The 2022 World Cup started on November 20th. In this epic tournament, the best soccer players in the world go head-to-head in a match. This championship only happens once every four years, and the whole world comes together to watch and play soccer. There are a total of 64 games to decide the winner of the World Cup.

The World Cup is played in eight different stadiums. This year, the games take place in Lusail Stadium, AI Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Education City Stadium, AI Thumama Stadium, AI Janoub Stadium, and Stadium 974, which are all located in this year’s host country of Qatar.

All of the teams participating are hoping to win the grand prize of 42 million dollars. Out of 200 teams, only 32 teams can qualify for the World Cup. This qualifying process takes two years and a large number of games.

Interestingly, the first World Cup was played in Uruguay in 1930. After that, the interruption of World War II delayed the next competition until 1950. 

The first game of the 2022 World Cup was played in Al Bayt stadium, and the last game was played at the Lusail Stadium on December 18th. 

Two students, Justin Almanza (10) and Emmanuel Cruz (10), were consistent viewers of the World Cup, watching this tournament through the day at school.

“Lionel Messi [is my favorite player] because he is the greatest of all time…I watch the games, and I am wanting to get a jersey,”Almanza said.

Cruz not only has a different favorite player, but he also celebrates the World Cup a different way. 

“Memo Ochoa [is my favorite] because he is the best goalkeeper in the world… I’m watching the games with my friends,” Cruz said.

While Cruz is watching the game with his friends, Almanza is watching them with his cousins. This just shows that although the World Cup is an epic sporting event, it’s also a way to bond and bring people together.