More than seven months to imagine all the possible scenarios. The World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18, 2022) fixed its groups with its draw carried out on Friday in Doha. Eight pools, 29 qualified for the moment while waiting for the end of the play-offs and already several prospects to draw for this 2022 World Cup. Here is what to remember from this ceremony and what chance has chosen for these selections.
A Qatar-Ecuador to launch the competition
Four years after Russia-Saudi Arabia, a new World Cup will open with an unattractive opening match, the fault of the principle of playing the host country first. Qatar, which is playing the first World Cup in its history, kicks off this month of football with a match against Ecuador, absent from the last World Cup, on Monday November 21 (11 a.m.). A dense first day, with four meetings on the program, including Senegal-Netherlands, England-Iran and the United States against a play-off (Wales – Scotland or Ukraine).
Denmark, Tunisia and more suspense for the Blues
The Blues also attack their competition against a play-off. France will have to wait until June to know its first opponent, on the program for Tuesday November 22 (2 p.m.), who will be the winner of the Peru-Australia or United Arab Emirates play-off. The first two selections were already in the pool of tricolors, just like Denmark, a large piece of the pool of world champions. Semi-finalists of the last Euro, the Scandinavians easily qualified for the Qatari World Cup. Finally, France will have to deal with Tunisia, which it has never faced in an official match, qualified after having dismissed Mali in the play-off. In short, affordable for one of the favorites of the competition.
No Death Group
Certainly, there will be a clash between Spain and Germany, crowned in 2010 and 2014. But we must be honest, it is complicated to speak of a real group of death in this World Cup. The Spaniards and the Germans will have to deal with Japan, certainly eighth finalist four years ago, but also with a barrage (Costa Rica or New Zealand). Brazil also inherits a dense pool, with two European nations, Switzerland and Serbia, but also Cameroon. Finally, groups A (Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands) and H (Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea) are open, and the F (Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia) will be worth the detour.
A remake of 2018 in eighth for the Blues?
Let’s project a little. If France finishes in one of the first two places of its group, it will face one of the nations of group C, consisting of Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland. A priori, the qualification will be disputed between these last two nations and the Albiceleste, winner of the last Copa America. An eighth against Lionel Messi and his partners would be a remake of the 2018 World Cup, where Didier Deschamps’ squad took out the South Americans at this stage of the competition after a spectacular match (4-3).
The following ? If France finish first, they could be heading, on paper, to a quarter against England. A semi-final would oppose them, still in theory, to Belgium or Portugal. In the event of second place, France could cross paths with the Netherlands, before a possible half against Brazil, Germany or Spain.
The mascot finally known
The organization has unveiled its mascot for the World Cup: his name is La’eeb, which could be translated as “very talented player”, described by Fifa as “full of energy and ready to bring the joy of football to everybody “. Thanks to her!
