Source: World Knowledge, No. 23, 2022

Abstract: The opening match of the 22nd World Cup soccer tournament was officially played between hosts Qatar and Ecuador on November 21, 2022. A total of 32 teams and 64 matches will be played in this year's World Cup, the final of which will be held on December 18. The nearly month-long World Cup created a number of historic firsts: from a regional perspective, it was the first World Cup soccer tournament held in the Middle East; from a geographical and seasonal perspective, it was the first World Cup tournament held in the northern hemisphere in winter.

Qatar World Cup sets many historical 'firsts'.pdf