⚽️ Axios Sports Special: Qatar 2022

The World Cup of controversy has arrived. | Monday, November 21, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Upside   Axios Sports By Kendall Baker · Nov 21, 2022 👋 Happy Monday! Welcome to the only World Cup preview you need. Follow me for live updates, highlights and more. ⚽️ Today's slate: England vs. Iran (8am ET, FS1); Senegal vs. Netherlands (11am, Fox); U.S. vs. Wales (2pm, Fox). Today's word count: 2,019 words (7.5 minutes). Let's sports...     1 big thing: 🇶🇦 The World Cup of controversy Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Karim Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images.   The 2022 World Cup has been marred by controversy from the very start, and the stench of FIFA's corruption and Qatar's human rights abuses still lingers as the event gets underway. How we got here: 100 years ago, Qatar was a sparsely populated British protectorate. Then, after discovering oil (1939) and one of Earth's largest natural gas reserves (1960), it transformed into an incredibly wealthy nation. By the turn of the century, Qatar was a major player in global politics. But a desire for more prestige and clout led the country, much like its Gulf neighbors, to a potent source: soccer. Qataris acquired French club Paris Saint-Germain and launched beIN Sports, big moves that shook up Europe. But the crown jewel was the World Cup. Qatar was named host in 2010, a stunning development that triggered bribery accusations. How else had a tiny desert nation with virtually no soccer culture been awarded the World Cup? 18 members of FIFA's 24-person executive committee have since been implicated in or investigated for illicit activity, and the global governing body's reputation has been irrevocably damaged. State of play: Qatar's corrupt bid hangs over the World Cup like a black cloud, but it's not even the biggest controversy surrounding the event: That would be the host nation's human rights record. 85% of Qatar's population of 3 million are foreign workers, and rights groups have been documenting abuses and harsh conditions. Last year, The Guardian revealed that about 6,500 workers from South Asia had died since Qatar was awarded the World Cup. Under Qatar's male guardianship system, women must gain permission from their father, brother, grandfather or husband to exercise many basic rights, per Human Rights Watch. There are concerns about LGBTQ fans descending on Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. A Qatar 2022 ambassador recently said homosexuality is a "damage in the mind." Plus: Other controversies include beer bans, press freedom (Qatar ranks 119 out of 180 countries) and player workload (64 games in just 29 days, smack in the middle of the European club season). 💬 What they're saying: 54% of Americans say that FIFA shouldn't have awarded the World Cup to Qatar, according to a new Seton Hall University poll. 🏳️‍🌈 This just in … Seven European teams announced this morning that their captains will no longer wear LGBTQ OneLove armbands after FIFA said players would be sanctioned, per WashPost. Go deeper: The World Cup that changed everything (NYT) Welcome to Qatar 2022, please say nice things only (WSJ)     2. 🌎 Farewell to the 32-team format Data: FIFA; Map: Thomas Oide/Axios Qatar 2022 is the seventh — and perhaps final — 32-team World Cup, with the field set to expand to 48 teams when the U.S., Mexico and Canada co-host in 2026. The field: Here are the 32 countries competing in Qatar, listed by continent and FIFA ranking: Europe: Belgium (No. 2 ranking), France (4), England (5), Spain (7), Netherlands (8), Portugal (9), Denmark (10), Germany (11), Croatia (12), Switzerland (15), Wales (19), Serbia (21), Poland (26) Asia: Iran (20), Japan (24), South Korea (28), Australia (38), Qatar (50), Saudi Arabia (51) Africa: Senegal (18), Morocco (22), Tunisia (30), Cameroon (43), Ghana (61) South America: Brazil (1), Argentina (3), Uruguay (14), Ecuador (44) North America: Mexico (13), U.S. (16), Costa Rica (31), Canada (41) The big picture: The inaugural 1930 World Cup featured 13 teams: Uruguay (host), Argentina, U.S., Yugoslavia, Peru, Chile, Brazil, France, Romania, Paraguay, Belgium, Bolivia and Mexico. By 2026, the field size will have nearly quadrupled. 1930: 13 teams 1934-1978: 16 teams 1982-1994: 24 teams 1998-2022: 32 teams 2026: 48 teams State of play: Expansion has become a theme across sports in recent years, as organizations look to maximize profit and exposure. U.S.-based leagues like the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS and NWSL have all recently expanded their playoffs, and the College Football Playoff is set to triple soon. March Madness could be next. Overseas, men's soccer championships in Europe, Africa and Asia have all expanded to 24 teams, and the Champions League will grow from 32 to 36 in 2024. 📊 Fun fact ... The U.S. (330 million) and Brazil (215 million) are the largest countries by population at the World Cup, while Qatar (2.9 million) and Wales (3.2 million) are the smallest. Go deeper: It's the end of the World Cup as we know it (SI) Ranking all 21 World Cups, from worst to best (ESPN)     3. 🇺🇸 USA's golden generation Data: Transfermarkt; Infographic: Thomas Oide and Maura Losch/Axios The USMNT has the second-youngest roster in Qatar. It also has, on paper at least, perhaps the most talented squad in its history, Axios' Thomas Oide and I write. By the numbers: According to Transfermarkt, which tracks the market value of soccer players globally, this year's USMNT squad has a total value of $288.4 million, more than double the value of the 2010 and 2014 rosters combined. Between the lines: Only one player on the 2010 and 2014 rosters went into a World Cup worth eight figures: Tim Howard in 2010 ($10.4 million). The 2022 team has 11 such players, all of whom are under the age of 25: Christian Pulisic, Chelsea ($38.5 million) Gio Reyna, Borussia Dortmund ($36.4 million) Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United ($31.2 million) Weston McKennie, Juventus ($21.8 million) Yunus Musah, Valencia ($20.8 million) Tyler Adams, Leeds United ($17.6 million) Sergiño Dest, AC Milan ($16.6 million) Joe Scally, Borussia Monchengladbach ($12.4 million) Tim Weah, Lille ($12.4 million) Josh Sargent, Norwich City ($12.4 million) Antonee Robinson, Fulham ($10.4 million) The big picture: Many of these players went through the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which was launched 15 years ago to fix American soccer development. They're the byproducts of an overhauled youth system, and the faces of U.S. Soccer's present — and future. "It's no coincidence," head coach Gregg Berhalter said recently, "that all of a sudden we have elite players around the world." Yes, but: The market value of top American talent still pales in comparison to global stars like France's Kylian Mbappe ($166.4 million), Spain's Pedri ($104 million) and England's Harry Kane ($93.6 million). The bottom line: The USMNT has long been defined by a "greater than the sum of its parts" identity. The 2022 squad, with its youth and talent, has a chance to break that mold. 🇺🇸 Captain America ... Adams, 23, will captain the USMNT in Qatar after winning a vote among teammates. Pulisic, 24, and Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman, 29, were also considered. Go deeper: The USMNT roster is more diverse than ever (WashPost) How prepared is the USMNT for the World Cup? (The Ringer)     A message from Upside This app is helping users treat themselves     Upside is on a mission to make sure that, even during expensive times, people still have a little extra money for a rainy day fund. The free app gets users cash back on: Gas. Groceries. Convenience stores. Restaurants. On average, users earn $148 annually. Download the free Upside app to start earning.     4. ⚽️ The groups: 16 advance, 16 go home Chart: Axios Visuals The action began on Sunday, with Ecuador beating Qatar, 2-0. The rest of Group A, plus all four Group B teams, kickoff today. How it works: Each country is guaranteed three games. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Snapshot: Here are the eight groups, plus each team's chances of making the round of 16 entering the tournament (prior to Ecuador's victory over Qatar), per FiveThirtyEight. Group A: Netherlands (78% chance of advancing), Senegal (51%), Ecuador (48%), Qatar (22%) Group B: England (80%), U.S. (53%), Iran (34%), Wales (32%) Group C: Argentina (84%), Mexico (54%), Poland (38%), Saudi Arabia (24%) Group D: France (83%), Denmark (65%), Tunisia (31%), Australia (22%) Group E: Spain (81%), Germany (76%), Japan (34%), Costa Rica (8%) Group F: Belgium (62%), Croatia (54%), Morocco (46%), Canada (37%) Group G: Brazil (91%), Switzerland (48%), Serbia (41%), Cameroon (20%) Group H: Portugal (81%), Uruguay (65%), South Korea (36%), Ghana (18%) ⚔️ The big question ... Which group is this year's Group of Death? My top two candidates: Group B, which has the highest average world ranking, and Group E, which features two of the past three winners. Go deeper: One big question about every group (ESPN) The 2022 World Cup is up for grabs (FiveThirtyEight)     5. ⭐️ Who to watch: Qatar's top stars Kevin De Bruyne (L), Vinícius Júnior, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé. Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Photos: Peter Lous/BSR Agency, Aurelien Meunier, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Catherine Steenkeste via Getty Images   The World Cup is where legends are born and legacies are written. The stage simply does not get any bigger. 10 players to watch: 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé, F (France) 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi, F (Argentina) 🇧🇪 Kevin De Bruyne, M (Belgium) 🇧🇷 Vinícius Júnior, F (Brazil) 🇧🇷 Neymar, F (Brazil) 🇵🇱 Robert Lewandowski, F (Poland) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harry Kane, F (England) 🇳🇱 Virgil van Dijk, D (Netherlands) 🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois, GK (Belgium) 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo, F (Portugal) 🚑 Injury report ... With the World Cup coinciding with the European club season, numerous stars are out with injuries. That includes 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema (France) and two-time African player of the year Sadio Mané (Senegal). Go deeper: Top 50 players (Washington Post) Complete guide to all 831 players (The Guardian)     6. 📸 In photos: Venues Matches will be played in eight stadiums, all within a 35-mile radius of the capital city of Doha. Here's a look at four of them. Photo: Hector Vivas/FIFA via Getty Images Al Bayt Stadium: This giant, tent-like structure hosted Sunday's opening ceremony and opening match. Photo: Fu Tian/China News Service via Getty Images Lusail Stadium: This gold-colored venue, located in a new coastal city just north of Doha, will host the World Cup Final. Photo: Hector Vivas/FIFA via Getty Images Al Thumama Stadium: This stadium with a circular opening in the roof will host eight games, including today's Senegal-Netherlands match. Photo: Maja Hitij/FIFA via Getty Images Stadium 974: This venue's name comes from the number of shipping containers used in its construction.     7. 💵 State(s) of play: The betting boom Data: American Gaming Association; Chart: Thomas Oide/Axios When the 2018 World Cup kicked off, three U.S. states (Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware) had legal sports betting markets. Four years later, that number has ballooned to 31 states, plus Washington, D.C. Why it matters: With the World Cup coinciding with the NFL and college football for the first time, the next few weeks should generate huge betting volume across the country. "Between the activity we forecast from our NFL customers, and the new activity from people betting on the World Cup, we anticipate November to be a strong month." — FanDuel CCO Mike Raffensperger tells Axios By the numbers: 20.5 million American adults plan to bet $1.8 billion on the 2022 World Cup, per a new report from the American Gaming Association. Three in 10 (29%) of American adults who plan to watch the World Cup intend to wager on the tournament. If given $50 to bet, most Americans would put their money on the U.S. (24%) to win, followed by Brazil (19%). 👀 What to watch … Match-fixing is on the rise in global soccer, so a task force that includes INTERPOL and the FBI will be monitoring the betting markets for every match in Qatar — a first for the World Cup. Go deeper: How a lobbying blitz made sports betting ubiquitous (NYT) Top World Cup betting promotions (Legal Sports Report)     8. 📺 How to watch: All eyes on Fox Photo Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios. Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images.   All 64 World Cup matches will air in the U.S. on Fox and FS1, and most days will feature four kickoff times: 5am ET, 8am, 11am and 2pm. Tubi, Fox's ad-supported streaming service, will have all matches available to stream — but only after they've been completed. Spanish-language telecasts will air on Telemundo or Universo and stream live on Peacock (first 12 matches are free, then you'll need a Peacock Premium subscription). The intrigue: TV ratings are always a talking point during major sporting events, and Qatar 2022 being sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas makes it especially intriguing. On one hand, broadcasters are competing with the NFL, NBA, college football and others for the first time, all while navigating an unfavorable time difference. On the other hand, the holiday season could be a boon. USA-England on Black Friday (when most Americans are off work) could be one of the most-watched soccer games in U.S. history. 📆 Mark your calendars ... All three USMNT group stage matches — today against Wales, Friday against England and next Tuesday against Iran — will air at 2pm ET on Fox. Go deeper: Full TV schedule (Fox Sports) Fox Sports' coverage will stick to soccer (Axios)     9. 🇧🇷 World Cup trivia Ronaldo celebrates a goal during the 2002 semifinal. Photo: Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images   Brazil has scored the most goals in World Cup history with 229. Question: Which country is second with 226? Hint: Europe. Answer at the bottom.     10. 🎉 1 fun thing: Best nicknames Cameroon fans at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Photo: Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images   National soccer teams have nicknames, and some of them are very cool. My 10 favorites: 🇨🇲 Cameroon: Indomitable Lions 🇩🇰 Denmark: Danish Dynamite 🇯🇵 Japan: Blue Samurai 🇪🇸 Spain: Red Fury 🇬🇭 Ghana: Black Stars 🇹🇳 Tunisia: Eagles of Carthage 🇫🇷 France: Les Bleus 🇦🇺 Australia: Socceroos 🇸🇳 Senegal: Lions of Teranga 🇨🇷 Costa Rica: Los Ticos     A message from Upside How to fight inflation with your everyday spending     The Upside app pays you back a little from each purchase to help offset rising costs. On average, users earn $148 annually. You can get cash back at: Gas stations. Convenience stores. Grocery stores. Restaurants. Take back control of your budget and download the free Upside app.   Talk tomorrow, Kendall "I (kind of) believe that we will (maybe) win!" Baker Trivia answer: Germany 🙏 Have a great day! Follow me for more (@kendallbaker). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Nick Aspinwall for copy edits. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. 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