FIFA World Cup 2022™ praised for its “unique cohesive power”

Qatar is a small country with an area of little over 11,000 square kilometres and a tiny population. They were conducting the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup with unprecedented professionalism.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ played from 20 November to 18 December. The FIFA World Cup is watched by more than half of the world. As we count down to the start of the global showpiece in Qatar on 20 November, FIFA+ is showcasing 100 of the greatest moments in FIFA World Cup history.

As Julian Alvarez, the 22-year-old Argentinian forward, dribbled across half the pitch on Tuesday, dodging last-ditch tackles from Croatian defenders and latching onto a favourable deflection before dinking the ball past the goalkeeper, there was a sense that this had all happened before.

Alvarez’s goal in the 2022 World Cup semifinal was in many ways a more fortuitous version of that scored by Argentinian footballing legend Diego Maradona against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, in which he dribbled past half of the English defence before slotting it home and reeling off towards the stands in celebration.

The FIFA Council met today in advance of the FIFA World Cup™ final in Doha, Qatar, which FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed as the “best ever”, following nearly a month during which “football reinforced its unique cohesive power by uniting the world in a spirit of peace and friendship”, and adopted a number of key decisions for the future of football.