Groups and squads
Click the balls for details
Stadiums
Qatar has spent some US$200 billion on infrastructure and other development projects for the World Cup. The host nation built seven of its eight lavish stadiums and heavily renovated another. With its gold facade and 80,000 capacity, Qatar’s gleaming Lusail Stadium will host 10 matches, including the final.
A flying keffiyeh headdress named La’eeb, meaning super skilful player in Arabic, is the official World Cup mascot.
The official match ball, the Al Rihla, is the world’s first football made with water-based inks and glues.
Why was the tournament date moved?
Qatar infamously moved the tournament to the winter to protect players and spectators from extreme heat. Daily temperatures in June and July can rise above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) with high humidity. Still, Qatar’s stadiums have outdoor air-conditioning.
Average daily temperatures in Qatar
Average hourly temperature
Hosting the tournament in November and December is also controversial as it clashes with the regular season schedules of most of the major domestic leagues around the world.
The fixtures
GROUP STAGE
Click the tabs to see results and standings from each group
Top players to watch
Some of the world’s biggest names in football are playing in this World Cup, which could be their last as retirement looms. Others still have many games ahead of them. Here’s a look at some top players who will feature in Qatar:
Young stars
The World Cup may be a proving ground for the future stars of football. Here’s some players to watch:
Associate Creative Director Marcelo Duhalde
Edit by Andrew London and Nicolas Atkin
Additional web development Dennis Wong
Sources: FIFA, AFP, Reuters, Panini, Transfermarkt, Graphic News
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