Groundbreaking facts and figures as Qatar 2022™ group stage wraps up

After 13 days and 48 matches, the first edition of the FIFA World Cup™ to be hosted in the Middle East and Arab world has presented an array of facts and figures, starting with a cumulative stadium attendance of 2.45 million spectators. 

the FIFA World Cup trophy in front of the skyline along the Doha Corniche

Sensory rooms at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ creating memorable experiences 

For Yassine Chahboub, it has been a lifelong dream to attend the FIFA World Cup™. However, the 35-year-old Morocco fan has sensory needs that make it difficult for him to attend live matches. Due to sensory rooms at Qatar 2022 his dream has become reality.

Morocco v Croatia: Group F - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Disabled Fans offered unique FIFA World Cup experience

FIFA has introduced a new initiative at Qatar 2022. For each of the 64 matches, disabled fans have also been offered an exclusive experience during the pre-match ceremony. 

Japan v Spain: Group E - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Nuno Gomes: Playing in a World Cup is the fulfilment of a childhood dream

Football Unites the World will be a global movement to inspire, unite and develop through football. FIFA Legends have shared their stories of how football united their respective countries during uncertain times.

Nuno Gomes

FIFA World Cup delivering record-breaking TV audience numbers

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is continuing to engage TV audiences around the world with record-breaking numbers across multiple markets.

England v USA: Group B - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

TSG shares latest analysis at second media briefing 

At first glance, it is easy to think football is always the same: two teams of 11 players try to put the ball in each other's net while preventing their opponents from doing the same. But football is always different too,.

Technical Study Group Media Briefing

Collina: We’ve asked referees to calculate stoppage time more accurately

At the FIFA referees media day prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup, the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, gave notice that time lost due to different specific events that transpire during matches would be compensated for.

FIFA Referee Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina on stage during FIFA Summit

Enrique Macaya Márquez makes it 17 FIFA World Cups in a row

Argentinian journalist Enrique Macaya Márquez has been to every FIFA World Cup since 1958 and is covering the tournament for the 17th time, setting a new record among journalists. 

AIPS / FIFA Journalist on the Podium ceremony  - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

FIFA pays tribute to 'veteran' FIFA World Cup journalists 

Recognising the role that the media plays in making football the most popular sport, FIFA paid tribute on Tuesday to the longevity and commitment of the journalists who have covered eight or more FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Football and music intertwine at FIFA World Cup 2022™

The FIFA World Cup™ not only showcases football from around the world, but also music. 

Poland v Saudi Arabia: Group C - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Ian Wright: Football naturally brings people together

Image > FUTW > Ian Wright (021122)

Gilberto Silva: Winning the World Cup gave me more responsibility in my career 

In the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, we asked Gilberto Silva to take a trip down memory lane.

Gilberto Silva, prior to the second and final leg of this year’s FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola 

FIFA lifts suspension of Football Kenya Federation

The Bureau of the FIFA Council decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in February 2022 in accordance with article 16 of the FIFA Statutes.

A FIFA flag is displayed

Mentee versus mentor as Costa Rica take on Portugal

At first glance, the encounter between the Costa Rica and Portugal women’s national teams seemed like any other friendly. 

CMP Mentee and Mentor:  Amelia Valverde Villalobos and Francisco Neto

Executive Programme between FIFA and Qatar Stars League launched

FIFA and the Qatar Stars League (QSL) have announced the launch of an Executive Programme for the management of football clubs, as part of the implementation of QSL’s development strategy project to upgrade the technical and professional levels of clubs.

FIFA Executive Programme

Marcel Desailly visits waste segregators

Over 600 tonnes of waste will be broken down and recycled across the Qatar 2022™ tournament

FIFA Legend Marcel Desailly poses with waste segregators

New Football Centre brings fresh hopes for Kumamoto

The city of Kumamoto in southern Japan recently celebrated completion of a state-of-the-art football centre with the aid of the FIFA Solidarity Fund.

The Kumamoto Football Centre

FIFA TSG provides its first analysis of Qatar 2022

FIFA TSG reviewed team performances after first phase of Qatar 2022 group games. Three trends emerged after first sixteen matches.

FIFA Technical Study Group members Alberto Zaccheroni of Italy, Sunday Oliseh of Nigeria and Faryd Mondragon of Colombia attend the Technical Study Group Media Briefing 

Sergio Aguero: The FIFA World Cup has the power to bring countries together

In the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, we asked Sergio Aguero to take a trip down memory lane.

Sergio Aguero of Argentina poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2018

French duo cycle 7,000km from Paris to support Les Blues at Qatar 2022

Frenchmen Gabriel Martin and Mehdi Balamissa arrived in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup™ after a ‘life-changing’ 7,000km cycle ride from Paris to Doha.

Mehdi Balamissa (R) and Gabriel Martin cheer as they start their bicycle tour from Paris to Doha

FIFA President joins CONMEBOL and Argentina World Cup winners in celebrating Diego Maradona

FIFA President Gianni Infantino joined CONMEBOL, its President Alejandro Domínguez and members of Argentina's two FIFA World Cup winning teams in paying tribute to Diego Maradona on the second anniversary of the legendary player's passing. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends Diego Maradona memorial event

FIFA World Cup™ attendance figures stand at 94% after first round of group stage

After the first round of FIFA World Cup™ group stage matches were completed, official figures show that the average overall match attendance stands at an impressive 94% compared to stadium capacities for the event.

Wales v IR Iran: Group B - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

FIFA Insight Live: A Training Centre Podcast

Over the course of 64 matches, The FIFA Training Centre will take you inside the game like never before. The team in Qatar will be in the stadium analysing systems of play and tactical strategies.

Germany v Japan: Group E - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

#SaveThePlanet campaign to feature in second round of matches at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™

In partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), FIFA will use the second round of matches at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ to remind billions of viewers worldwide about the importance of tackling climate change poses to our planet.

Save the Planet branded campaign graphic

Early figures suggest the FIFA World Cup is as popular as ever

The FIFA World Cup™ is proving as popular as ever around the world with preliminary figures for the opening match of the 2022 tournament in Qatar showing an increase in viewers compared to the corresponding match in Russia four years ago.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar - FIFA Fan Festival

Dunga: The World Cup brings down cultural barriers

Les FIFA Legends racontent comment le football a uni leurs pays respectifs en des temps incertains.

Brazil captain Dunga receives the FIFA World Cup Trophy from US Vice-President Al Gore after the USA 1994 Final

Geremi: Football is a sort of religion that brings people together

As the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ rapidly approaches, Geremi takes a trip down memory lane to recall a career filled with trophies and standout moments.

Cameroon's striker Samuel Eto'o (C) celebrates with Cameroon's defender Geremi (8) after scoring

FIFA World Cup™ organisers and fans join together to support climate action

FIFA World Cup™ fans arriving in Qatar have joined forces with tournament organisers, including FIFA, to support climate action, pledging to reduce their carbon emissions during and after the tournament. 

Fan at the Corniche Waterfront

Veselinovic: We celebrate every success as if it were a national holiday

 In September 2022 the Football Association of Serbia launched the new Cadet League of Serbia, a competition for girls aged up to 17 years old, with support from FIFA. 

The players of Serbia celebrate the victory during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Qualifier group H 

Creating best possible conditions for Portuguese football

In 2016 the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) opened its Cidade do Futebol (City of Football) complex to bring all of its sporting and administrative activities together in one place. The infrastructure was enhanced with support from FIFA FORWARD.  

Portugal's players celebrate

Indomitable Lions’ den undergoes renovation

FIFA Forward Programme supported the redevelopment of the Odza Technical Centre in Cameroon.

 The Renovation of the Odza Technical Center

Lothar Matthaus: Football is essential for world peace 

. After the first few days of action at Qatar 2022, Lothar Matthaus tells us about the power of the game to make the world a better place.

FIFA Legend Lothar Matthaeus holds a Football Unites The World hashtag

DFB Campus aiming to produce German stars of the future

By opening the DFB Campus, the German Football Association (DFB) has created a new home that allows administration and sport to flourish together under one roof for the first time on a site covering 15 hectares. 

New DFB Campus

Women’s football takes flight in Morocco

The Moroccan Football Association (FRMF) has invested heavily in the women’s game in recent years and its efforts have not been in vain, a feat made even more impressive by the challenging backdrop of the pandemic. 

Image > FIFA Forward - Morocco Women Football

Youth development picks up pace in Japan through FIFA funding support 

An ongoing and reliable source of emerging talent in Japan is largely down to their long-term youth programmes, including the FIFA Forward-supported Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Premier League.

2022 Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Premier League, Japan

New stage in the development of coaches in Canada 

Canada hosted a coach education workshop with 26 participants benefitting from the expertise of FIFA educators'

 FIFA Coach educators development pathway in Montreal

Teams make local impact on global stage

19 teams take time away from training to meet and inspire local community groups

Team Training Sites > Netherlands

Ayegbeni Yakubu: I had dreamed of playing at a World Cup my whole life

Nigeria's Ayegbeni Yakubu in action against Argentina's Martin Demichelis 

Poland’s Central Youth League, a training ground for its future footballers 

The Central Youth League was set up by the Polish Football Federation (PZPN) in response to a need to streamline the country’s youth football competition levels and provide the next generation of talent with opportunities to compete against one another. 

FIFA Forward Poland

Tunisian FA facilities undergo upgrade with FIFA Forward support

Backed by the FIFA Forward Programme, FTF’s Technical Centre has received a facelift

New Facilities at FTF Technical Centre, Tunis

Five stars for FIFA Forward in France

FIFA Forward is one of the most ambitious development programmes in the world of sport and part of The Vision 2020-2023, the action plan laid out by FIFA President Gianni Infantino

FIFA Forward Programme - Stade Philippe Porcher

Denmark implements VAR with FIFA support

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ participants Denmark are among a number of nations to recently benefit from the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in their domestic competition, thanks to funding from the FIFA Forward programme.