Every four years, one of the biggest sporting events in the world takes place: the FIFA World Cup. While soccer, or football as most fans outside of the US refer to it, may not, historically, be the most popular sport in the United States, Americans are slowly catching up to the rest of the world when it comes to loving the sport. Given the increasing popularity of the game, you may be wondering how and where to stream the World Cup 2022.
World Cup 2022
The World Cup is the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world and is played by men’s national teams from across the globe. It is one of the most popular sporting events in the world, with billions of people tuning in, and it only occurs once every four years. When the World Cup is being played, fans travel from across the globe to watch their favorite teams play regardless of the location of the matches. The last World Cup played was in Russia in 2018, when France bested Croatia 4-2 to take home the title.
The 2022 World Cup was hosted in Qatar and started in November and culminated with the final match on December 18. Not only was this a unique location, but it was also an interesting time of year for the World Cup. For the first time ever, the World Cup was played on the verge of winter. Due to the incredibly hot summers in this desert climate, Qatar committed to hosting in November and December when temperatures are in the 70 to 80℉ (21-27℃) range as opposed to averaging around 100℉ in July.
Who Qualified for World Cup 2022
The World Cup consists of teams from six international zones: Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, and the Caribbean, Oceania, and South America. Hundreds of teams compete for the opportunity to play in the World Cup; in fact, 211 total teams began the qualification process for the 2022 World Cup. The actual process for qualifying for the World Cup is highly complicated and happens over the course of several years. After years of games and countless rounds, however, only a lucky 32 make it to the actual competition. Those 32 teams are then broken into eight groups of four teams. Below are the initial groups with their respective teams:
- Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
- Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia
- Group E: Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
The 2022 event included 64 matches played from November 20th – December 18th. That means 48 matches in the initial group stage followed by 16 knockout rounds. Four matches were played each day during the group stage, which lasted 12 days. From there, winners and runners-up moved forward to the knockout round of 16.
World Cup 2022 Final: Updates
The 2022 World Cup was a thrilling event. The finalists were Argentina and France. Argentina won its third World Cup title by defeating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 tie that featured two goals from 35-year-old Lionel Messi in what was likely the tournament’s wildest final in its 92-year history.
For the first time in his legendary career, which included playing in five World Cups, Lionel Messi has won the World Cup. His performance in the final was amongst the best of his career, and he earned this historic title. It may be a bittersweet victory for Messi, as it will likely be his last World Cup appearance before retiring from international play. Still, it is one that he and Argentina will cherish for many years.
World Cup 2026
The United States, Mexico, and (for the first time) Canada will host the 2026 World Cup. The first-ever 48-team competition will take place in sixteen host cities. It’s the first World Cup in a decade that will not be held entirely within one country, and it is expected to shatter attendance records.
The 2026 competition promises an unforgettable experience for all soccer fans with the expanded field of teams, new video technology, and the three-host-country rule. The countdown to 2026 is already underway, and the anticipation for this historic event grows with each passing day. Whether you’re a fan of soccer or just looking forward to experiencing something new, World Cup 2026 promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Preparing to Stream the World Cup 2026
The 2022 World Cup was an incredible tournament, and the 2026 competition will likely be even better. StreamSafely is here to keep you updated on your favorite events and where to watch them safely. We provide information on which streaming services are available in your region and tips for staying safe while streaming online. You can rest assured that you won’t miss a moment of the action and will be streaming securely. As you anxiously await World Cup 2026, check out our resources for viewing your other favorite sports!
