Analysis

Controversial World Cup of firsts ends with final clash of soccer titans in Qatar

Argentina-France championship match caps a tournament overshadowed by graft allegations and criticism of host Qatar, but which saw historic success for Arab world and Africa

Argentinian fans cheer before the the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP/Petr David Josek)
Argentinian fans cheer before the the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP/Petr David Josek)

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — There is no new name on the trophy and many of soccer’s global superstars are taking their final bow but the most controversial World Cup in history will be remembered as a tournament of firsts.

The build-up to Qatar was overshadowed by allegations of corruption, mistreatment of migrant workers, and criticism of the Gulf state’s human rights record from the moment it won the bid in 2010.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino made an impassioned defense of the World Cup on the eve of kick-off, blasting the “hypocrisy” of Western critics, but off-field issues continued to rumble.

Heavyweights France and Argentina progressed to the final, each looking to win the trophy for the third time after a tournament packed with shocks and surprises.

Four-time winners Germany crashed out at the group stage for the second successive time while Argentina was beaten by Saudi Arabia in its opener in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.

Japan beat Germany and Spain to progress to the last 16 while South Korea also made it to the knockout rounds in a strong showing for Asian teams.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives for the medal ceremony after the Qatar 2022 World Cup football third place play-off match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on December 17, 2022. (Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

But Morocco was the nation that caught the imagination — becoming the first side from Africa or the Arab world to reach the semifinals, before losing 2-0 to defending champions France.

The North African nation beat favorite Belgium in the group stage before eliminating Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds, with their victories celebrated in Doha and across the Arab world.

Walid Regragui’s team showed other African and Arab sides what is possible, especially as the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams starting in 2026 increases the number of qualifiers. Africa will have nine slots while Asia will have eight.

Morocco’s Selim Amallah jumps for the ball between Croatia’s Bruno Petkovic and Nikola Vlasic, right, during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, December 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

“With nine participants, we’re going to learn. In 15, 20 years, I’m sure an African team will win the World Cup because we’ll have learned,” said Regragui.

No African teams made it beyond the group stage in Russia four years ago, but this time Senegal also reached the last 16 while Cameroon became the first team from the continent to defeat Brazil at a World Cup.

Every inhabited continent was represented in the knockout stages, allowing Infantino to celebrate the sport “becoming truly global.”

Qatar flop

It was a different story for Asian champions Qatar, who produced the worst performance by a World Cup host — dumped out of the group stage without a point and with just one goal.

Other notable milestones included Stephanie Frappart becoming the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.

Another talking point is that officials have added unprecedented amounts of stoppage time to games.

“People want to watch football, more football. And we, FIFA and IFAB have been asked to do something about it for years,” said FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina, referring to football’s lawmakers.

The Obelisk landmark is illuminated with a message that reads in Spanish: ‘We are in the final,’ in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 17, 2022. (Rodrigo Abd/AP)

The quality of football has not suffered from the decision to shift the World Cup to a November and December timeslot — the middle of the European season — for the first time.

There had been seven goalless draws before the final — up from just one four years ago, but FIFA’s head of football development Arsene Wenger was adamant that the shorter preparation time had not impacted the tournament.

A total of 166 goals were scored before Sunday’s showpiece, an average of 2.6 goals per game — almost identical to 2018.

Messi’s brilliance

Brazil failed to live up to its status as pre-tournament favorite, eliminated by European opposition before the final at a fifth consecutive World Cup.
Neymar said he was “psychologically destroyed” by the result, indicating he could quit international football.

French football fans hold a scarf ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup between Argentina and France as they take part in a traditional Christmas bath in Nice, southeastern France, on December 18, 2022. (Valery HACHE / AFP)

New heroes emerged — Jude Bellingham shone for England while Argentina unearthed a new star in Julian Alvarez — but the veterans still dominated the headlines.

Luka Modric, at 37, and 36-year-old Olivier Giroud stood out, while Cristiano Ronaldo — reduced to the role of substitute — and Luis Suarez bowed out in disappointing fashion.

Lionel Messi, at 35 and playing at his fifth finals, has arguably been better than ever for Argentina.

Soccer fans carry poster with images of Argentina’s footballer Lionel Messi as they cheer for him and his team ahead of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup final football match, during a procession in Kolkata on December 18, 2022. (Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP)

“It’s been a tournament of players who are ready earlier and earlier in top-level sport and players who have lasted longer and longer than ever before,” said Wenger.

Rights issues

Despite the excitement on the pitch, the issues that dominated the build-up to the tournament never entirely went away.

Germany’s players covered their mouths for the team photo before their opening match against Japan in protest at a ban on wearing anti-discrimination armbands in a country in which homosexuality is illegal.

German soccer players cover their mouths as they pose for a group picture during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Germany and Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 23, 2022. (Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP)

A Kenyan security guard died after falling from an upper floor at the Lusail Stadium, adding to the toll since Qatar was awarded the tournament.

Organizers had said before the latest fatality that there had been 37 deaths of World Cup workers, but only three involving “work-related” accidents.

Rights groups say thousands of foreign migrant workers have died on construction projects across Qatar over the past decade and have demanded a special compensation fund.

For Infantino the Qatar World Cup was the “best ever.” For others, the jury is still out.

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