over the globe." 
 
Bahrain captain, Anasim Khan said, "The ICC Men`s T20 World Cup Asia is a big opportunity for Bahrain and all teams to play at the top level. It will be a dream come true to play in Australia next year. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn a place in a historic World Cup qualifying round. We are a team which can bring surprises."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/redemption-time-they-insulted-us-by-abandoning-tour-shoaib-akhtar-awaits-pakistan-new-zealand-t20-wc-tie-423016">Redemption time! They insulted us by abandoning tour: Shoaib Akhtar awaits Pakistan-New Zealand T20 WC tie</a>

FIXTURES 
 
23 October - Qatar vs Bahrain; Maldives vs Saudi Arabia 
 
24 October - Bahrain vs Kuwait; Qatar vs Maldives 
 
25 October - Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia 
 
27 October - Bahrain vs Maldives; Qatar vs Saudi Arabia 
 
28 October - Maldives vs Kuwait; Saudi Arabia vs Bahrain 
 
29 October - Kuwait vs Qatar.

The qualifying for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia is set to continue in Doha with five teams set to compete in the T20 World Cup Asia A Qualifier from October 23, 2021 onwards.

The qualifying for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia is set to continue in Doha with five teams set to compete in the T20 World Cup Asia A Qualifier from October 23, 2021 onwards. Hosts Qatar are joined by Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives and Saudi Arabia with one place in the ICC Men`s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier up for grabs. It's the first time an ICC event is being staged in Qatar, with the matches to be hosted at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium. Qatar (21) enter the event as the highest ranked side on the ICC Men`s T20I Team Rankings, with Kuwait (27), Saudi Arabia (28), Bahrain (43) and Maldives (74) all aiming to qualify for the T20 World Cup for the first time. ALSO READ | Not Hardik Pandya or Rishabh Pant! Wasim Akram names India's gamechanger ahead of Pakistan T20 WC face-off In all, there will be 10 matches, with each team playing each other once in the round-robin format. The event will also complete the Asia regional finals with Nepal, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong and The Philippines already through to the Global Qualifier. Qatar captain, Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry, said: "It's a great feeling, we are all pumped up and working hard for the event. We know it`s a big tournament and we've been through this stage before. The last time we played Asia qualifiers we beat higher ranked teams but one mishap and we didn`t make it into the Global Qualifiers. We are glad that we are hosting a major ICC tournament in Qatar, which is the path to Australia 2022 and we will put up a good show for our nation and cricket lovers over the globe." Bahrain captain, Anasim Khan said, "The ICC Men`s T20 World Cup Asia is a big opportunity for Bahrain and all teams to play at the top level. It will be a dream come true to play in Australia next year. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn a place in a historic World Cup qualifying round. We are a team which can bring surprises." ALSO READ | Redemption time! They insulted us by abandoning tour: Shoaib Akhtar awaits Pakistan-New Zealand T20 WC tie FIXTURES 23 October - Qatar vs Bahrain; Maldives vs Saudi Arabia 24 October - Bahrain vs Kuwait; Qatar vs Maldives 25 October - Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia 27 October - Bahrain vs Maldives; Qatar vs Saudi Arabia 28 October - Maldives vs Kuwait; Saudi Arabia vs Bahrain 29 October - Kuwait vs Qatar.

Qatar set to host ICC qualifying event as part of road to T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia

Fourth stadium for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 unveiled

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