presentation about the world cup

• Looking ahead
• A semblance of normality returns
• The return to football
• The Best FIFA Football Awards™
• The Future of Football
• COVID-19: an unprecedented challenge
• FIFA President’s Vision 2020–2023
• Technical development
• Professional football
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• Maximising global impact
• Social responsibility and education
• FIFA helps Afghanistan’s football family
• Safeguarding and child protection
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• Sustainability and environment
• FIFA Climate Strategy
• #ReachOut for better mental health
• #ACTogether and #SafeHome
• Beyond the pitch
• More milestones in 2021
• FIFA Foundation
• Corporate governance and administration
• FIFA Museum
• FIFA statistics
• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
• The road to Qatar — as things stand
• FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™
• Foreword by the chairperson of the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee
• 71ˢᵗ FIFA Congress
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• Compensation
• Foreword by the chairman of the Finance Committee
• 2021 financials in review
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• Consolidated statement of comprehensive Income
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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™­

Eleven years after Qatar was awarded the rights to host the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup™, the countdown to the tournament has entered its final year – with many milestone moments reached during 2021.

Countdown clock unveiled­

On 21 November 2021, the one-year-to-go anniversary until the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was marked with a special ceremony in Qatar. The tournament will be like no other, and the spectacular ceremony on the Corniche waterfront across from the West Bay skyline gave a taste of the spectacular event to come.

Football fans worldwide were also invited to “Join the Beat” virtually and celebrate the milestone, as the official countdown clock, powered by Hublot, was revealed. The 30-minute launch ceremony also featured a drone show, special guests and other surprises, ramping up the anticipation as the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab world emerges over the horizon.

Speaking at the event, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said:

“I’ve been involved in the organisation of sports events for the past few decades, and I’ve never witnessed anything like what is happening here. Everything is ready, the venues will be fantastic. The experience for the fans will be great.”

“The world will discover a country and a whole region. Qatar, the Gulf region, the Middle East, the Arab world. A place where people meet and come together. This is what football is all about, this is about what this part of the world and its culture is all about, and the world will realise that."

“This is a unique and special moment for Qatar as the host country. After 11 years of hard work and lasting progress, we are well on the way towards delivering the first World Cup in our region, one that will leave a profound legacy for Qatar, the region and the entire world.”

Three more stadiums inaugurated­

The stunning Al Bayt Stadium – which will host the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 – was unveiled on the opening day of the FIFA Arab Cup. The 60,000-capacity venue, which was designed to resemble the tents formerly used by nomadic people in the Gulf region, hosted Qatar’s 1-0 victory against Bahrain as the 16-team tournament got off to an exciting start.

Straight after Al Bayt’s inauguration, Stadium 974 also hosted its first game. The arena, which is made primarily from shipping containers and can seat 40,000, staged the United Arab Emirates’ 2-1 victory against Syria. Stadium 974 was named after the number of shipping containers used in its construction. It is also Qatar’s international dialling code.

“ The world will discover a country and a whole region. Qatar, the Gulf region, the Middle East, the Arab world. A place where people meet and come together. ”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “Al Bayt is the house where everyone is uniting, where everyone is coming together. It is a symbol for what the World Cup represents. The Arab Cup represents today what the World Cup will represent next year of people coming together, of people being united from all over the world. So, to have games in such a beautiful stadium, in such a symbolic stadium, is something that we have to cherish and that will be crucial for the success of the World Cup.”

In October 2021, another FIFA World Cup milestone was reached as Al Thumama Stadium became the sixth tournament-ready venue to be inaugurated when it hosted the Amir Cup final, which was won by Al Sadd. The stadium followed Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Education City, Ahmad Bin Ali and Al Bayt in being declared ready to host matches during the 22ⁿᵈ edition of the FIFA World Cup.

This leaves just one FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue to be inaugurated – Lusail Stadium. The main construction work was completed in 2021 and the stadium was due to open its doors to the public in early 2022.

More articles

Fifa statistics­, the road to qatar — as things stand­.

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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 PPT And Google Slides Templates

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Presentation Slide

Dive into the excitement of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with our dynamic presentation slides. Capturing the essence of the highly anticipated event, these fully editable FIFA World Cup 2022 PPT slides offer a comprehensive pack of 35 templates. Explore the tournament's key details, teams, and match schedules effortlessly. Crafted for sports enthusiasts, this collection features vibrant graphics, team profiles, and match analysis, making it an ideal resource for sports presentations , events, or discussions around the FIFA World Cup 2022. Immerse your audience in the world of football with these engaging and visually appealing sports templates, ensuring a winning presentation every time.

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2022 FIFA World Cup™️: The best of the closing ceremony 2022 FIFA World Cup™️: The best of the closing ceremony

Dec 18, 2022

1min 29second

Watch the best moments from the 2022 FIFA World Cup™️ closing ceremony at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

LATEST NEWS FROM QATAR LATEST NEWS FROM QATAR

All you need to know about the FIFA World Cup

Travel Travel Inspiration FIFA World Cup 2022 Guide

FIFA World Cup 2022

When it comes to football, it doesn't get much bigger than this. The FIFA World Cup is by and far, the most elusive trophy that a professional football player sets their sights on. The multitude of factors that need to click in order to even have the chance to represent your country at this prestigious event raises the stakes even higher. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is set to be the 22nd edition of this Global Event that only comes around once in 4 years. With a whole host of top players- veterans and young stars, and an array of well-seasoned and hopeful countries, this World Cup promises to be one to remember! Fascinatingly, the timing of this year's World Cup can prove to be one of the deciding factors as to who might end up clinching the trophy. Players around the world have been amping up their game levels and making moves to increase their match fitness. In this article, we've provided a comprehensive guide to all things you need to know to prepare for this year's World Cup. Stay tuned to find out each qualified nation's squads as soon as they're announced!

World Cup 2022 At A Glance

• Location: Qatar (in 5 host cities).
• Dates: 20 November to 18 December 2022.
• Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail
• Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor
• Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah
• Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium and Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan
• Stadium 974 and Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
• Number of teams: 32 (from 5 confederations)
• Hyundai-Kia
• QatarEnergy
• Qatar Airways

How Does The FIFA World Cup Work?

The journey to the fifa world cup.

• Since the second World Cup in 1934, qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament.
• They are held within the six FIFA continental zones (Africa, Asia, North and Central America and Caribbean, South America, Oceania, and Europe), overseen by their respective confederations. For each tournament, FIFA decides the number of places awarded to each of the continental zones beforehand, generally based on the relative strength of the confederations' teams.
• The qualification process can start as early as almost three years before the final tournament and last over a two-year period. The formats of the qualification tournaments differ between confederations. Usually, one or two places are awarded to winners of intercontinental play-offs.
• Dive into how qualifying for the 2022 World Cup worked around the world here.

The journey through the FIFA World Cup

• The World Cup is divided into two distinct phases: the group stage and the knockout stage.
• In the group stage, teams compete within eight groups of four teams each. Eight teams are seeded, including the hosts, with the other seeded teams selected using a formula based on the FIFA World Rankings or performances in recent World Cups, and drawn to separate groups.
• The other teams are assigned to different "pots", usually based on geographical criteria, and teams in each pot are drawn at random to the eight groups. Since 1998, constraints have been applied to the draw to ensure that no group contains more than two European teams or more than one team from any other confederation.
• Each group plays a round-robin tournament, in which each team is scheduled for three matches against other teams in the same group. This means that a total of six matches are played within a group. The last round of matches of each group is scheduled at the same time to preserve fairness among all four teams.
• The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage.
• The knockout stage represents the business end of the tournament as teams quickly move through the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the two that remain, arrive at the much-awaited final .
• View the official match schedule below.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Match Schedule

The Best World Cup Goals So Far

Which Teams Have Made It This Year?

And who misses out.

• View the 32 teams that have qualified for the World Cup here.

Notable teams that didn’t qualify

• The Azzurri failed to qualify for the second successive World Cup, having missed out in 2018 too. While they were in need of a rebuild last time around, having won the UEFA Euro 2020, they were one of the favourites to contest for the title at this year's World Cup. However, with the new qualification route in place, they missed out yet again, much to the dismay of the nation.
• Sweden made it to the playoff fixtures after finishing second in their qualifying group. They beat the Czech Republic in the first round fixture, but fell short against Poland and failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
• Chile miss out on their second successive World Cup and they had a qualifying run that they will want to forget. The South American country won just 5/18 games in the qualifying phase and gave themselves no chance. They'll be bitterly disappointed and need to make changes to avoid missing out on another edition.
• One of the biggest shocks was Colombia's failure to qualify for this year's tournament. They came agonizingly close, with only 1 point between them and Peru for the final qualification spot.
• The Super Eagles are arguably one of the strongest African nations and their inability to qualify was certainly not expected. They unfortunately lost out to Ghana on the away-goals rules during the course of their playoff.

Notable players that will miss the World Cup

• With the form he's been in this season, opposition defenders must be delighted that Norway and Haaland won't be at this year's World Cup. While he will be disappointed to not be part of the big event, he is just 22 and has time on his side. You can fully expect him to be full-guns blazing once the domestic action returns!
• The mercurial Egyptian will be gutted not to be at the World Cup. Having endured a difficult season so far with Liverpool, the break might do him some good and give him a chance to be fresh for the resumption of the league action.
• Possibly one of the best midfielders around at the moment, Marco Verratii misses out this year as a result of Italy's failure to qualify. The Italian would have looked to take the stage when at the peak of his powers, but he'll need to wait until 2026 at the very least!
• The Colombian has been in sparkling form since his move to Liverpool and misses out this year as Colombia shockingly failed to qualify.
• Austria's failure to qualify for the World Cup means that the experienced defender misses out this year. He will certainly be disappointed, given the stellar form he's been in the past year.
• The Italian shotstopper is another casualty of Italy's failure to qualify. Having the UEFA Euro 2020, the young man would have been keen on showcasing his ability at the World Cup too.
• The Norwegian and Arsenal Captain has been in top form this season, pulling the strings from midfield. Similar to Haaland, he will be disappointed to miss out, but he has time on his side and may yet be one to look out for in future World Cups.
• The Manchester City star misses out this year as Algeria failed to grab one of the spots available to African nations. He is coming off the back of a strong season with his club and is at the peak of his abilities at the moment. Unless things drastically change for the next World Cup, we might not get the chance to showcase his abilities in it!
• Stay tuned to find out which players miss out on being named in the World Cup Squad!

Top Players To Never Have Won the World Cup

Group Stage Encounters To Look Out For 👀

Netherlands v/s Senegal The Dutchmen have been in imperious form since Louis van Gaal took over and Senegal are stacked with X-Factors Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy. It has the potential to be a very exciting match-up.

England v/s the USA While both teams have struggled in recent weeks, England made it to the finals of the Euros just last year and the USA have one of the exciting teams around.

Argentina v/s Mexico and Argentina v/s Poland Argentina are unbeaten in their last 35 games and won the Copa America last year. On the other hand, Mexico are known for their flair and penchant for causing upsets. Poland's chances of making it past the group stage ahead of Mexico could well depend on how each team fares against Argentina.

France v/s Denmark The defending champions go up against an in-form Danish team, led by the resurgent Christian Erisken. These two teams have had their own mini-rivalry in the recent past, keep a keen eye on who prevails this time.

Spain v/s Germany Spain demolished Germany 6-0 the last time these two sides met in the 2020 Nations League. Rest assured Germany will be looking to prove a point.

Belgium v/s Croatia This might well be Belgium's golden generation's final shot at glory. On the other side, Croatia will be looking to make a statement early in the tournament.

Brazil v/s Switzerland The last time these 2 teams met was in the 2018 World Cup and both games ended in entertaining draws. It'll be interesting to see if either team is able to overcome the other this time.

Portugal v/s Uruguay Portugal enter this tournament as one of the favourites and Uruguay are looking to rekindle their past glory. Both teams will be looking to go deep in the tournament and this is bound to be a thriller.

Big Upsets Through The Years

Rules of the Game

• Squad expansion: FIFA has confirmed that World Cup squads will no longer be comprised of 23 players, but that international managers will have a selection of 26 to choose from. However, it should be noted that only 23 players will be allowed to appear in match-day squads, meaning that three players are still set to miss out.
• Five substitutes allowed: Although five players can be brought on from the bench, managers only have three windows in which to make those changes. The law expands further if nations go to extra time in the knockouts. From there, managers may use an additional substitute, and they also have one additional substitution opportunity.
• Offside: FIFA announced that semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) will be used at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to enable referees to make faster, more accurate offside decisions at the world's biggest football gala. Read on here for an in-depth analysis!
• Cooling breaks: Extreme weather conditions may warrant cooling breaks to be implemented during the course of a match in accordance with the protocols established by FIFA Medical. Such breaks will be considered on a match-by match basis. Responsibility for implementing and controlling cooling breaks resides with the referee.
• Refereeing: There will be 36 referees at the World Cup later this year, with FIFA including two each from Argentina, Brazil, England and France — and for the first time in the competition’s history, women referees will officiate games at a major men’s tournament. Among those included are Stephanie Frappart from France, Rwandan Salima Mukansanga and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan, all of whom will be the first female referees to be appointed to a men’s World Cup. They will be joined by three female assistant referees, which is also a first at a World Cup.

Know Before You Go

Visitor guidelines.

• People can generally wear their clothing of choice. Visitors are expected to cover their shoulders and knees when visiting public places like museums and other government buildings.
• Swimwear is allowed at hotel beaches and pools.
• Fans attending matches should note that the removal of shirts in the stadium is not permitted.
• Alcohol is not part of local culture, but hospitality is. Alcohol will be available to purchase for fans who wish to enjoy it.
• Alcohol is served in licensed restaurants and in many hotels across the country today. Fans should note that drinking alcohol outside of designated areas is prohibited.
• Fans should also note that it is not permitted to bring alcohol into the State of Qatar. Fans should avoid travelling with alcohol from their country of origin or purchasing duty-free products en route to avoid confiscation upon arrival in Qatar.
• Public displays of affection are not part of local culture and we kindly ask for this to be respected by fans who travel to Qatar for the tournament.
• When taking pictures, common courtesy should be exercised and fans are advised to ask permission before photographing/filming members of the public. Fans should also be aware that taking pictures of government buildings is not permitted.

What is it and why do you need it?

• The Hayya card will act as an entry permit for travel into Qatar during the FIFA World Cup tournament from November 10 to December 23.
• It will be used as identification for all ticket-holders and provide benefits to enhance the FIFA experience such as free metro and bus access to and from the matches.
• You will need to show your Hayya card to gain access to the stadiums to attend matches.
• The Hayya card costs QAR100 ($27) and allows multi-entry during its 90-day validity.
• The standard processing time is around 7 business days with options for fast tracking available at higher processing fees.
• To apply for Hayya, and to book accommodation, please visit Qatar2022.qa or download the Hayya to Qatar 2022 app (available for iOS, Android and Huawei).

Players To Look Out For

Young stars 🌟.

• Pedri - Spain
• Ever since he made his debut for Barcelona in 2021, there's been no looking back for Pedri. A mainstay in Spain's UEFA Euro 2020 starting XI, it is hard to believe he is still just 19. The silky smooth operator in the Spanish midfield is one to keep an eye on.
• Rafael Leao - Portugal
• Portugal is a team blessed with an abundance of attacking talent and Rafael Leao is no excpetion to the rule. Coming off the back of a strong 21/22 season with Milan, where he lifted the league title with his club, his confidence levels are as high as ever. He has begun the 22/23 in strong fashion and could be Portugal's X-Factor!
• Vinicius Jr. - Brazil
• The Brazilian Baller has grown leaps and bounds over the last season. He had his most prolific season yet with Real Madrid last season. He scored the winner in the UEFA Champions League Final against Liverpool to cap off a wonderful year. He has added remarkable consistency and output to his undoubted technical ability and provides a huge selection headache to the Brazilian manager!
• Alphonso Davies - Canada
• Ever since he joined Bayern, Davies has continued to add facets to his already-impressive array of talents. As quick as you can be and with an eye for an assist, he will be key to Canada's chances of progressing past the group stage.
• Ricardo Pepi - The USA
• Pepi is touted as the next big thing in a long line of American talents. The tricky winger has incredible driblling ability and is able to utilize it to create and score chances for his team. You can expect him to be the next American to make a big move if he showcases the full breadth of his talents this winter.
• Jamal Musiala is the latest young English talent to leave the familiarity of England and blossom in the Bundesliga. The young English-born German has been bossing the midfield for Bayern Munich this season. Hansi Flick will be tasked with unlocking his potential for the German National Team this World Cup. Rest assured this young man will find a way to shine.
• There's a reason Real Madrid chose to pay for his services, despite having the option to sign him on a free transfer a year later. He has fitted in seamlessly into the Los Blancos' midfield and is a midfielder than can do it all- dribble, tackle, score and assist. Still only 19, he has nailed down a berth in the French National Team that will be looking to defend their title.
• Jude Bellingham is touted as a generational midfielder and for good reason. The young Englishman is adept at playing anywhere in the midfield and has the calmness and confidence to go with his incredible footballing brain. Technically, he's one of the most exciting midfielders around and with speculation rife as to where he might be moving next, expect this to be a huge tournament for Jude.

Potentially Their Last World Cup 😢

• Not much needs to be said about Cristiano Ronaldo, his career speaks for itself. You can't put it past Ronaldo to make it to the next World Cup, but if it is to be final appearance, he will be looking to end with a bang. This is the one trophy that has eluded him in his illustrious career and if Portugal manage to win it, it might just cement his reputation as the greatest international footballer.
• Same as Ronaldo, there aren't enough superlatives to describe Messi's career and footballing ability. In all likelihood, this will be the great man's final World Cup. Having come agonizingly close to winning it in 2014, Argentina lost out to Germany in extra time. There has been a fire in Messi's belly when he's played for Argentina off-late and expect to see that continue at the World Cup. A victory for Argentina will not only complete a stellar career, but also cement his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
• The veteran midfield general has been a mainstay in both the Barcelona and Spanish teams for the past decade. As one of the all-time midfield greats winds down his career, he will be looking to end on a high with a deep run into the tournament with Spain.
• The only player not named Ronaldo or Messi to win a Ballon d'Or since 2008, and it came on the back of a stellar tournament at the FIFA World Cup 2018. The Croatian Captain played a vital role in the country's journey to the final. The way Modric has been playing the last 2 seasons in particular, it is hard to believe he is 37. The midfield maestro is very much at the peak of his powers, but it is unlikely we will see him at the next World Cup. Sit back and enjoy his magic, potentially for the last time ever at a World Cup.
• Possibly one of the most underrated players of the last decade, Karim Benzema is finally getting the plaudits he deserves. He has been Real Madrid's focal point ever since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, and he is coming off the kind of season that might just win him the Ballon d'Or. He's back in the French squad after a few years away, and he could prove to be key to their chances of defending their title.
• The veteran defender has shown that he can do it in some of the toughest leagues across the world. He is as classy a defender as they come and oozes confidence and calmness. At the age of 38, it is likely to be his last World Cup. Brazil are one among the favourites to win this year's World Cup and to do so, they'll need Thiago Silva at his best. Having added a Champions League title with Chelsea, the World Cup is the last one to complete an incredible set of trophies in a long and distinguished career.
• The mercurial right-back has won a whopping 43 trophies over the course of his lengthy career. As a result, he is the most successful football player in the history of the sport. The one trophy that eludes the 39 year old, is the World Cup. If he were to win it this year with Brazil, he would go down as the greatest right-back in the history of the sport, and one of the all-time greats.
• Robert Lewandowski is a player who is right at the top of his game at the moment. He had a remarkable goal-scoring record during his time at Bayern, and has transferred the same prowess to his new club Barcelona. The Polish Captain will be crucial to his team's chances of progressing through the group stages. All he needs is a half-chance to convert and if his team supplies with him well, he could be among the top-scorers at the World Cup.
• One of the deadliest strikers to have graced the game in the past decade and a brilliant link-up player. Suarez has moved to Nacional this season as the 35 year old looks to be as sharp as possible for the World Cup. Given his past injury record, it is likely that this will be his final appearance at a World Cup. Expect him to put in a passionate display to help his country progress!
• THe German keeper has been one of the best in business for so long now that it's hard to believe he is 36. He had a slight dip in form a few years ago, but has swiftly overcome that. His leadership and assurance at the back will be vital to Germany's hopes of going deep in the tournament.
• The first and best Raumdeuter to have played the game, Thomas Muller is a player who is unlike any other. His ability to identify half-spaces on the football pitch led to the creation of a new position and over the course of his career, he has played it to perfection. A vastly decorated player with high football IQ and immense leadership qualities, he will be key to his team's chances this year.
• A traditional number 9 that facilitates play for the forwards around him, Olivier Giroud must go down as one of the best target-men in football history. Despite not scoring any goals at the previous World Cup, he was absolutely vital to France's World Cup Winning Run. With it likely to be the 36 year old's final World Cup, you can expect him to play a big role in France's title defence.

FIFA World Cup 2018 Recap

Iconic World Cup Moments

Where Can I Watch The World Cup?

If you've been lucky enough to get tickets to watch in person- I envy you, but this might not be relevant for you. If you're like me and you're going to be watching from home (or elsewhere), read on! 👀

• View a comprehensive, country-wise breakdown of the channels and/or apps you can use here.
• If you happen to be in Qatar but didn't manage to get tickets to any of the matches, fret not. You have the option to attend the FIFA Fan Festival™ at Al Bidda Park. With a whopping capacity of 40,000 and an atmosphere that is likely to be raucous, it's a great way to simulate an in-game experience.

Timelines Of Europe's Top 5 Leagues

With this being the first World Cup to be held in the Winter, football leagues across the world have had to adapt their schedules to ensure the league finishes in time.

• November 12/13: Last round of games before the mid-season break
• December 26: Premier League action resumes
• May 28, 2023: The final round of fixtures for 2022/23
• November 12/13, 2022: Last round of games before the mid-season break
• December 31, 2022: La Liga action resumes
• June 4, 2023: Final round of fixtures for 2022/23
• November 12-13: Last round of games before the mid-season break
• January 4: Serie A action resumes
• June 4. 2023: Final round of fixtures for 2022/23 played
• December 28: Ligue 1 action resumes
• June 3-4, 2023: Final round of fixtures for 2022/23 played
• November 13: Last round of games before the mid-season break
• January 20: Bundesliga action resumes
• May 27, 2023: Final round of fixtures for 2022/23 played

The Story So Far

A round-up of some interesting stats through the years at the World Cup!

• Brazil, 5-time champions.
• 2, Italy (1934–1938).
• 2, Brazil (1958–1962).
• Netherlands, 3 (1974, 1978, 2010)
• The 1950 final between Brazil and Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro remains the most attended match in World Cup history with 173,850 official spectators.
• 16, Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)
• 39, Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala, 2002–2016)
• 2, Sándor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954)
• 2, Just Fontaine (France, 1958)
• 2, Gerd Müller (West Germany, 1970)
• 2, Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina, 1994 & 1998)
• 11 seconds, Hakan Şükür (Turkey), vs South Korea, 2002

The World Cup is right around the corner and we couldn't be more excited if we tried! With the final round of international games having been completed, the qualified countries now have the hardest task at hand- deciding their squads. Stay tuned for updates on who makes it and who doesn't! In the meantime, we hope this article has served a good means of preparing yourself for the all the drama, excitement, and flurry of emotions that's bound to be in full-display, starting November 20.

Sathvik Srinath

Sathvik's love for travel is only matched by his love for football. Born and brought up in the city of Bengaluru, he's been lucky enough to be in a city that's become a melting pot of culture over time. He dreams of living in Norway one day and can't wait to see the world!

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News and Events

Don’t miss the FIFA World Cup 2022™ on YouTube

By The YouTube Team

Nov 21, 2022 – minute read

All of the action from the World Cup is coming to YouTube across screens of all sizes – watch live games on YouTube TV, unmissable moments from broadcasters across 130 markets, exclusive YouTube Shorts, Shoppable Shorts and more .

The FIFA World Cup is a perennial can't miss global event — and this year, all of the action, energy, drama and incredible stories from the pitch and beyond are on YouTube with even more ways to watch the biggest moments before, during and after the tournament.

As the epicenter of sport content and culture, and with football being the most watched sport on the platform in 2021, this year’s tournament on YouTube will be accessible the world over with its global scale, immersive technology and unique creator contributions. Fans can prepare for this year’s action by visiting the official FIFA YouTube channel to watch iconic matches from past tournaments in full, fan favorite games and other content on the road to this year’s World Cup, including this year’s official soundtrack .

Fans can check out full high-quality recap videos of all the games and best moments from official broadcasters including FOX, ITV, BBC, Bein Sport and more, spanning 130 markets around the world. The official FIFA channel will also include unmissable moments from each game throughout the entire tournament. YouTube TV subscribers can watch all the action live on FOX and FS1, and make the most of their viewing experience with game day features, such as key plays to catch up on, real-time highlights, stats, scores and standings. Members subscribed to the 4K Plus add-on can enjoy all 64 matches in ultra-high-definition. And for those looking to tune in to the Spanish broadcast, Telemundo is included as part of the YouTube TV Base Plan.

This year, YouTube Creators both on the ground and at home are getting in on the fun with YouTube Shorts. With a combined reach of more than 90 million subscribers from around the globe, creators Deestroying , Jesser , Cheeky Boyos , Noor Stars and Rima will be sharing their experiences at the first round of matches in person. Fans at home can join in the excitement by following #ShortsFIFAWorldCup. Use this hashtag to also share your World Cup fever, and join in the fun, using Remix on Shorts, to create your own reactions. As the games come to a close, creators Carter Sharer , Lizzy Capri , Ahmad Aburob , AboFlah and Saba7o Korah will also have exclusive content from the semis and final matches you won’t want to miss.

Finally, starting today, YouTube Shopping will align with FIFA to launch a Shopping on Shorts Challenge during the tournament. Post a YouTube Short to the official FIFA World Cup Challenge song showing your transition into your matchday fit and your country love using the hashtag #FIFAWorldCupChallenge, users will be able to purchase the official 2022 World Cup T-Shirt for their country directly via YouTube Shorts!

Don’t miss any of the exciting action from this year’s tournament on YouTube.

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Argentina wins World Cup on penalty kicks over France

A World Cup final for the ages delivered a crowning glory for soccer icon Lionel Messi on Sunday as Argentina beat reigning men's champion France on penalty kicks.

One of the most dramatic major sporting events in history had the teams tied 3-3 after extra time, with the French ultimately missing twice in the shootout before Gonzalo Montiel converted to seal an exhausting and emotional victory.

Argentina had dominated the bulk of the match, leading 2-0 with just about 10 minutes to go, but France burst into life with star forward Kylian Mbappé scoring twice in as many minutes. Both sides traded missed chances and then late goals again in the 30 minutes of extra time before the tension of penalty kicks.

The game capped a month of sporting drama and geopolitical controversy in Qatar. The tournament featured surprise results and fairy-tale runs , but the final had two giants of the game compete for the title — headlined by a pair of stars.

The speedy and skillful Mbappé solidified his claim as the young pretender to Messi’s throne, scoring a hat trick as France came so close to being the first team to go back to back since Brazil in 1962.

But ultimately, it was Messi, 35, who took the glory, securing the trophy that cements his status as perhaps the game's greatest ever player by sealing a third title for his soccer-mad country.

Afterward, he said he isn’t through.

“I’m not retiring from the national team. I want to continue playing as a champion,” Messi said in a Spanish-language  interview with TyC Sports  after the final. “It’s the most beautiful thing there is.”

Follow our live coverage here.

What to know about the World Cup final

• Argentina wins on penalty kicks after a dramatic final ended 3-3 in extra time.
• France scored twice in 90 seconds late in the game to stun Argentina and tie the final.
• Argentina led 2-0 at the half thanks to goals from Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi.
• Sunday's final took place in Lusail, a city fast-tracked into existence for the World Cup, which has been clouded by criticism of host Qatar's human rights record , as well as the environmental and financial cost of the tournament.

Photo: Lionel Messi holds the trophy

Golden Ball awarded to Lionel Messi

David K. Li

Lionel Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, recognizing him as the tournament's most outstanding player.

Moments after being given the honor, Messi kissed the World Cup.

The resume is complete: Messi has his World Cup trophy

Teammates mobbed the great Lionel Messi moments after the winning kick, knowing he can no longer be dogged by the one trophy not on his mantle.

Despite being a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and a member of 10 Spanish League championship teams and four UEFA Champions League-winning sides, fans back home in Argentina had long held that missing World Cup trophy against him.

Argentina won last year's Copa America , but fans weren't satisfied until Sunday, when Messi's side won the sport's ultimate prize.

ARGENTINA WINS THE WORLD CUP

Gonzalo Montiel converts his penalty, and a dramatic final is won by Lionel Messi and his team!

FRANCE SCORES

Randal Kolo Muani ensures this isn't over just yet.

ARGENTINA SCORES

Leandro Paredes makes it 3-1. One away ...

FRANCE MISSES

Aurelien Tchouameni hits it wide, and France has missed 2 out of 3!

Photos: Fans watch as World Cup heads to penalty shootout

It's advantage Argentina! Paulo Dybala scores.

FRANCE MISSES!!

Kingsley Coman has his penalty saved by Emi Martinez!

MESSI SCORES! IT'S 1-1

We are tied on penalty kicks after 1 each.

Mbappé Scores! 1-0 TO FRANCE

Messi next ...

Kylian Mbappé to take first

He's scored two penalties already. Can he again?

Mbappé only second player to hat trick in World Cup final

Doha Madani

France's Kylian Mbappé is the first player in more than 50 years to score three goals in a World Cup final.

Mbappé, 23, scored two back-to-back goals at 80 minutes to tie the game after an early deficit for France. HE once again saved Les Bleus’ chances with a penalty kick goal.

England's Geoff Hurst was previously the only player to ever score a hat trick in a World Cup final. He was 24 when he made history against West Germany in 1966.

World Cup to be won on penalties

The 2022 World Cup final will be decided on penalty kicks after Argentina and France could not be separated at the end of extra time.

The shootout will bring back bitter memories for French fans, as the last World Cup to be decided by penalties was France's 2006 loss to Italy. Argentina may have a slight edge, having just won a quarterfinal in a shootout against the Netherlands.

Both teams have scored penalties in the game, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the decisive shootout.

Both teams miss huge chances to win it

First Argentina goalie Emi Martinez thwarts France with an incredible save, then Argentina pours forward and Lautaro Martinez heads wide.

One final twist?

We have three more minutes of a truly stunning final. Can someone win it before penalty kicks?

The NFL must go on as scheduled

English-language viewers in the U.S. will probably have to change channels if they want to see the World Cup trophy presentation.

With 1 p.m. ET NFL kickoffs approaching, postmatch action from Qatar will likely shift from Fox to Fox Sports 1.

It's 3-3. Kylian Mbappé scores again and we are tied!

The French forward sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and has a hat trick in the World Cup final.

PENALTY TO FRANCE

The drama isn't over ... it's a handball.

GOAL ARGENTINA

Lionel Messi has the ball in the net, and Argentina's players go wild.

There were suggestions of a potential offside in the buildup, but the goal stands, and Argentina leads this dramatic World Cup final 3-2 with 10 minutes of extra time to go.

Argentina misses chances

Argentina came close with a flurry of chances to end the first period of extra time.

Substitute forward Lautaro Martinez was twice played in behind the French line but missed thanks to a combination of desperate defending and wayward finishing.

The weekend of comebacks: Vikings and Les Bleus

The Minnesota Vikings scored the greatest comeback in NFL history on Saturday, and now France is on the verge of another historic rally.

The comparison wasn't lost on American sports fans.

Penalty kicks will follow if no winner after extra time

France and Argentina will be given two additional halves of 15 minutes to decide this final, and the match would go to penalty kicks if there's no winner after that.

The last World Cup final decided by a shootout was in 2006, when France lost to Italy.

Extra time underway

As if 90 minutes wasn't exhausting enough ... we're back underway for 30 more.

Messi almost wins it at the death

Messi may be 35, but he still has enough left in the tank to come oh so close to glory in the dying moments.

After consistent French pressure, a rare Argentina attack in the 96th minute saw the ball fall to Messi in a central position about 25 yards out. He struck a fierce shot that was just a little too close to French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who parried it away to ensure we would head to extra time.

90 minutes not enough to crown World Cup winner

France and Argentina are headed for at least 30 more minutes of play with the score tied, 2-2.

Extra time in the World Cup final is far from uncommon, as Germany needed more than 90 minutes to defeat Argentina, 1-0, for the 2014 crown in Brazil. Mario Götze scored in the 114th minute for the Germans.

Photos: Kylian Mbappé's  back-to-back goals

8 minutes of added time

The officials have added eight minutes on at the end here.

Is there time for one last dramatic twist, or are we heading for an extra 30?

Argentina gives up lead, echoing mistakes in Netherlands game

Soccer fans are in disbelief as France rallied from 2-0 goal deficit with back-to-back goals from Kylian Mbappé at about 80 minutes of play.

Argentina is echoing mistakes it made in the game against the Netherlands earlier in the tournament. The Dutch team equalized the game with two late goals in the quarterfinal. Argentina scraped a win on penalty kicks to advance to the semifinals.

France's comeback was unlikely after it had given up so much of the momentum to Argentina early in the game, but clearly not impossible.

Incredible. Kylian Mbappé has scored again, a second goal in two minutes.

A remarkable turnaround from the reigning champs, barely threatening for 80 minutes but bursting into life to level the final and stun Argentina.

It's 2-1 with 10 minutes to go after Kylian Mbappé converts the penalty kick.

Hugo Lloris staying busy, keeping France's slim hopes alive

Lloris, the French captain, has made four saves for Les Bleus, limiting what could be an even more one-sided match.

On the other side of the pitch, Argentina's Emiliano Martínez has not yet needed to stop an on-target French shot.

France has a golden chance to get back in the final!

Nicolas Otamendi brought down Randal Kolo Muani inside the area, and after failing to threaten for 80 minutes, the holders have a chance.

France finally takes a shot on goal after an hour of play

Kylian Mbappé took the first shot on goal for France at the 70-minute mark of Sunday's final match.

Les Bleus are being devastated by the Argentine team, which has taken nine shots on goal and leads 2-0. It's been an abysmal attempt to keep the title of reigning champions by France despite a strong defense and a lineup of stars.

Hugo Lloris making two big plays to keep match within sight

Julián Álvarez's left-footed blast from a short angle was saved nicely by Hugo Lloris in the 59th minute.

Then, moments later, Lloris made a desperate sliding clearance to keep the ball away from Alexis Mac Allister and what could have been another goal for Argentina.

Argentina eases its attack, plays keepaway from France

In a big shift in tactics, Argentina came into the second half taking its time as it looks to secure its lead without exhausting its players.

The team came back after the break and appeared to be slowing down the pace of play. With a 2-0 lead, Argentina is looking to keep possession away from France but without the pressure it previously applied.

France had to come back with a more aggressive offensive than it applied at the beginning of the match. All eyes were on Kylian Mbappé, France’s 23-year-old superstar.

But Mbappé hasn't shown the powerhouse attacks that have made him a French favorite.

France not making much headway into Argentina defense

Twelve minutes into the second half, Les Bleus have barely made a dent into Argentina's stout defense.

Argentina still holds a solid advantage in possession, holding on to the ball 47% of the time, compared to France's 37%.

This 2-0 deficit is looking more mountainous by the moment.

Was it a penalty kick? Referee's call draws scrutiny

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak wasted no time pointing to the spot when Angel Di Maria went down under the challenge of Ousmane Dembele midway through the half.

There appeared to be minimal contact, but the Video Assistant Referee saw nothing worthy of overturning the call. It will be scrutinized long after the game is over, but France has failed to perform regardless of the merits of the decision.

Second half underway

Argentina is 45 minutes, and maybe a few more, from glory.

France needs to turn things around to overcome the 2-goal hole it's left itself in.

France, down 2-0 at halftime, looking for a Swiss miracle

Only one team has ever rallied from a two-goal deficit in World Cup final history, and that was staged by a country that's no longer on the map.

In a match known as the "Miracle of Bern," Hungary scored twice in the first eight minutes before West Germany came back for a 3-2 victory in the 1954 final played in the Swiss capital.

France's mountain will be much more steep that West Germany's in "Das Wunder von Bern" as the underdogs responded immediately with two goals that had the match tied at halftime.

Helmut Rahn scored the winne r in the 84th minute.

A goal fit for the final

Argentina's second was a thrilling goal that saw them sweep forward at pace, exposing France's defense with pinpoint passes from Messi and others.

The inclusion of Angel Di Maria for Argentina was a slight surprise, but he won the penalty and then converted the second to justify coach Lionel Scaloni's big call.

Reigning champs outplayed

Though France came in as the World Cup's reigning champions, they failed to show up in the first half against Argentina.

The French team has shown a strong defense throughout the tournament and sought to pick its moments to attack. But cracks showed in the goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria, and with the defense under pressure France's attack has failed to fire.

Argentina has 6 shots to 0 from Les Bleus, who will have to come out of halftime with a more aggressive game if they plan to overcome the deficit.

Struggling France makes early subs

France has barely had a kick so far, and now coach Didier Deschamps has made a pair of changes just before half time.

Center forward Olivier Giroud and wide forward Ousmane Dembele have been replaced by Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani, who scored in the semi final.

It's surprisingly early to make drastic changes but France needs to shift things, and there were reports of players being struck by a cold virus and some injuries in the past week.

Argentina fans overjoyed as team leads first half 2-0

Argentina fans in Qatar and around the world are besides themselves after a surprise goal from Angel Di Maria offers the team a deeper advantage before the conclusion of the first half.

France is being dominated offensively as Argentina attempts to take their title as reigning champions.

GOAL FOR ARGENTINA

Argentina burst through the French defense with a sweeping move on the counterattack and Angel Di Maria lifts his finish past helpless French goalie Hugo Lloris to double his side's lead.

Another free kick for France

France was awarded a second free kick after Argentina fouled Olivier Giroud as he approached the goal.

It's the second free kick where France failed to score in the first half hour of the game.

Messi sends the goalie the wrong way and puts Argentina 1-0 up in the World Cup final.

Penalty to Argentina

Argentina has a penalty after Angel Di Maria was tripped inside the box by a French defender. A chance for Lionel Messi to give his team the lead...

France fails to take lead with free kick

France squandered the opportunity to take the advantage early on after being given a free kick just before the match hit the 20 minute mark.

The kick, taken by Antoine Griezmann, sailed toward Argentina's box where Olivier Giroud attempted to assist the ball into the net.

Unfortunately for the French, the bail sailed well over the net.

Photos: Fans gather in Paris and Buenos Aires

Roars all around the fan zones in Doha

Elizabeth Kuhr

Mithil Aggarwal

DOHA, Qatar — Hundreds of roaring fans took to the jam-packed fan zones across Doha as an alternative to the main stadium.

Ahmed Eid, 22, who is Saudi Arabian, said he was rooting for Argentina. "Because Messi. I love Messi," he said.

Another Argentian fan Daniela Tabia, 35, cried as the national anthem played moments before kickoff. "Soccer unites the people," Tabia, who is Cuban-Columbian told NBC News.

Argentina starts on the front foot

Argentina has applied pressure to the reigning champions early on in the final.

The team has already has a couple attempts on France's goal in the first 15 minutes of the gave, failing to score.

Messi led his team into the box for one failed shot on goal, but France's defense has proved hard to break down through the tournament

Argentina earned its first corner kick at about 10 minutes, however. It was taken by Messi and led to chaos in front of the goal that saw Hugo Lloris, the French goalie, go down as he got hit in the stomach while players scrambled.

Will Mbappé repeat Pelé's run?

The golden name in French soccer, forward striker Kylian Mbappé, will attempt to emulate the success of the Brazilian superstar Pelé today.

In 2018, Mbappe joined Pelé to be the only teenagers ever to score a goal at a world cup final. His stunning performance led France to its ultimate victory.

On Sunday, he goes up against his club teammate and Argentian captain, Lionel Messi, to secure his first two world cups, back-to-back, just like Pelé.

Elon Musk seen at FIFA World Cup Final

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and the new owner of Twitter, was seen at Lusail Stadium in Qatar attending the final.

Musk has been making headlines over his recent changes to Twitter policies, including suspending accounts of multiple journalists who cover him. He recently changed Twitter's terms and conditions to ban accounts who track the locations of private airplanes. He justified the decision by citing safety concerns.

Some Twitter users joked the risk of posting Musk's attendance at the World Cup for fear he might ban accounts for sharing his real-time location . The new Twitter policies don't ban users from posting their own location, which Musk did shortly after others noted his appearance at the game.

Americans in Paris cheer for France

PARIS, France — Minneapolis resident Casie Budolfson, 47, who was on a holiday with her 13-year-old son Rylan, was cheering for France.

"We’re gonna support France since we’re in Paris," she said, adding the French team was stronger.

“I think we should have more world sports events like this because everybody seems to put aside all their worries and watch the games,” said Budolfson. "Everyone just comes together," she added.

Final reminder: Here's how to watch the World Cup final

U.S. TV viewers can watch the Argentina-France match on their local Fox or Telemundo stations, for English and Spanish broadcasts, respectively.

Fox and Peacock will also stream the title match with kickoff at 10 a.m. EST from Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

"The party is going to be here," French fans cheer in Paris

PARIS, France — French fans from all across the country have flocked sports bars in Paris, as a celebratory festive mood takes over the streets before the big match kicks off.

"The party is going to be here, it’s going to be better," Lucas Yocom, 21, who came with his three friends from Vosges in northeastern France, told NBC News, adding that there was "no chance" for Argentina to win.“They have just Messi; we have a good team. A very good team. Everyone on the team,” he said.

The lineups are in

Here are how the teams line up for the World Cup final.

The headlines appear to be the return of experienced midfielder Angel Di Maria for Argentina, an attacking addition, and the return of Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot from illness for France.

Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi.

France: Hugo Lloris; Jules Koundé, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud.

The last time they met

Today's finalists also clashed in Russia in 2018.

A topsy-turvy game in the final 16 of that tournament saw France win 4-3. This Argentina side is much improved, however, and both teams play a style that may mean we're in for a lower scoring affair this time.

Messi's grand finale

This is not just a final between Argentina and France, it's also a tussle with history for Lionel Messi.

Argentina's legendary forward will try, one last time, to clinch what would be both his first and final World Cup at the age of 35.

With over 750 goals for club and country, Messi is already in the pantheon of soccer greats. He's scored five goals so far in Qatar, putting in his best performance on the global stage, and is now hoping to lead his country to its first title since 1986.

Can Messi win his first World Cup? France’s Mbappé stands in the way

The first half of france's bid for back-to-back world cups.

France is back Sunday to defend its crown after beating Croatia 4-2 in the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

That tournament marked the emergence of Kylian Mbappé, who was just 19 at the time. He became the only teen after the Brazilian superstar Pelé to score a goal in the World Cup final.

France's other scorers that day were Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann. Pogba missed this tournament through injury but Griezmann has been a key player in the French run, working tirelessly and allowing Mbappé to focus on terrifying opposition defenses.

U.S. envoy to U.N. talks sports and diplomacy

Meagan Fitzgerald

DOHA, Qatar — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told NBC News ahead of the final that major sporting events like the World Cup can help fuel progress and smooth diplomacy.

Host Qatar has faced criticism over its human rights record, but Thomas-Greenfield said “we hope we can influence those countries to make changes to accept people who are different...and you can’t do that if you’re not talking to them. If you’re not engaging. That’s what diplomacy is about.”

Scenes from the stadium

The huge environmental cost of the Qatar World Cup

Armelle De Oliveira

Patrick Smith

Air conditioning in huge open-air stadiums, hundreds of international flights, lots and lots of lights. 

More than a million people have traveled to Qatar for one of the planet’s biggest sporting events. But as it hosts the soccer World Cup, controversy is also descending on the tiny Gulf kingdom.

Alongside concerns over human rights, anti-LGBTQ laws and the treatment of migrant workers — issues that have dogged the tournament for years — critics say Qatar 2022 will be one of the most environmentally damaging of modern times.

Read the full story here.

All France wants for Christmas...

A World Cup in winter may feel strange, but fans taking part in the traditional Christmas bath in Nice this morning appear to have made a virtue out of it.

The song that's become the anthem for Argentina's run

Associated Press

If you've watched an Argentina game this World Cup, you've heard it.

Fans clad in blue-and-white have belted it out in the stands, on the streets of Doha and back home in South America. The team has joined in after games both on the field and in videos from the locker room.

"Muchachos,” which was written by a fan, includes references to soccer greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. It also knocks rival Brazil and pays homage to the Argentine soldiers who fought in the Falklands war against Britain.

“Guys, now we’re getting our hopes up again, I want to win the third one, I want to be a world champion,” says the chorus of the song you'll surely be hearing again once the game begins.

Morocco’s surprise World Cup run rallied a legion of Arab fans

Morocco won't be in today's big game, but the team's fairytale run to the semi finals will go down as one of the stories of this World Cup.

Led by coach Walid Regragui, the Atlas Lions beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal thanks to a style that combined stout defense with daring counterattacks.

Morocco lost to France in the semi finals, but not before they sealed their place in soccer folklore as the first African and Arab team to reach that stage. The run was backed by a legion of loud and proud fans in Qatar and beyond.

Why Qatar may see the World Cup as a win despite the criticism

Alexander Smith

Qatar’s World Cup appeared to be a public relations disaster.

The event has become a magnifying glass for the tiny petrostate’s human rights record, highlighting rather than airbrushing its treatment of LGBTQ people, women and migrant workers. On the field, the Qatari national team’s performances earned it the sorry record of being the worst showing by a host nation in the competition’s 92-year history.

But for this gas-rich Gulf peninsula, the real spoils of this tournament may be found elsewhere: satisfied visitors, business deals and international recognition that could lead to greater national security.

How they made the final

France qualified easily from the group stage and beat Poland in the first knockout round, before squeezing past England in the quarter final. Surprise package Morocco, the tournament's Cindarella team, were waiting in the semi final but Les Bleus advanced thanks to an early goal from defender Theo Hernández and a late second from young substitute Randal Kolo Muani.

Argentina opened its campaign with a shock defeat to unfancied Saudi Arabia but still recovered to top its group. A narrow win over Australia was followed by a tense penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands, which had knocked out Team USA a round prior. Messi then led a comfortable semi final win over Croatia. which had knocked out favorites Brazil a round earlier.

Bronze goes to...

It's the game nobody really wants to play in or let's face it, watch. But the 3rd place playoff gives the losing semifinalists a chance to exit on a high despite their disappointment at missing out on the big game.

On Saturday Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 to seal 3rd place, following their loss to France in the final in Russia in 2018.

A final for the ages

France, winners of soccer’s most coveted trophy in 1998 and 2018, is seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back men's World Cup titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962.

On the other side Argentina is hoping to capture the country’s first World Cup title since the 1986 tournament, best known for a quarterfinal victory over England that featured legend Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal.

Les Bleus against La Albiceleste. Kylian Mbappé against Lionel Messi. 

Follow our coverage here through kick off at 10 a.m. ET and beyond.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Max Burman is deputy editor in the London bureau of NBC News Digital.

Home / Free Animated Templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides / Free Animated FIFA World Cup 2022 Template PowerPoint and Google Slides

Free Animated FIFA World Cup 2022 Template PowerPoint and Google Slides

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Are you a football enthusiast? Then I guarantee you will be super-excited for the world cup 2022. For football fans, the long wait of 4 years will end on 21 November in Qatar.

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Argentina vs France summary: trophy presentation, score, goals, highlights | Qatar World Cup 2022 final

Argentina vs France: as it happened

WORLD CUP 2022

Who is Antonia Farías, the woman who hugged Lionel Messi after he won the 2022 World Cup?

Meet Antonia Farías, the woman who effusively hugged the PSG star after Argentina’s triumph and who was mistaken for his mother.

World Cup 2030: Saudi Arabia’s massive bid with Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

So 2022 is over, and 2026 is in the US, Canada and Mexico... but where will we be heading in 2030? Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may be backing a Saudi Arabia World Cup 2030 bid!

“Messi’s goal in extra time was illegal” - controversy in Argentina-France aftermath

The 2022 World Cup final was a classic, with Lionel Scaloni’s men prevailing after a dramatic penalty shootout, but a controversy has arisen in France.

Should Messi's extra-time goal have been disallowed?

Which World Cup has had the most goals scored?

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar ended on Sunday adding six goals to the competition’s total, but how does that compare to other FIFA editions?

Ronaldo congratulates Lionel Messi for 2022 World Cup win

Ronaldo Nazario, two-time FIFA World Champion, was quick to send congratulations after Argentina’s triumph in Qatar.

How Scaloni won World Cup with Messi plea in 2016

The Argentina coach couldn’t control his emotions on Sunday as he and his team lifted the 2022 World Cup, but the success stems back to an earlier action.

Argentina: 2022 World Champions

Messi reveals plans to play on for Argentina

Lionel Messi could have retired from Argentina duty after getting his hands on the World Cup, but he revealed he intends to play on.

Argentina shirts sell out after World Cup triumph

Any fans looking to get their hands on an Argentina shirt as a memento of the World Cup triumph may be disappointed as many Adidas websites are totally sold out of both the home and away jerseys. Ongoing supply chain issues and massive demand have contributed to the situation where fans across the planet are having to go without their replica shirts.

Leo Messi wins 2022 World Cup Golden Ball award

Messi becomes the first player ever to win the Fifa World Cup Golden Ball award

Argentina: 2022 World Cup winners!

Neymar and Lebron hail Messi

Sporting greats have been quick to pay tribute to Argentina and Leo Messi in particular with Neymar congratulating his 'brother' and LeBron paying homage to the GOAT

Ok, signing off.

Thank you to everyone who has accompanied me and the rest of the team at AS USA for the coverage of the Qatar World Cup 2022 . It has been a pleasure to provide you with information - and hopefully entertainment - during the past 4 weeks. 

The football was fantastic, the final might be the best ever and what a way to finish: with Messi lifting the World Cup for Argentina .

Thank you again and make sure to head on over to en.as.com for all the latest news in sport and beyond!

Here's Joe's team of the tournament - do you agree?

ATT - Messi (     ​​​​​)

ATT - Mbappé (     )

ATT - Griezmann (     )

MID - ​​​ Amrabat (     )

MID - Modric (     )

MID - Enzo Fernández  (     )

MID - Bellingham (no flag)

DEF - Gvardiol (     )

DEF - Rodri (     )

DEF - Hakimi (     ​​​​​​)

GK- Martínez (     ​​​​​​​)

Kun Agüero was never going to miss this!

He's still a huge part of the team, clearly so loved by the players.

Another Messi photo...

I'm not going to stop any time soon!

Messi lifts the World Cup / KAI PFAFFENBACH / REUTERS

Messi lifts the World Cup

Here's the trophy lift .  ​​​​​​​

What a moment in football history.

Barcelona recognise their greatest ever player

"For us you will always be the best"

Messi lifts the World Cup trophy / DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France

Here is the image that football has waited so, so long to see!

ARGENTINA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS FOR THE THIRD TIME

LIONEL MESSI LIFTS THE WORLD CUP FOR ARGENTINA!!!!!!!

            ​​​​​​​

And now it is Lionel Messi's turn to receive his World Cup winners' medal

No waiting from Acuña, who is straight up after Di María, almost causing a logistical nightmare for the man in a suit and no socks. 

The players are up, one by one, to collect their medals. 

Now it's time for the World Cup winners...

Deschamps is stood there like an angry parent whose child has come home late. He's waiting on Mbappé, who is nearly held in a headlock by the President of France. 

Now it's time for the French players to receive their medals...

The Argentinians give them a guard of honour.

Les Bleus stop on the podium for a photo organised by a man in a suit with trainers and no socks, but they just want to get home. 

Messi kisses the World Cup trophy in a moment that will be carved into history.

The winner of the best player of the tournament.... LIONEL MESSI​​​​​​​

The golden boot award for the top scorer, with 8 goals ... KYLIAN MBAPPÉ

​​​​​​​He poses for the photo, looking like he wants to smash the camera, the trophy and the stadium to pieces.

Goalkeeper of the tournament goes to.... DIBU MARTÍNEZ

​​​​​​​ who also gets told off for standing in the wrong place.​​​​​

    ​​​​​​​

Young player of the tournament... ENZO FERNÁNDEZ

​​​​​​​He gets a bit lost on the stage, taking the wrong turn on the big 8. 

The stage is a massive 8 shape, the logo of the World Cup, but at this scale it looks like a Mario Kart racetrack. 

The referees are up first... a gold whistle* for each of them. For being the best referees. 

*it's a medal, really.

The medals are carried out on dinner trays, by people in airplane staff outfits. FIFA really going hard on the Qatar airways theme, I see.

Now Infantino is here along with his friend, the Emir of Qatar

Messi majestic as Montiel spot-kick wins the World Cup: Argentina player ratings...

While we wait for the presentation to begin, here's Paul's player ratings, that he definitely didn't have to change at the last minute. Twice.

As per in Qatar 2022, we have a light show first.

The trophy/medal presentation is about to begin...

Montiel scores the winning penalty in the World Cup final / CARL RECINE / REUTERS

The moment Argentina became World Champions

Lloris was sent the wrong way by Montiel, who scored the 4th penalty for Argentina, which was enough to see them win.

The stage is being prepared on the pitch for the trophy lift...

We've been working hard like this for four years. It's difficult to explain how I feel, I just think of my family. We are so proud. This feeling is never going to sink in. Leandro Paredes , Argentina

There's nothing more beautiful than this, with my family here. I will never forget it.  Enzo Fernández , Argentina

The South American players are jumping, dancing, singing with the fans, who are adoring every moment. 

Mbappé is being consoled by Dibu Martínez and Macron, the French President. He's ignoring both of them, staring into the distance. When France came alive, Mbappé was the star. He took on the pressure and brought his team into the game, forcing problems for Argentina until the very end. What a star. 

Despite everything, we arrived here today calm, you could see it. But if you don't suffer, it's not worth anything. The first half was very good, the second not so much, but we always came through it. This is for Argentina, for everyone who supports us. Nico Tagliafico , Argentina

Muchaaachooossss... sing it!

What an achievement for the whole team. 

Great scenes as Scaloni is in tears, hugged tightly by Di María.

It was a game we had controlled, two mistakes gave them a draw. We go 3-2 up, they get one back, then they almost get two more. Thank God for this, I have no words. I dedicate this to my family. Emi Martínez , Argentina Goalkeeper

The greatest of all time

There was never really a debate...

They have finally done it; Messi has finally done it. On penalties, after the maddest final in modern football, Argentina ended a wait they had kept up since 1986. They have overcome heartbreak from 1990 and 2014, putting to bed the ghosts that have haunted the country since the days of Diego Maradona. 

Messi waves to the fans, tears in his eyes, he will finally have his moment with the World Cup trophy. 

THE PLAYERS RUN OFF IN TEARS

ARGENTINA HAVE WON THE WORLD CUP IN THE CRAZIEST FINAL YOU WILL EVER SEE.

MESSI IS WORLD CHAMPION

ARGENTINA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!

ARGENTINA WIN THE WORLD CUP!!!!!!

MONTIEL SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!

IF MONTIEL SCORES, THEY WIN THE WORLD CUP

This has to go in... 

SCORES!!!!!!!!

Paredes now...

WIDE!!!! HE MISSES!

Dibu kicks the ball away

Tchouameni...

SAVED!!!!!!!

DIBU TO THE RESCUE

GOAL! ONLY JUST!

Messi next...

Mbappé is first.

And France will shoot first!

The kicks will be taken in front of the Argentina fans...

Team talks complete...

Here we go...

What a crazy, crazy game of football. I can't even begin to process it.

I want to drink water, but I'm shaking so much I know I will just spill it all over myself. 

PENALTIES WILL DECIDE THE WORLD CUP FINAL WINNER

Mbappé almost gets a chance!!! He slides past 3 players but gets tackled inside the box!!!!!

ARGENTINA ATTACK!!! 

DIBU WHAT A SAVE 

I cannot keep up. Kolo Muani smacks a shot low and hard but somehow Dibu Martinez grows into a green giant and saves!!!!

LAUTARO ONE ON ONE! 

Argentina win a throw near the France goal. They play the ball all the way to the defence. 

France press, smelling blood.

Disasi on for Koundé

Dybala on for Tagliafico

3 minutes added.

SO CLOSE!!! THAT WAS THE CHANCE TO WIN!! KOLO MUANI ALMOST MAKES THE HEADER!! ​​​​​​​MARTINEZ HAD NO CHANCE

France now launch a counter attack...

ARGENTINA COME SO CLOSE!

Acuña wins a corner... into the final minute

Argentina attack... cut out 

MBAPPE SENDS MARTINEZ THE WRONG WAY TO DRAW LEVEL

IT IS 3-3!!!!

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS GAME

GOOOOOAAAAALALLLLLLL ESXRDCTFVGYHESXRDCFTGVHESRDCFTGVYHBJDRFCTGVHBJCFTGVHBJKEXSRDFCTGHBJESXRDCFTGVHBJK

Mbappé steps up...

YES! PENALTY FOR FRANCE!!!!!!!!

HANDBALL! IS IT A PENALTY for FRANCE???

Mac Allister off for Pezzella

Corner for France, good work by Konaté.

Cleared away... for now

Paredes is booked for the tackle.

Free kick for France near the halfway line.

Now there's a fight, after Camavinga is fouled by Paredes...

Argentina hold the ball in the corner, some great timewasting here. 

Konaté on, Varane off

Varane is on the floor, he can't continue. 

Now France go again on the offensive, like before. 

Ok, I'll explain. Lautaro was played through on the right channel and he hit a shot that Lloris saved. It looked initially offside but he was just OK, by inches.

Messi got on the end of the rebound and although the defender cleared off the line, the referee's goal-line technology gave the goal!

​​​​​​​MESSI MAY HAVE WON HIS TEAM THE WORLD CUP.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT DIDN'T GO OVER THE LINE... BUT THE REFEREE GIVES THE GOAL.

MESSI GOT ON THE END OF THE SAVE FROM LLORIS AFTER LAUTARO'S SHOT!

MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 

GOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL ARGENTINA ARGENTINA ARGENTINA

Save from Lloris!

​​​​​​​ Messi had a shot from distance but it was a comfortable stop from the goalkeeper.

Argentina attack down the left before switching play to the right.

The cross comes in from Montiel but it is high above the heads of everyone.

And we're back underway again, again, again! 

The final 15 minutes of the World Cup final.

Argentina 2-2 France

Half time of extra time!

​​​​​​​Argentina 2-2 France

Now for always exciting on-pitch team talks . An underrated part of football.

LAUTARO MISSES AGAIN!!!

​​​​​​​ONE ON ONE, HE SAYS IT DEFLECTED. SHOT PUT WIDE.

1 added minute. Corner cleared. 

DOUBLE CHANCE FOR ARGENTINA!!!!

​​​​​​​LAUTARO MISSES FROM 12 YARDS OUT BEFORE VARANE HEADS OVER THE VOLLEY THAT CAME AFTER. CORNER!

Paredes has slot himself in between the two centre-backs in an attempt to help with build up and aid in keeping people back in case of Kylian Mbappé.

Acuña whacks a shot high and wide . Koundé kept with him to defend well. 

De Paul and Álvarez OFF

Lautaro and Paredes ON

Despite the result and the nerves and everything else, the Argentinian fans continue to sing like crazy. Fair play to them, it's been a great atmosphere.

Offside given after a few French crosses are hooked into the box. Argentina are given a breather...

Corner for France, Messi headed out of play.

Kolo Muani tries to be Mbappe but gets tackled on the edge of the box.

Mbappe takes the ball and does his best impression of, well, himself, jinxing past two challenges. 

Coman crosses, Romero heads away. Both teams finding space in the wide areas.

Chance for Argentina!

A cross from Acuña almost finds the heads of three players, before it gets cleared.

Mbappé called offside after finding space behind Romero, who looks to have fouled the striker in the build up.

Camavinga is a lovely player, he moves like he's gliding down a bowling alley. 

A couple of attempted attacks from each side that all break down instantly. Nerves everywhere.

Now it's Argentina who can't keep the ball. De Paul plays a nervous pass forward and Upamecano gets in the way to win back possession. 

Attack from Argentina...

Cut out by Camavinga, who tackles Messi on the edge of the box. 

Mac Allister hits a bouncing ball towards Lloris but it deflects wide after hitting his teammate. 

Argentina win another free kick, wide on the right, after Thuram clashes with Montiel.

Foul on De Paul by Rabiot. It's been a great mini battle between those two.

Well, here we go again, again!

Montiel is coming on for Argentina. Molina out.

I'm shaking. What a game of football. France have grown 600 sizes and look deadlier than ever , but Argentina are still finding spaces behind their defence. 

FULL TIME!!!

​​​​​​​Extra time coming up!

Attack for Argentina! I can't take this!

The ball bounces just too high for Messi, who fails to control it. 

France launch a counter attack but the referee blows it back for a foul by Acuña. What a favour the referee did there, Mbappé was waiting to be released...

Messi fired a bullet from the central space and Lloris got a strong hand to it. Corner

LLORIS SAVE FROM MESSI

WHAT A SAVE 

​​​​​​​WHAT A SAVE 

Now Argentina attack!! Cleared away by Rabiot.

Mbappe nearly gets away!! He gives the ball to Kolo Muani who is one on one but trips over the ball

MARTINEZ SAVES!!! ARGENTINA ARE ON THE ROPES. 

​​​​​​​Great from Coman to get down the left side. Martínez did well to save the cross from going anywhere dangerous.

CHANCE FOR MBAPPÉ. SHOOTS OVER. 

Camavinga and Thuram have given this team a new energy.

Corner for France...

The cross is cleared. 

Free kick for France, 35 yards out, after a foul on Thuram.

The Argentina fans continue to sing as their team launches an attack down the left, which rolls out of play.

8 added minutes.

Into the last minute.

France attacking again...

Mbappé has 7 goals in 7 games now. 

​​​​​​​Rabiot is down holding his neck.

France with another dangerous attack but it looks like the referee got the call right. It was Thuram booked, not Camavinga. 

PENALTY SHOUT FOR FRANCE!!!!!

Thuram booked instead.

Good bye match report! Goodbye player ratings! Nobody dares do anything!

France look like the most dangerous side the world has ever seen! 

I don't know what minute it is, nor where I am anymore... but I can't take my eyes off this game. 

France attack again...

KOLO MUANI ALMOST CONNECTS WITH A HEADER

The game is broken.

France attack, then Argentina, then France again.

Unbelievable. What a turnaround. 

Argentina haven't even collapsed, but FRANCE ARE JUST NOT ABLE TO BE KILLED.

MBAPPE PLAYS A ONE TWO WITH THURAM ON THE EDGE OF THE BOX AND HE SLAMS THE VOLLEY INTO THE FAR CORNER 

​​​​​​​I HAVE NO WORDS. 

2-2!!!!!!!!!!

MBAPPE SCORES

NO WAY 

MBAPPE HAS SCORED

Madre mía, that came from nothing...

Now France are on the attack!

​​​​​​​Mbappé sends the penalty low to the left and Martínez can't stop it despite diving the right way!

​​​​​​​GAME ON!

MBAPPE SCORES THE PENALTY

A clear foul from Otamendi, who scrambled back to chase Kolo Muani...

Mbappe to take

OTAMENDI FOULED KOLO MUANI 

YELLOW CARD

OH MY! PENALTY FOR FRANCE!!!!!!

It's Argentina who are now playing France at their own game , waiting like patient alligators before snapping forward in a counter attack.

France look lost . They are absolutely shocked to the bones in this game by Argentina's intensity and confidence. Nobody had been able to match them until today, but boy, how Messi and co. have battered them to a pulp.

Tchouaméni slams into Romero. Ouch.

Camavinga is at left-back.

SAVE FROM LLORIS!

Messi squirms as Messi does before laying off Enzo, whose shot from the edge of the box is saved.

​​​​​​​The confidence Argentina are showing is radiating from their shirts.

Theo and Griezmann OFF ​​​​​​​ Coman and Camavinga ON

Mbappé has a shot! 

He skips inside the box before launching a frustrated effort above the bar.

The fourth official holds up the subs board, expecting the changes to be allowed by the referee, who waves to play on.

The referee equivalent of going to shake someone's hand who gives you a fist bump.

France are preparing more changes...

A now-or-never dice roll from Deschamps.

Kolo Muani connects, making that France's first shot of the game.

A dodgy clearance from Otamendi spins high and over his goal. Corner for France.

France with some possession at the back, trying to work it through Argentina's wall.

How does Messi do it? And by 'it', I mean everything. 

​​​​​​​ He took the long way round the defender when playing a one-two with Mac Allister, but still managed to make it before his opponent.

Ángel Di María OFF

He might have just won his country a World Cup.

Marcos 'The Egg' Acuña ON

HUGE CHANCE FOR ARGENTINA!!! SAVED!!

Wow! Messi slides a pass to Julián who lays off Mac Allister, bursting through the middle.  ​​​​​​​Hugo Lloris comes to the rescue, clattering the ball away.

9 shots for Argentina, 5 on target.

0 for France.

The stadium is one huge party, right now. They haven't stopped singing all game. 

CHANCE FOR MESSI. GREAT WORK BY DI MARÍA AGAIN.

Koundé is having a horror show against Di María. ​​​​​​​ The winger hit a cross from the left, Messi connected but his shot went wide.

Chance for Álvarez!

Messi slipped a pass through the French defence and boy wonder  Julián took a big touch to the left before firing a low shot that hit the side netting. 

A frustrated Mbappé fouls pantomime villain, De Paul. 

Kolo Muani with nice footwork on the right side. 

Tackled instantly after. 

De Paul, now back on his feet, is having a word with the offender, Rabiot. I bet he's not saying very nice things. 

Rabiot booked for a scissor challenge on De Paul . An orange card for me, that one.

De Paul is still on the ground. 

BIG MISTAKE FROM EMI MARTINEZ!

France almost have a chance to score from the halfway line after a bad clearance from Dibu, but since nothing is going well for France , they mess up the chance.

Messi takes his time before whipping a corner to the front post , again . I think I've found something he can't do!

That is a joke.

Corner for Argentina, won by De Paul.

Cleared. Argentina counter.

Theo accidentally lets the ball run out and it's a throw for la Albiceleste  ​​​​​​​near the corner flag.

A 'chance' (it wasn't really) for France, but it was the best they've had. Mbappé on the right side wins a corner, but it was excellently defended.

A quick break down the left gets switched to the other side:  De Paul leaps acrobatically, but his shot is saved.

CHANCE FOR ARGENTINA!

DE PAUL VOLLEY - SAVED!

The Argentina press is shattering the game for France, they can't build up at all...

Dibu Martínez grabs onto the ball and holds onto it. I'm not sure he knows what it looks like, he's seen it so little since the game started.

Mac Allister goes close!!!

Lloris got out well to catch the ball that was chipped through a gap in the defence; the Brighton man was through on his own.

And Argentina attack immediately...

Here we go again! Messi kicks us off for the second half. 

Argentina      2-0     ​​​​​​​France

The players are back out on the pitch!

The last time a World Cup final was 2-0 at half time was France vs Brazil in 1998;  Les Bleus went on to win 3-0.

It is going to take a lot for France to get back into today's final, Argentina have them beat in every area of the pitch.

Iker Casillas is on the pitch, showing everyone the World Cup trophy. It's incredibly shiny.

Sofascore's HT ratings:

I'm going to furiously email and ask why Di María hasn't got an 11 out of 10 for that performance.

Need I say anything?

He had a fantastic half, and even got involved in the defending!

Argentina      2-0      ​​​​​​​ France

What a performance from Argentina!

That was brilliant from the South American side, and Di María in particular.  ​​​​​​​They absolutely bossed France, who haven't had a sniff at goal. Mbappé has been silenced, as has Griezmann and nothing says desperate from Deschamps like those two early substitutions to mix things up. 

Let's see how they get on in the second half, but if it is anything like the first, where Argentina have dominated in possession, territory and threat, then France could be in for an even worse evening.  

How do you say debacle in French?

Close! Nobody arrives but it looked like it was whipped in dangerously.

Free kick for Griezmann to cross in...

Enzo booked for being a pest.

Last minute of the half.

France try to break away with Kolo Muani, but he's fouled.

I haven't said much about the added time but it's because Argentina just keep kicking the ball out for throw ins. 

Deschamps has got a very angry face on right now. 

Thuram shows his teammates that if you run with the ball, it goes closer to goal. Some of his friends then try it, but they run into the defenders instead of around them.

France have not had a single chance all half.  Super impressive from Argentina in all areas.

Thuram, by virtue of being a busy body, manages to find some space down the left. His cross is blocked.

7 minutes added.

Messi absolutely fires himself back to defend as France get a few yards closer to goal, tackling Kolo Muani . Could be the biggest cheer of the night, that.

We're into the last minute of the half, and France have had their longest sequence of possession so far , about 90 seconds.

Di María, again with space on the righ t , works it well but Koundé sees it out for a goal kick. 

Wow, that is bold from Deschamps, who is obviously not happy. 

That's the most obvious thing I've ever said in my life.

SUBS FOR FRANCE!

Dembélé and Giroud OFF!

Kolo Muani and Thuram on. 

Koundé fouls Di María, who has been utterly superb all half. 

5 to go until half time. 

Argentina have bossed this game. They've seen France want to give them the initiative, well they've taken it and have shoved it down their throats!

France look shellshocked! This atmosphere is like the most daunting away game on the planet!

If the Lusail Stadium bounces any more, it will end up in the Gulf!

A PERFECT COUNTER ATTACK

Messi flicks to Julián, who plays it to Mac Allister. The Brighton midfielder burns down the right channel on his own before laying off a perfect pass to Ángel Di María who scores his first goal of the World Cup

 ÁNGEL DI MARÍAAAAAAAAAAAAA PUTS ARGENTINA 2-0 UP IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL ARGENTINA ARGENTINA ARGENTINA 

5 shots for the South Americans so far, 2 on target. Nil poi for France.

France just haven't got going so far. Argentina seem to have them at arm's length. 

We know what that means.

Messi goes on that run inside from the right, scaring every soul in France except Upamecano, who challenges well.

Uff, lovely from De Paul , who looks as though he is about to give up possession but instead flicks it to Messi, completing a lovely one-two. Argentina turning on the style against France's press.

The ball is opened to Di María, but his cross is too high for Julián Álvarez, who is not 8 metres tall, and it flies out of play.

The Argentinian  muchachos song rings around the ground. Now that's a tune, never mind the official anthem.

He's back on and immediately forces a corner. Quite good, isn't he.

He's back on now. All good. 

Messi has come off as it was a head injury. 

Messi is holding his face after that . Seems to have taken a knock. For now, he looks OK. 

Cleared away. Messi fouled in the process and the referee has blown for a free kick to Argentina. Theo clashed with him as they challenged for the ball.

Free kick for France, 40 yards out. Griezmann to cross in from the right.

Di María , despite the doubts that surrounded his inclusion, has been the difference-maker so far. He wormed past his marker then like, well, Messi.

The stadium is rocking on all four sides. What a fantastic atmosphere.

Back underway.

Argentina 1-0 France 

Di María made a great run from the left side into the box and Dembélé tripped him from behind. The referee didn't hesitate to blow his whistle. 

Argentina have started the better side and now it's up to France to get themselves back into the game. 

HE SENDS LLORIS THE WRONG WAY, PUTTING THE BALL TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER.

THE STADIUM HAS JUST ERUPTED

MESSI PUTS ARGENTINA AHEAD IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL!!!!!!!!!!

Penalty confirmed, Messi to take... 

DEMBELE FOULED DI MARIA

PENALTY TO ARGENTINA!!!!!

How does Messi take so many steps in such little time? It's like watching a millipede run.

GIROUD JUST OVER THE BAR!!!

​​​​​​​I swear these French players read this feed and decide to attack just as I say they're being quiet. 

There you go, again! Theo bursts down the left wing and De Paul brings him down in a dangerous area out wide. Free kick.

France, apart from that half-half-chance from Mbappé , which wasn't even that, have had pretty much nothing to show for so far. 

But we know what that means. Watch out for them.

​​​​​​​Messi finds De Paul down the right who puts the ball back across goal. Di María arrives inside the box but he hits it with his right foot and the ball flies over the bar.

Over 50% of possession for Argentina, who are passing it around the back, looking for gaps in the French block. 

Messi almost slips in Di María!

Ah, offside. Good work nevertheless from Koundé to spot the pass. 

There we go. France spring into action as Mbappé links up with Rabiot on the edge of the box. Argentina defended well.

So far,  Argentina have had the better possession , but those pesky French rattlesnakes know where to hide before they pounce. 

A lovely ball from Messi out wide to Di María causes some trouble for the France defence, but Tchouaméni covers well.

We're back underway. 

Lloris is sat on the pitch, taking a minute to get his breath back. Signals he's OK to continue. 

Lloris is down after being shoved by Romero in the corner mosh pit. 

The corner is poor from Messi . It falls to De Paul who whips a cross in, but the mess of bodies in the box causes the referee to blow his whistle. 

CHANCE FOR DE PAUL!! CORNER!

​​​​​​​He had the ball on the edge of the box and struck a shot that deflected wide.

Di María breaks away down the left but Dembélé tracks back well

France have had a few passes from the back intercepted by the Argentinian midfielders in the opening minutes . Scaloni's team are pressing well.

It's a nervous start from everyone, with lots of frantic pressing from both sides.

Messi penalised for a foul on Theo.

Mac Allister finds space on the edge of the box and hits a shot. Lloris saves easily.

Di María has started on the left and is up against Koundé. He looks very lively. 

Messi fouled by Upamecano after they both jumped for a header. 

FIRST CHANCE OF THE GAME FOR ARGENTINA!!

​​​​​​​De Paul chips over for Álvarez but he misses the ball. Offside.

Ooohh! Dibu Martínez takes a while to kick the ball away and Griezmann nearly caught him out!

First foul of thr game from De Paul on Rabiot.

France are pressing very high up the pitch in a 4-3-3 as Argentina play around at the back.

Tchouameni immediately fires a long ball towards the left corner and it's a throw for Argentina.

The World Cup final has begun!

Griezmann kicks us off from right to left.

Here are the lineups:

France XI: Lloris; Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, T.Hernandez; Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Rabiot; O.Dembélé, Mbappé, Giroud.

Argentina XI: Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Di María, De Paul, Fernández, Mac Allister; Messi, Álvarez.

We are ready to go!

Argentina in their home shirt, white shorts and white socks; France in dark blue from head to toe.

Here they come! The two squads are lined up, waiting for the national anthems.

Argentina first, and it is absolutely belted out by the majority of the stadium. And Messi, who screamed it.

Now for France, a very happy tune as well. Well sung by all, albeit a bit quieter than the 40,000 Argentina fans, as you might expect.

The players are in the tunnel. Serious faces all round.

The World Cup final is about to begin!

        ​​​​​​​

The pre-match light show is underway!

Yes, the huge World Cup is there, don't worry.

One for the France fans...

Here's a great stat to give you pre-match confidence ahead of the game!

French president Macron in the house

French president Emmanuel Macron ready for the final against Argentina , with his wife Brigette alongside him. 

Team warm ups are over!

Both sides have retreated to the dressing rooms and are now having their final team talks - we've only got 15 minutes to go!

Argentina vs France 2022 World Cup final odds and predictions: Who is the favourite?

I just got all nervous when I looked at the clock - there is less than half an hour to go! ​​​​​​​

So, who is the most likely team to win? Check out the odds. Oh, and an attempt at a prediction. 

Yes, I know I like to speak about Griezmann a lot

He has been the player of the tournament for some (me) and once you look at the range in those statistics, where he contributes so heavily both in attack and defence, you can see why!

Here's official confirmation of the Argentina lineup:

Just as the squad takes their first steps on the pitch... the noise in the Lusail Stadium just jumped up to crazy levels! 40,000 screams of joy!

France are out for the warmup!

Both squads have started to get ready for the game, but there are still plenty of seats to be filled. Apparently there are problems with the metro for fans arriving at the stadium. 

France were loudly booed as they came out of the tunnel - the majority of fans inside the stadium are Argentina shirt wearers.

Acuña is not in the starting XI for Argentina due to injury. 

I *think* it's finished. I can only hear the Argentina fans now, who seem to have enjoyed that greatly. 

I'm finding it quite hard to keep up with which pop singer is on now, but there's someone spinning round in circles wearing a huge body warmer, who I believe is Davido . 

During the chorus of the song, I've realised that it's what I've been humming away to all month without noticing. There you go.

The exercise balls actually have little drone arms on them, and the Argentina and France balls have now flown away . I'd like to see Messi try to score with one of those.

Here comes the 'Official World Cup song', with *checks notes* Davido, Aisha, Ozuna and Gims.

Now there are lots of people on the pitch with huge exercise balls of all the flags of the World Cup, forming a circle, spinning round. 

The closing ceremony is underway!

We've got a singer doing a nice version of What a Wonderful World. It sounds good, they should get her on the national anthems later.

Now there are some flying whales, seriously. 

world cup 2022

The reason why the final of the World Cup in Qatar 2022 is played on December 18

Today is a special day in Qatar for two reasons, one of them the World Cup final (of course), but do you know the other?

One hour to go!

The team news is in, both squads are in the stadium that is filling up as we speak (I'd say it's about halfway to being full)... the countdown is well and truly on!

Sofascore says...

They have Argentina down in a 4-4-2 shape , which would put Álvarez up with Messi and Di María further back. He will have a tough job on his hands today with Molina to keep Mbappé quiet!

Here is the official confirmation of the France XI:

Theo , Varane , Rabiot , Upamecano and Tchouaméni have all overcome their problems and have been deemed fit to play. 

France XI confirmed!

Koundé - Varane - Upamecano - Theo

Tchouaméni - Rabiot - Griezmann 

Dembélé - Mbappé - Giroud

The France squad have arrived at the stadium

Les Bleus may already be at the stadium, but the  Argentinian fans are the ones making all the noise!

The Argentina team is in!

Martínez

Molina - Romero - Otamendi - Tagliafico

Mac Allister - Enzo - De Paul

Di María - Messi - Álvarez

The last time they met...

Will we have another game like this one? 

France, with an incredibly young-looking Kylian Mbappé , came out on top of a crazy match in 2018. Both Messi and Kylian himself had a huge part to play in the goals. 

Of course, Argentina were eliminated here, and France went on to win the trophy with their star-studded squad. 

The French dressing room is ready...

The countdown is well and truly on! Just over 90 minutes to go!

Diego Maradona 1986 / CARLO FUMAGALLI / AP

Diego Maradona in Mexico...

Can Messi cement himself into history even further with an iconic photo like this one?

The 1986 World Cup final at the Estadio Azteca  was the culmination of one of the greatest individual sporting performances ever seen: Maradona in Mexico has gone down as one of the most important periods of football history. It was a time in which Diego carried the team to the final, putting in match-winning moments of genius time after time, dancing round defences and scoring impossible goals in games of extremely high pressure and an entire nation's dreams  riding along with him. Remind you of anyone?

Argentina possible starting lineup for the World Cup final vs France

Since we don't know yet, here's how Argentina could line up , given the injuries and suspensions within Scaloni's squad .

The manager has a choice to make on how he will start the game, as we have seen various versions of his team so far at the World Cup . Against the Netherlands     , Scaloni went with a back 5 to neutralise Dumfries, which worked well. Against Croatia      , he flooded the midfield and played Paredes in a 4-4-2. 

​​​​​​​What will we see today? How will he try to stop France's fantastic four?

We've got some early team news...

It looks as though the Camel Flu that has flown throughout the squad has, well, flapped its wings and gone off to the horizon. That's a pretty much full-strength XI for France , if L'Équipe  have got it right. 

Why do some teams have stars on their jerseys? What do they represent?

There is a lot of talk about the two teams having two stars on their shirt and that at the end of the day one of them will have three, but what do they mean and where do they come from? 

Just two hours to go!

OK, plus a couple of minutes. 

If you've just joined us, welcome to the AS live feed of the World Cup final between Argentina      and     ​​​​​​​France!

It's Joe here and I'll be providing all the details of the game!

Valdano: “We’re seeing a Messi with greater influence - not just in terms of football”

Jorge Valdano won the World Cup with Argentina - and Maradona - in 1986 , scoring the second goal in a crazy 3-2 win over West Germany.

He analysed Sunday’s final and the battle between Messi and Mbappé.

When it's all over, we're going to play a game

I'm not wishing away the game, far form it, I'm just giving you a warning!

My team of the tournament is coming up after the game's finished, with ​​​​one player from each nation  maximum - but I want to see yours! 

Get in touch @English_AS or @j4brennan on Twitter . 

We were always going to do it at some point, right?

Here are the two kings, the figureheads of each team, one the present, the other the future. 

Messi vs Mbappé in the World Cup final , both with the chance to make history in different ways is something you might try to achieve on a video game with heavy levels of in-game manipulation and control over both controllers. But it's real, it's genuinely happening today and when you stop to look at the numbers, it becomes incredibly obvious as to why it has occurred. 

Messi currently leads Mbappé in overall rating, and in terms of the eye test, the Argentinian looks in a hotter streak of form than his PSG teammate, coming into the final on the back of match-winning performances in multiple knockout rounds of the competition. 

Mbappé has somewhat stalled in the latter stages of the competition after a whirlwind start to his World Cup campaign. Yes, he set up Kolo Muani's tap in against Morocco for the majority of the game he was reasonably quiet and the same goes against England, where he was kept tame by Southgate's system. 

The biggest difference in the statistics shown in the graphic is key passes, with Messi averaging a mind-bogglingly high 3 per game; Kylian is just under 2. This owes to the Argentinian's importance in how he functions within the system: Scaloni's team plays to Messi and for Messi.  ​​​​​​​Specific players within the system (I'm looking at you, Rodrigo De Paul) change their role minute by minute to suit whatever it is Messi need s , whether it be to cover him, manipulate space, create doubt in the opposition player's mind by giving them another player to mark, or simply move away from Messi to give him a chance to play his own game , the chameleonic Argentinian system will warp around their star player to facilitate him.

JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA / DIARIO AS

Player to watch: Julián Álvarez

OK, so the answer is Messi , but let's take a look at Julián Álvarez for something different.

The Manchester City striker, were it not for Messi and his penalties, would be Argentina's top scorer. And he wasn't even supposed to start . Lautaro Martínez was Messi's partner in the first game of the tournament against Saudi Arabia, but is now out of favour in Scaloni's plans. 

Álvarez has stepped in wonderfully, getting on the end of assists and having the underrated quality of being in the right place at the right time. His goals against Croatia were the perfect examples of just what he does best : for the first one he did his best Messi impression, glueing the ball to his boot and running wildly down the pitch; the second one was a cool finish after finding enough space in the box for Messi to play the ball to him. 

Not a bad comparison!

Maybe a wake up call was the best thing that could have happened to Argentina, as nobody on the team would have wanted angry Messi to come out so early... they'd have wanted to save that guy for the final!

France's injury list: a blessing in disguise?

France      ​​​​​​​ came into the tournament with an injury list as daunting as an ancient scroll: 

Kanté

And then Benzema got injured on the eve of the tournament, just before  Lucas Hernández tore his knee ligament .

These absences forced Deschamps to change things up, putting in Giroud up top and switching out Lucas for his brother, Theo. The two 'substitutes' have arguably been, along with Mbappé and my boy Griezmann, France's best players during the competition.

Without these players missing, France would not have used Giroud and Griezmann in the way we have seen them and would perhaps not have performed to the same brilliant level. I know, in an imaginary world of impossible-to-prove alternate universes, they could have won every game 6-0 - but they haven't. Instead, they've been brilliant without shining , using an alternative plan, and they've made it all the way to the final. 

Hugo Lloris on the verge of making history

France's goalkeeper and captain H ugo Lloris could make history today were he to lift the World Cup at the end of the game. 

If so, he would become the first captain to win the World Cup trophy in two consecutive editions. 

Only two teams have won consecutive World Cups: Brazil ( 1958 & 1962) and Italy (1934 & 1938). However, on both occasions the winning captains were different, meaning that Lloris would become the first.

Added to that, he has already become the player with the most appearances ever for France, with 143 games.  He is also the goalkeeper with the most World Cup appearances (19) , along with Germany's     ​​​​​​​Manuel Neuer. He will break that record today (if he starts).

‘Papu’ Gómez MLS bound in 2023?

And while we're on the topic of MLS : might Papu Gómez be the next Argentinian to move stateside ?

Can Thiago Almada get on the field in the World Cup final?

And the answer is...

Thiago Almada of Atlanta United!

​​​​​​​Did you get it?

Pub quiz question #2!

Which current MLS player could get on the pitch at the World Cup final?

(hint: he plays for Argentina      ​​​​​​​)

Messi vs Maradona: the battle for the crown of best ever

Today is, for many people, rightly or wrongly , a chance for Messi to cement himself as the greatest player of all time . Some would say that he's already there, that team trophies - and especially national team ones - shouldn't be counted, as it does not entirely come down to the player but the squad and the moment in which they find themselves. 

But for others, to see Messi with the World Cup trophy in his hands , one that has evaded him in the cruellest way possible, one that looked impossible to achieve, would be the crowning moment for his status as the best ever. 

It would certainly put him on the same level as Diego Maradona , the player who a lot of people, and Argentinians in particular, saw holds the accolade. He certainly does in term of symbolism, with that famous 1986 win being the image that is plastered across bedroom walls, social media and, most importantly, in the minds of everyone who loves football. Today Messi could have his own. 

Here's a delightful graphic from Sofascore that I've pulled out of my bag of tricks which compares the two Argentinian geniuses. 

Didier Deschamps said "it helps" to play multiple finals. But which of his players was he talking about? 

Here are two pieces about the survivors of each team from their last time in a World Cup final. 

Which France players that played in the 2018 World Cup final will also be in the 2022 final?

How many players from Argentina’s current squad played in the 2014 World Cup final?

Didier Deschamps pre-match comments:

The context of a final is always special. There is an emotional side that can be different for every player.  When it's the first final for a player, there are less references and data. Playing in lots of finals helps. The emotional management is important.  In 2018 there were 7 players that are here today. It's not actually the same team as before. I'm not going to compare them, it makes no sense.  Argentina can do different things, but so can we.  Kylian needs calmness, serenity. He's in a great frame of mind.  Didier Deschamps , France manager

Lionel Scaloni pre-match comments:

I am proud and very motivated for the moment we are in. They're very beautiful times to enjoy.  The group is in their best moment yet, at the door of the final. I have the starting XI already decided. Our way of playing goes further than the system and the players that we choose will be the ones we think will do France the most damage.  France isn't just Mbappé. It's a team of players that make him better. The final is Argentina against France, it's more than Messi against Mbappé. There are other players who can decide the game, not just those two.  Lionel Scaloni , Argentina manager

5 goals - Lionel Messi 

5 goals - Kylian Mbappé

4 goals - Julián Álvarez

4 goals - Olivier Giroud

Did you get them all? Of course you did, well done. 

Who is the referee for Argentina vs France World Cup 2022 final?

Before I reveal the answer to the greatest pub quiz question of all time, here's everything you need to know about  Szymon Marciniak , today's referee.

Let's have a pub quiz...

I'll be quiz master. We will start off with an easy one:

Who are the current 4 top scorers of the World Cup?

(hint: they could all play today)

Did you know? A curious kit coincidence...

Argentina will be in their famous blue and white striped home shirt for the game today. The French will also be sporting their traditional colour of deep blue, which is nice for all of us who love football shirts and lovely colours. 

The last time Argentina wore their home shirt in a World Cup final was 1986, which they won . The other two times they reached the final, in 1990 and 2014, they wore their away shirt. They lost both of those games. 

Will this curious kit coincidence continue?

We need to talk about Grizi / PETER CZIBORRA / REUTERS

We need to talk about Grizi

​​​​​​​I'm going to spoil the fun now before I've even decided on the rest of my awards: Antoine Griezmann is my player of the tournament. 

​​​​​​​The Atlético Madrid [insert position here] has become the everything-man within Didier Deschamps' team, and  the tactical surprise of the World Cup was only put there to fill the tremendous gap left by the three million injuries that France suffered prior to the competition.

It's amazing, Grizi has contributed in both attack and defence like never before: he has the most assists and has the most chances created at Qatar 2022,  all while being the defensive scampering dog that helps out with ball recovery. 

Against Morocco, he performed 101 pressures (according to Opta) - the most by any French player during a World Cup 2022 game! 

Griezmann is key to unlocking defences for France, as he slips past players as they get all shaky about Mbappé and Theo Hernández down the left side. Keep an eye on the boy.

Isn't this lovely!

The cool people at Sofascore have prepared this very snazzy graphic so we can hold hands and walk down memory lane, remembering all the fun we had along the journey to the World Cup final.

You like it? There's more to come. Trust me. I've got loads. 

Didier Deschamps says Mbappé needs “calmness” before World Cup Final

Here is everything Didier Deschamps had to say in the build up to the game, including whether or not Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema is set to return to the squad for the final.

FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Team news: Argentina

Suspended pair Marcos Acuña (also known as 'the egg')  and Gonzalo Montiel served their suspensions in the Croatia victory and will be ready to return to the side, should Scaloni choose to do so.

Ángel Di María is as fit as he is can be and will most likely feature at some point, even if he doesn't start. My inkling is that Scaloni will choose a midfield four of Mac Allister, Enzo, De Paul and Paredes , but there could be some surprises.

Papu Gómez is a doubt for the game and may not be fit to play, but we're not sure. ​​​​​​​

Leo Messi seems to be fit , despite holding him hamstring and giving us all a fright against Croatia.

  ​​​​​​​     ​​​​​​​

Friedemann Vogel / EFE

Team news: France

" With regards to the virus from yesterday, the players are still sleeping so I can’t tell you ", said Deschamps in his pre-match press conference, when asked about the fitness of Coman, Upamecano, Varane and Konaté, who all appear to be suffering from the Camel Virus that has affected the French squad. Rabiot has also been affected by the virus and missed the Morocco game, but should be well enough to play.

As such, they are all doubts for the game. 

In terms of injuries, Theo Hernández and Aurelién Tchouaméni missed training in the week and were doubtful for the match, but they should be OK to play.

The newest and worrying-est news is that Olivier Giroud is a doubt for the final with a slight knee injury . Missing one of the fantastic four would be a huge blow for France and Mbappé in particular, who uses Giroud's amazing powers of attraction to his benefit, taking advantage of the space left behind.   ​​​​​​​

Argentina: the story so far

Do you remember that Saudi Arabia game? It feels so long ago but the feeling of my eyes dropping down and falling out of my mouth in shock is still there. 

After the game, Messi was asked for his thoughts:

"The truth? Dead. It’s a very hard blow because we did not expect to start in this way .’ We expected to get the three points that would have given us calmness. Things happen for a reason. We have to prepare for what is coming, we have to win, and it depends on us."

And when the boss speaks like that, you listen. Argentina went out and beat both Mexico and Poland 2-0 to top the group, with the Newells Old Boys graduate the start of the show. 

They put away Australia in slightly less convincing fashion than France had done before going all the way to penalties with the Netherlands : you remember that Wout Weghorst goal , right? 

Croatia came next, last time's runners-up, in a match that had all the makings of a tough affair for Scaloni's team . But they pierced through them with a bit of Messi sprinkled throughout, who rotated (defender of the tournament) Gvardiol's soul in his ribcage before laying the ball off to Julián Álvarez to make it 3-0.

France: the story so far

Les Bleus     ​​​​​​​, as mentioned, have made it this far by being brilliant in moments, like fireworks, if that's your thing. 

Their first result of the tournament, a 4-1 win over Australia, led us all to believe that they would be a fluid attacking unit that relentlessly went about like a giant dinosaur, scything teams to shreds . But no. They're something much scarier than that. 

Much scarier than a dinosaur? Yes. Against Denmark they slept under the water and waited for the dark horses to come and have a drink at the lake, getting too close before they jumped out and grabbed them, dragging them in. They beat the Danes 2-1 with a Kylian Mbappé double. With qualification already confirmed, they lost the final game 1-0 against Tunisia having fielded a heavily changed side.

A 3-1 win over the most lacklustre Poland side ever in the Round of 16 was a routine performance, before they squeezed past England using all of their best tricks, namely that attacking front 4. Griezmann teed up Giroud for a header late on but it was   a Harry Kane penalty that went into orbi t that meant Deschamps side carried on in the tournament. 

Then came the surprise of the tournament, Morocco , and we saw the real France. With an early goal in their pocket they sat back, allowing the Atlas Lions all the rule of the pitch, before a late Kolo Muani tap in crushed the dreams of everyone's new favourite country. 

And now they're here, in the final. Waiting to crush Argentinian dreams.

World Cup Final preview: ​​​​​​

This is, as you might expect, quite a tough one to call. France     ​​​​​​​ have worked their way through the World Cup being quite unspectacular in a very spectacular way . They don’t dominate the ball, using a Pep Guardiola style 2-3-5 to attack like interchanging butterflies twisting in formation. Instead, they wait. Like sleeping lions. 18 hours a day of rest, if needs be. They allow you to control the ball, mark your territory, maintain the tempo you want, how kind of them. Then they snap. 

And when that crazy front 4 get going, nobody has the antidote. Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé will tear you apart just as you get comfortable in your chair, and you can’t do anything about it. Against Morocco the story was just like that. The reigning champions sat back, relaxed, with a lovely cup of tea, and decided to strike when Mbappé hopped, skipped and squirmed through 15 defenders before his deflected shot was tapped in to make it 2-0. 

Against the French, you don’t get to choose how you play. It’s like building a house of cards with a petulant child, it doesn’t matter how long you spend lining them up, one on top of the other, if the kid wants to blow it down, they will.

Argentina     ​​​​​​, though, have a magic key. Like a fantasy film, they always use the get-out-of-jail superpower that just so happens to perfectly suit what they need to do. La Albiceleste have that in a player who is really good at football. It’s like they brought him on purpose. I don’t even need to name him.

Yes, Messi can decide the came in a moment of genius , which is what might well happen, and Scaloni will know that. But he will also be aware that France too love to do exactly the same thing with their PSG forward, so his team might reflect some feelings of precaution. It could probably come in the shape of a midfield 4, with Paredes dropping in instead of Ángel Di María, who will feature at some point, just maybe not from the start.

Here’s a couple of in-depth tactical breakdowns of the two teams:

Three possible Argentina lineups for World Cup final against France

France’s possible tactics for the final against Argentina

Today's coverage is going to be humungous . We'll have everything from stats to predictions to lovely pictures of footballers, and more.

Thanks again for joining and thank the clouds Morocco didn't make it because otherwise I'd be on the Bono pun train all day long. We'd (I'd) be digging around in B-sides and unpublished newsletters for anything, so at least we don't have that. 

My, oh my, welcome to the World Cup final coverage from AS . It’s Joe here today and I’ll be guiding you through all the laughter, tears and most importantly, the football, of the day. 

How do I say this in a non-screaming yet very loud and excited way?

It’s the World Cup final!

Yes, Argentina     vs     ​​​​​​​France  go up against each other for the third golden star, the golden trophy and lots of gold confetti in game 64 of 64 of this, the strangest tournament we’ve ever seen, Qatar 2022. But what a final we have.

Stars, format, diffuseur... Tout savoir sur la Kings World Cup

La première édition de la Kings World Cup, un tournoi de foot à sept organisé au Mexique par Gerard Piqué, débute dimanche. Une équipe française, baptisée « Foot2Rue », sera présente sous la houlette du streamer « AmineMaTue ».

J-2 avant le coup d'envoi de la première édition de la Kings World Cup, la compétition dont tout le monde parle en ce moment sur les réseaux sociaux. Il s'agit d'un tournoi international de foot à sept aux règles fantasques (buts comptant double dans les deux dernières minutes de chaque mi-temps, exclusion temporaire en cas de cartons ou encore possibilité d'user d'« armes secrètes » une fois par rencontre), organisé au Mexique du 26 mai au 6 juin par Gerard Piqué , l'ancien défenseur du Barça aujourd'hui devenu homme d'affaires et qui a créé la Kings League en Espagne, en 2022.

Qui représentera la France ?

Cette première « Coupe du monde » réunira 32 équipes : 10 d'entre elles seront issues de la ligue espagnole, 10 viendront de la ligue sud-américaine et 12 autres du monde entier. Au total, dix-huit nations seront représentées, dont la France avec son équipe nommée « Foot2Rue » (en référence au célèbre dessin animé), qui compte pour sélectionneur le streamer AmineMaTue (prononcé « Amine m'a tué »), suivi par plus de 2,5 millions d'abonnés sur Twitch, et pour coach Saïd Dorbani, créateur de la chaîne YouTube « Pieds Carrés ».

Chaque équipe a la possibilité de sélectionner 10 joueurs plus trois « stars », souvent des anciens professionnels. Les têtes d'affiche de l'équipe française seront trois anciens internationaux : Samir Nasri, retraité depuis 2020, et Jérémy Ménez , qui a résilié cette saison son contrat avec Bari en Serie B.

Quelles stars seront de la partie ?

Cette première édition de la Kings World Cup, présidée par Zlatan Ibrahimovic, peut se targuer d'un casting 5 étoiles. Parmi les stars présentes, on retrouve notamment Neymar, sélectionneur d'une équipe brésilienne « Furia FC ». L'ancien Parisien ne pourra pas assurer le spectacle balle au pied en raison de sa blessure mais il pourra compter sur Falcao, l'ancienne star brésilienne du futsal.

Eden Hazard sera également présent pour la Belgique au côté de son petit frère Ethan alors que Sergio Agüero endossera le costume de sélectionneur de l'équipe argentine « Kunisports » dans laquelle on retrouvera notamment Nicolas Gaitan. Rio Ferdinand sera à la tête de la formation anglaise « Five FC », Iker Casillas sera aux commandes de l'équipe « 1K FC » tandis que l'Italie comptera dans ses rangs Francesco Totti et Radja Nainggolan.

L'équipe ukrainienne « UA Steel » aura fière allure avec les présences d'Andreï Chevtchenko, Marlos, Yevhen Konoplyanka ou encore Andriy Pyatov. Rappelons que le grand vainqueur du tournoi mexicain empochera la somme d'un million de dollars (environ 920 000 euros).

Comment suivre la Kings World Cup ?

La compétition sera diffusée sur la plateforme M6 +  et sur les comptes Twitch de la Kings League. Les matches de l'équipe « Foot2Rue » seront également retransmis sur la chaîne du streamer AmineMaTue.

Quel est le format de la compétition ?

Cette Kings World Cup ne s'articulera pas sous la forme de phase de groupes mais adoptera plutôt le système suisse. Les premiers matches ont été définis à la suite d'un tirage au sort. Toutes les équipes pourront accéder au second tour. Les vainqueurs se retrouveront dans le « tableau des vainqueurs » et les perdants dans un autre tableau.

Les équipes du « tableau des vainqueurs » qui remporteront leur match du deuxième tour se qualifieront immédiatement pour la phase à élimination directe, tandis que les perdants affronteront les gagnants du « tableau des perdants » lors d'un match de la dernière chance et les vainqueurs de ces duels pourront accéder à la phase à élimination directe qui débutera avec des huitièmes de finale.

IPL 2024 final: List of all award winners with prize money

Jatin Khandelwal

KKR won their third IPL trophy by defeating SRH in the IPL 2024 final.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won their third Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy on Sunday night at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai after they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024 final.

The Shreyas Iyer-led side recorded a thumping victory over Pat Cummins’ team in the final to secure the IPL trophy after 10 years. Gautam Gambhir , the captain who led KKR to their first two titles in 2012 and 2014, was in the dugout this time in the role of a mentor.

KKR effectively sealed the final when they restricted SRH to a lowly total of 113. The trend-setters with the bat in IPL 2024, SRH haven’t been at their best in the last few games. Their batting order came unstuck in the final as the KKR bowlers ran through them.

Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. SRH were given a blow in the first over as Mitchell Starc rattled the stumps of Abhishek Sharma. In the second over, Vaibhav Arora swung a ball away from Travis Head and got his outside edge that was taken by the wicket-keeper.

Once KKR got on top in the first two overs by dismissing the two SRH openers, they kept a leash on SRH throughout their innings. Starc and Harshit Rana took two wickets each, while Andre Russell took a three-wicket haul. Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, and Sunil Narine took one wicket each as SRH failed to reach even 120.

The chase was a walk in the park for KKR as Venkatesh Iyer smoked a 24-ball half-century. KKR won the final in the 11th over of their innings with eight wickets in hand.

In the post-match presentation, a host of awards were handed out. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was named the Orange Cap winner for his 741 runs. Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Harshal Patel won the Purple Cap award. All other awards are listed below.

IPL 2024 Winners : Kolkata Knight Riders (INR 20 crores)

Runners up: Sunrisers Hyderabad (INR 12.5 crores)

Orange Cap: Virat Kohli (INR 10 lakhs)

Purple Cap : Harshal Patel (INR 10 lakhs)

Fairplay award: Sunrisers Hyderabad (INR 10 lakhs)

Emerging player: Nitish Reddy (INR 10 lakhs)

Man of the Match in the final : Mitchell Starc (INR 10 lakhs)

Man of the Tournament (MVP): Sunil Narine (INR 10 lakhs)

Most sixes: Abhishek Sharma (INR 10 lakhs)

Most fours : Travis Head (INR 10 lakhs)

Super striker of the season : Jake Fraser-McGurk (INR 10 lakhs)

Best catch of the season : Ramandeep Singh (INR 10 lakhs)

Fantasy player of the season : Sunil Narine (INR 10 lakhs)

Pitch and ground staff award: Hyderabad Cricket Association (INR 50 lakhs)

For more updates, follow  Khel Now Cricket for IPL 2024 Live Score & IPL Points Table ,  on  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  Youtube ; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App  and join our community on Whatsapp &  Telegram .

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A capsule history of the T20 World Cup

FILE - Indian cricket players celebrate after beating Pakistan during the final Twenty20 World Championship Cricket match between India and Pakistan in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. The ninth T20 World Cup starts on June 1. The Caribbean and the United States are sharing co-host duties. (AP Photo/Aman Sharma, File)

FILE - Sri Lanka’s players and team officials pose for a group photo while celebrating with the trophy after winning the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, April 6, 2014. Sri Lanka won the title defeating India by six wickets. The ninth T20 World Cup starts on June 1. The Caribbean and the United States are sharing co-host duties. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, File)

FILE - The West Indies men’s and women’s team celebrate after winning their finals matches of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 cricket tournament at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Sunday, April 3, 2016. The ninth T20 World Cup starts on June 1. The Caribbean and the United States are sharing co-host duties. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File)

FILE - Australian cricketers celebrate after winning the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup final match in Dubai, UAE, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. The ninth T20 World Cup starts on June 1. The Caribbean and the United States are sharing co-host duties. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)

FILE - England celebrate with their trophy after defeating Pakistan in the final of the T20 World Cup cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. The return of fast bowler Jofra Archer has boosted England’s chances of becoming the first team to win consecutive Twenty20 World Cups.(AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

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A brief history of the T20 World Cup:

2007 in South Africa

Final: India def. Pakistan by 5 runs

Four years after England invented Twenty20 cricket, the first T20 World Cup (then World Twenty20) blasted off in the opening match where Chris Gayle scored the first international T20 century, 117 off 57 balls (10 sixes) and Zimbabwe upset Australia the next day. In the final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, India posted 157-5 on the back of Gautam Gambhir’s 75 from 54. Pakistan was on track until slowed by bowlers Irfan Pathan, RP Singh and Joginder Sharma. Pakistan needed six runs off the last four balls with one wicket left then Misbah-ul-Haq skied Sharma to Sreesanth at short fine leg.

Tournament MVP: Shahid Afridi, Pakistan

2009 in England

Final: Pakistan def. Sri Lanka by 8 wickets

In the group stage, the Netherlands beat England at Lord’s, and Australia was eliminated after two losses in two matches. The final pitted Pakistan against Sri Lanka, just three months after a dozen gunmen fired on the Sri Lanka cricket bus and match officials’ minivan in Lahore. Seven players were injured, and three of them played in the T20 final. Sri Lanka batted first at Lord’s and was soon 2-2 and 32-4. Kumar Sangakkara’s anchoring 64 helped them to 138-6. The chase was paced well and Shahid Afridi hit the winning leg bye in an unbeaten 54. They reached 139-2 with eight balls to spare and Pakistan won its first world title in 17 years.

Tournament MVP: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka

2010 in Caribbean

Final: England def. Australia by 7 wickets

Afghanistan made its debut in a major men’s event and didn’t win a match. Australia reached the final at Kensington Oval undefeated. England, without a first-round win, advanced on net run rate then swept its Super 8s group and semifinal. David Hussey rescued Australia from 8-3 with 59 in a 147-6. England made no race of the chase. Craig Kieswetter, 63 off 49, and Kevin Pietersen, 47 off 31, shared 111 for the second wicket. With three overs to spare, England won its first world title.

Tournament MVP: Kevin Pietersen, England

2012 in Sri Lanka

Final: West Indies def. Sri Lanka by 36 runs

New Zealander Brendon McCullum’s 123 off 58 balls against Bangladesh remains the highest score in tournament history. Sri Lanka beat the West Indies by nine wickets in the Super 8s. In the final in Colombo, Marlon Samuels’ 78 off 56 pegged West Indies to 137-6 from 87-5. Then they turned around and squeezed the home team. Samuels, Sunil Narine — 3-9 off 22 balls — Daren Sammy and Samuel Badree bowled a combined 13.4 overs, conceded 54 runs and took seven wickets. They celebrated by dancing ‘Gangnam Style’ on the field.

Tournament MVP: Shane Watson, Australia

2014 in Bangladesh

Final: Sri Lanka def. India by 6 wickets

In the Super 10s, the Netherlands thrashed England. Sri Lanka ended the West Indies’ title defense in a rain-affected semifinal, then easily chased down India’s measly 130-4 in the final in Dhaka. India was propped up by Virat Kohli’s 77 off 58 until he was run out going for a second run. Kumar Sangakkara led Sri Lanka’s charge to 134-4 with 2.1 overs to spare with an unbeaten 52 off 35. He and Mahela Jayawardene, having lost two previous T20 finals, bowed out of T20 cricket as world champions.

Tournament MVP: Virat Kohli, India

2016 in India

Final: West Indies def. England by 4 wickets

Afghanistan successfully defended 123 against the West Indies but the latter advanced to the semifinals. The West Indies knocked out India in the semifinals with the highest successful run chase in playoff history. In the final at Eden Gardens, Joe Root’s 54 off 36 led England to 155-9. The Windies needed 19 runs off the last over bowled by Ben Stokes, and Carlos Braithwaite hit 6-6-6-6 to win the final with two balls to spare.

2021 in United Arab Emirates

Final: Australia def. New Zealand by 8 wickets

The pandemic forced the tournament to move from Australia to India to the UAE, and was delayed for a year. In the Super 12s, Pakistan beat India for the first time in 13 attempts in a 20-over or 50-over World Cup. The final in Dubai between unbeaten teams saw Kane Williamson’s 85 off 48 lead New Zealand to 172-4, the highest total in a final. Australia surpassed it with seven balls to spare thanks to David Warner’s 53 off 38 and Mitch Marsh’s unbeaten 77 off 50. Glenn Maxwell applied the coup de grace with a boundary past short third man for 173-2 and Australia’s first T20 crown.

Tournament MVP: David Warner, Australia

2022 in Australia

Final: England def. Pakistan by 5 wickets

In the preliminary round, the West Indies lost to Scotland and Ireland, and Sri Lanka lost to Namibia. There was more drama in the Super 12s: Ireland beat England, Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan, the Netherlands upset South Africa, and Australia’s title defense ended on net run rate after a 4-run win over Afghanistan. Pakistan, with two losses, reached the final. England crushed India by 10 wickets in the semifinals then restricted Pakistan to 137, Sam Curran taking 3-12. Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi went off injured in the final and England cruised to victory on Ben Stokes’ unbeaten maiden T20 half-century.

Tournament MVP: Sam Curran, England

AP T20 World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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T20 World Cup opening ceremony: When and where to watch, start time, who will perform?

The ball for the 9th edition of the t20 world cup is set to get rolling with the usa and west indies. the grand tournament will witness 2 mega-opening ceremonies. here are the details of when and where to watch..

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• The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin from June 2 in the USA and West Indies
• The grand opening ceremonies will take place separately in the USA and West Indies
• USA will host Canada in the tournament opener in Dallas on June 2

The biggest cricketing extravaganza is set to commence as the T20 World Cup will kickstart from June 2 in the USA and West Indies. The ball is set to be rolling for the 9th edition of the T20 World Cup, which will be played between 20 teams for the first time in the history of the tournament. As the anticipation builds up for the marquee tournament, let us delve into the details of the mega-opening ceremony. It will not be any ordinary one, as the pre-tournament fireworks will take place in both the host nations, the USA and the West Indies.

The USA will be playing and hosting a tournament for the very first time. The hosts will play the tournament opener, making their debut in T20I cricket at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas on June 2, Sunday. Here is everything you need to know about the grand opening ceremony of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

The opening ceremony of the tournament opener will take place 10 minutes prior to the opening ball and right after the toss, as per the USA TODAY. However, the details of the ceremony and performances have not been revealed yet.

Will the T20 World Cup have 2 opening ceremonies?

West Indies will host Papua New Guinea in their tournament opener on June 2 at the Guyana National Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana at 8:00 pm IST. The co-hosts West Indies will have a separate opening ceremony, which is expected to be a star-studded affair. T20 World Cup 2024: Full Coverage

T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony timing and broadcast details of West Indies

When will the T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony begin?

The T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony will begin at 6 PM IST on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

Who will perform at the T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony?

Out Of This World Entertainment! #WIReady Our 1st match in Guyana bowls off This Sunday June 2🏏 Enjoy live Performances by: David Rudder | Ravi B | Erphaan Alves | Dj Anna | Dj Ultra Get Your Tickets at Guyana Cricket Board Office! pic.twitter.com/G8syLYLG61 — Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) May 29, 2024

Where can people watch the T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony?

People in India can watch the live telecast of the T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony on Star Sports.

Where can the T20 World Cup 2024 opening ceremony be live-streamed?