countdown to world cup 2022: 30 days till the big off
The road to Qatar began back in 2019 on June 6 in a clash between Mongolia and Brunei. Three and a half years later, 206 hopeful nations have been whittled down to 32 and the world’s most popular sports biggest showpiece is nearly upon us. TVP World will be counting down the days until the big kick off with a daily look at all the latest news and previews.
The upcoming World Cup in Qatar will be the first ever held in winter in the northern hemisphere, owing to the country’s extreme summertime temperatures.
It will be a tournament of many firsts beyond the seasonal switch. This will be the 22nd World Cup and the first time the tournament has been hosted by a nation in the Arab world.
Off the pitch
Off the pitch the tournament has been dogged by controversy. In particular migrants from Bangladesh, India and Nepal working on the refurbishment of the showcase Khalifa Stadium and landscaping the surrounding gardens and sporting facilities known as the ‘Aspire Zone’ are being exploited.
According to Amnesty International, some are being subjected to forced labour. They can’t change jobs, they can’t leave the country and they often wait months to get paid.
On the pitch
For many analysts this World Cup is one of the most unpredictable in memory. The majority of the players will arrive at the tournament just days after competing for their clubs. For example the English Premier League’s last round of fixtures prior to Qatar take place November 12-13, just a week before the tournament kicks off.
Poland to face Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia at FIFA World Cup
Furthermore, most elite leagues will have been cramming in matches throughout autumn. It is therefore difficult to judge the mindset and readiness of players.
As the tournament draws ever nearer the negative aspects are likely to fade into the background as the football itself starts to take centre stage.
White and Red
Poland have qualified for their ninth World Cup under the stewardship of Czesław Michniewicz. They find themselves in Group C with a relatively kind draw that will see them face Mexico, Saudi Arabia and group favourites Argentina. Their first game will be against the Mexicans on November 22 in what appears to be a decisive match, even at such an early stage.
Poland qualified after defeating Sweden 2-0 in the playoffs and will be playing consecutive World Cups for the first time since 2002-2006.
On Thursday, coach Michniewicz revealed the provisional, 47-man World Cup list, which will be cut down to 26 names a week before the tournament.
We will be delving much deeper into the prospects of Poland and the other 31 nations in the coming weeks with our daily countdown to World Cup 2022.