The FIFA World Cup 2022

The 2022 FIFA World Cup was an international football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of FIFA’s member associations and 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup. It took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, making it the first World Cup held in the Arab world and Muslim world , It was held over a reduced time frame of 29 days with 64 matches played in eight venues across five cities. Argentina were crowned the champions after winning the final against the title holder France 4–2 on penalties following a 3–3 draw after extra time. It was Argentina’s third title and their first since 1986, as well being the first nation from outside of Europe to win the tournament since 2002. In April 2022, FIFA announced the prizes for all participating nations. Each qualified team received $1.5 million before the competition to cover preparation costs with each team receiving at least $9 million in prize money. This edition’s total prize pool was $440 million, $40 million
greater than the prize pool of the previous tournament.

THE ATLAS LIONS:
The Atlas Lions made history at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Morocco national football team was not only the first team from an African country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, they were also the only team from an Arab country. On December 10, 2022, they will forever remain etched in the minds of football fans the world over. Four days later, they faced the reigning World Cup champions, France. Despite their loss in a 2-0 game, they proved to be one of the more consistent teams from Africa with six appearances at the World Cup. Beyond being consistent, they gave one of the most impressive performances. They topped the table in the group stages, by beating top European teams Spain and Portugal to
reach the semis.

The Atlas Lions’ impressive performance at the 2022 World Cup also marked their best-ever finish in the tournament. Led by their star player Hakim Ziyech, the team’s attacking prowess and solid defense saw them make history and earn the respect of football fans worldwide. Although they fell short in the semi-finals, their achievement has inspired a generation of young footballers in Africa and the Arab world. The Atlas Lions' success also highlighted the potential of African and Arab football, and served as a reminder of the importance of promoting and developing the sport in these regions.

Written by: Souhaila Errami