• An Arab/Muslim country is hosting the World Cup

Despite all the controversy surrounding the hosts Qatar and their treatment of migrant workers and claims of corruption in the world cup bidding proccess, among other things, they are still one of the first Arab/Muslim countries to host the World Cup, and thats a huge deal. Qatar will have eight unique stadiums centered around the capital Doha, and don’t worry– all stadiums will be air conditioned to protect fans from the Qatari heat. Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) also announced that due to this years tournament being hosted in a Muslim country, this World Cup will be the first in a long time where alcohol won’t be available inside our outside of stadiums. Qatar is going into this tournament as the reigning Asian champions so they have a decent chance of making it out of a tough group that includes Ecuador, reigning African champs Senegal, and the Netherlands.

• The USA has a great chance to advance to the knockout round and maybe even reach the quarterfinals.

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has a statement to make this time around in Qatar after failing to qualify for Russia four years ago. The United States are going into this their eleventh tournament appearance in great form winning the 2021 Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup and National League beating rivals Mexico in the final both times. In World Cup qualifiers, the USMNT qualified as third behind Canada (who’s going to their first World Cup in 36 years by the way) and Mexico (who’s headed to their eighth in a row) respectively and ahead of Costa Rica.​​ Their world cup group consists of England, Wales, and Iran, and although England is a heavy favorite to win the group (they’re also one of the favorites to win the whole thing) they have a very solid chance at finishing second. I think they’ll beat both Wales and Iran and, who knows, the England match could be a really good one., The USA did draw with England the last time they played in a World Cup.

• It’s the first time the World Cup is being held in the winter time. 

The world cup is a huge tournament that is only held once every four years and this World cup is the first that is being held outside of its usual summertime schedule. This provides us with the unique opportunity to enjoy some football during the holiday time. This means we will have some Thanksgiving games and World Cup action that will last almost right up until Christmas, with the final taking place a few days before on Dec 18. This holiday season you spend time with family and friends while also being able to enjoy the excitement of the world’s biggest sporting event. This tournament also marks the last time the tournament will be held in the traditional 32 team format, with the format expanding to 44 teams for the next edition in 2026.

• It’s going to be the last World cup for so many legends. 

Only four players will have the honor of competing in their fifth world cup at this year’s tournament: Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico’s Andrés Guardado and Guillermo Ochoa. Qatar 2022 is expected to be the last world cup for these legends and so many more like Croatia’s Luca Modric, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, Brazil’s Dani Alves, France’s Karim Benzema and so many more, with each nation waving goodbye to their own set of legends. But Jjust like it will be some legends’ last World Cup, it’ll also be many players’ first World Cup and some of the world’s best young, talented, players will be ready to make their mark on the world’s biggest stage. Players like Spain’s Pedri, Germany’s Jamal Musiala, England’s Jude Bellingham and so many other young players have the potential to become breakout stars at the tournament and you won’t want to miss it.

• Messi is going to finally win a World Cup with Argentina and cement his place as the GOAT.

Let me start by making this clear, I think that win or lose, Messi is the greatest football player of all time, but this is genuinely the most confident I’ve ever felt in him winning the tournament, and at 35 years old it will likely be his last chance. Argentina is going into this tournament in insane form. They are currently on a 36 game unbeaten streak and are the current reigning South American Champions, beating bitter rivals Brazil in the final. They qualified as second in World Cup qualifying in their region only behind Brazil and the squad is stacked. The Argentina squad is the strongest it’s been in years, with a solid mix of veterans like the aforementioned Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Nicolas Otamendi and young players like Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Enzo Fernandez. Their group consists of Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia and I think they should have no problem winning that group. Get ready to watch Messi captain his country to World Cup glory.