Football fans doubt the possibility of surprises in the World Cup finals hosted by Qatar from Sunday, November 20, to December 18, which coincides with its national holiday. Any surprises, if they occur, would likely involve a new major football nation joining the list of countries that have previously won the cup, which includes: Uruguay (2), Italy (4), Germany (4), Brazil (5), England (1), Argentina (2), France (2), and Spain (1). Surprises may be limited to reaching advanced stages of the tournament or major teams being eliminated earlier than expected.
Many hope that this tournament will be marked by a star performance, whether it be shining from Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo (unlikely for him), or Brazilian Neymar. The three are facing, especially Messi and Ronaldo, their last chance at a World Cup. Meanwhile, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé aims for a second consecutive title, following in the footsteps of "King" Pelé, as does his compatriot Karim Benzema, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or for best player in 2022 but missed the 2018 Russia finals due to a non-football-related exclusion by the coach.
Croatia nearly made it to the list of champions in 2018, as did the Netherlands in 2010. France broke that list on home soil in 1998, Argentina did so in 1978, and England in 1966.
Of course, the current host nation is not favored to reach the podium, even though the Qatari national team won its first continental title at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the UAE. Qatar's ambition on the field likely lies in surpassing the group stage and remaining in the tournament as long as possible.
Defending champions France, alongside Brazil — the record-holder for the most wins in this competition and the sole winner on Asian soil (South Korea and Japan 2002) — and Argentina are at the forefront of candidates to win. Germany, although lacking the characteristic of a championship contender, remains in the running for a fifth star. Spain, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands are also listed among the contenders.
In any case, the current 22nd finals will showcase exciting performances and strong confrontations, particularly in the later stages of the tournament. The deserving champion will be crowned at Lusail Stadium on December 18.
