Afghanistan

On Sunday, Qatar will become the smallest country and the first Middle Eastern country to ever host what is considered one of the world's greatest sporting events & the FIFA World Cup.Thirty-two teams will take part in 64 matches over 29 days and league play around the world has paused & with soccer's focus solely on Qatar.Here are a few things to watch when group games get going:Top TeamsBrazil (No.
1 in FIFA ranking).
Neymar, Vinícius Júnior and the rest of the flair-filled team are peaking at the right time.
The big question is whether a first World Cup title since 2002 is on the horizon?Brazil will open their World Cup campaign against Serbia on Nov.
24Belgium (No.
2 in FIFA ranking).
The &Golden Generation& is gradually breaking up but there's still Kevin De Bruyne leading the Belgian charge.
There is doubt about the fitness of Romelu Lukaku, however.Argentina (No.
3 in FIFA ranking).
No World Cup title since the days of the great Diego Maradona.
This will be the first World Cup since his death in November 2020 and Argentina has improved under coach Lionel Scaloni, with Messi still at its core and leading the team on a 35-match unbeaten run.Argentina is one of the favorites to win the 2022 World Cup.
France (No.
4 in FIFA ranking).
The defending champions.
Still the country with the most depth to its squad, despite an injury list that includes Paul Pogba and N&Golo Kante.
Now with Mbappé and Karim Benzema leading the attack.
No team has retained its World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.England (No.
5 in FIFA ranking).
The team has hit a bad patch of form — winless in six games — but has a strong track record in recent major tournaments.
England was a semifinalist at the World Cup in 2018 and a finalist at the European Championship in 2021.England was a semifinalist at the World Cup in 2018.BIG STARSLionel Messi, Argentina.
The seven-time world player of the year might have been saving his 35-year-old legs for one last push at a World Cup winner's medal that, to many, would solidify him as soccer's greatest player.
He is in stellar form for Paris Saint-Germain at the moment.Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal.
He has won the European Championship but the leading scorer in men's international soccer hasn''t played in a World Cup final, let alone won one.
He's 37 years old now and no longer first choice at Manchester United.Kylian Mbappé, France.
The star of the last World Cup at the age of 19 and he is only getting better.
The speedy striker could match Brazil great Pelé in being a champion at his first two World Cups.Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium.
Widely regarded as the world's best midfielder, his driving runs and crossing are among the best sights in soccer.
Belgium will be thankful he is arriving in Qatar healthy.HOW IT WORKSThere are eight groups of four teams, with the top two advancing to the 16-team knockout stage.There will be four games back-to-back per day — for most of the first two sets of group games, then simultaneous kickoffs for the last two games in each group.There&ll be no break for the knockout stage, which begins the day after the group stage ends.
The first day without a match comes on Dec.
7 — the 17th day of competition.MUST SEE GAMESQatar vs.
Ecuador, Sunday.
The first match of the tournament and always a date to save on the calendar.Argentina vs.
Mexico, Nov.
26.
The first of the big continental rivalries in the group stage, with Messi potentially sealing his and Argentina's spot in the last 16.Spain vs.
Germany, Nov.
27.
Surely there can''t have been many bigger group-stage matches than this at a World Cup? Two recent champions, two giants of European and world soccer.Iran vs.
United States, Nov.
29.
It has been labeled as &The Mother of All Games Part II.& Just like at the World Cup in 1998, the two countries will meet in the group stage in a politically charged matchup.
Diplomatic relations have yet to be restored between the nations since being severed in 1980.Ghana vs.
Uruguay, Dec.
2.
Anyone remember the night of July 2, 2010? In the last minute of extra time in a World Cup quarterfinal match between Uruguay and Ghana, Luis Suarez deliberately stopped the ball with his hand on the goalline, got sent off, only for Ghana to miss the penalty and lose in a shootout as Suarez celebrated on the sideline.
Revenge would be sweet for Ghana.INJURIESInjuries have hit some of the world's best players ahead of the tournament.Among those definitely missing are France midfielders Paul Pogba and N&Golo Kante, Germany forward Timo Werner and England defender Reece James.Thanks to Ariana Television Network, Afghan football fans will share in this extravaganza as matches will be broadcast live throughout the tournament.All you have to do is tune in to Ariana Television to get the live coverage of one of the world's greatest sporting events.For the full broadcasting schedule CLICK HEREThe post Top teams to watch through FIFA World Cup tournament first appeared on Ariana News.





Unlimited Portal Access + Monthly Magazine - 12 issues


Contribute US to Start Broadcasting - It's Voluntary!


ADVERTISE


Merchandise (Peace Series)

 


[Afghanistan] - Kazakhstan's President consults with his Afghanistan envoy as ties with Kabul deepen


[Afghanistan] - Pakistan urges inclusive governance, national agreement in Afghanistan at SCO summit


[Afghanistan] - EU-funded dam finished in Kandahar's Khakrez district, improving water access for thousands


[Afghanistan] - Ghulam Khan border crossing in Khost briefly resumed after two-week closure


Trump says Zelenskiy should not target Moscow


[Afghanistan] - AFPL: Sadaqat 2-- 1 Zaitoon, Noorzad 2-- 1 Arya Forj


[Afghanistan] - Tahawol: Mass deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran discussed


[Afghanistan] - Saar: Kabul's efforts to broaden worldwide diplomatic relations discussed


Karzai urges neighbors to halt forced deportations amid Afghanistan’s refugee crisis


[Afghanistan] - Camel tears reveal guarantee in reducing the effects of snake venom, research study finds


[Afghanistan] - IEA declares commitment to anti-drug efforts, prompts international assistance


[Afghanistan] - Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan advance plans for tactical trade corridor


[Afghanistan] - UN envoy advises immediate international reaction as Afghan returns rise


[Afghanistan] - SCO Foreign Ministers fulfill in China as member states prepare for fall top


[Afghanistan] - IEA expresses acknowledgements over death of Pashto poet Matiullah Turab


Zelenskiy names new prime minister, taps official who spearheaded US minerals deal


US appeals court temporarily upholds protected status for Afghans


[Afghanistan] - Saar: Middle East crisis and its effects discussed


[Afghanistan] - AFPL: Omid draw with Jawanan Maihan; Etihad 3-1 Perozi Panjshir


[Afghanistan] - UN envoy raises alarm over Afghanistan's widespread illiteracy


[Afghanistan] - Afghan family in India invited for breakfast by Kerala education minister


[Afghanistan] - Afghanistan aid response at breaking point, $1.4 b funding gap


Afghanistan-Pakistan trade surges 25% to nearly $2 billion in 2024


[Afghanistan] - Chelsea clinch historic FIFA Club World Cup title with commanding win over PSG


[Afghanistan] - Israeli rocket strikes Gaza kids gathering water, IDF blames breakdown


[Afghanistan] - Russia, China talk about Ukraine war and ties with the United States


[Afghanistan] - Tahawol: Efforts to assist returnees gone over


[Afghanistan] - AFPL: Zahir Asad 3-- 3 Arya Forj; Noorzad 8-- 2 Deyar Sanayee


[Afghanistan] - Saar: Kabul's broadening ties with Central Asian nations gone over


[Afghanistan] - Nadeem knocks int'l community for 'double requirements' over ICC arrest warrants


[Afghanistan] - Iran's VP: Deported Afghans can go to diplomatic objectives to pursue their claims


[Afghanistan] - IEA delegation attends global railway congress in China


[Afghanistan] - Khalilzad declines claims that China manages previous US base in Afghanistan


[Afghanistan] - Afghanistan's Education Ministry promises schooling for returnee trainees from Iran


[Afghanistan] - End of United States secured status for Afghans sparks fears of deportation


[Afghanistan] - Pakistan's Gandapur pledges more assistance to Afghanistan, including new cancer healthcare facility


[Afghanistan] - Iran states it will work with IAEA however examinations might be dangerous


[Afghanistan] - IFRC alerts one million more Afghans might be deported from Iran


[Afghanistan] - Khalilzad condemns Iran's 'ruthless' mass deportation of Afghan migrants


[Afghanistan] - Trump calls Gen. Milley an 'moron' for leaving US military devices behind in Afghanistan


[Afghanistan] - Bayat Foundation offers urgent support to Afghan returnees at Islam Qala border


Tahawol: First Afghanistan–Pakistan political consultation meeting discussed


Saar: Discussion over UN meeting on Afghanistan


[Afghanistan] - IEA turns down ICC arrest warrants for senior Afghan leaders, calls court 'illegitimate'The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan( IEA)has strongly turned down the International Criminal Court & s( ICC )statement of arrest warrants for its leadin


[Afghanistan] - Afghanistan's population approximated at 36.4 million in 2025


IEA says it will review new UN Resolution based on Islamic and national principles


[Afghanistan] - Iran's non-oil exports to Afghanistan amounted to $510 million in first quarter


[Afghanistan] - Afghan cricket umpire Bismillah Shinwari dies aged 41


[Afghanistan] - Netanyahu satisfies Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas talk about ceasefire


Tahawol: Iran’s deportation of Afghan refugees discussed


[Afghanistan] - Saar: UN General Assembly conference on Afghanistan went over


Afghanistan and Pakistan hold first round of political consultations in Islamabad


UN-led Doha meetings call for greater support for Afghan economy and counternarcotics efforts


[Afghanistan] - Pakistan in 'no rush' to acknowledge Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan


Khalilzad warns of China’s growing grip on Central Asian minerals, urges swift US action


Pakistan uncovers fake visa network in Islamabad involving Afghan nationals


Azerbaijan and Afghanistan explore expansion of trade corridors via Baku Port


FIFA Club WC: PSG, Fluminense, Real Madrid, Chelsea head to semifinals 


[Afghanistan] - Interior Ministry orders all authorities to wear main uniforms


[Afghanistan] - Russia's Lavrov fulfills Iran's Araqchi, restores deal to help fix dispute


[Afghanistan] - BRICS leaders condemn Gaza and Iran attacks, desire worldwide reforms


Death toll from Texas floods reaches 78; Trump plans visit


Tahawol: Russia’s recognition of IEA discussed


[Afghanistan] - Saar: Kabul's efforts to expand diplomatic ties talked about


35 development projects inaugurated in remote districts of Kunar


10th of Muharram observed peacefully in Afghanistan


Tajik opposition group condemns Iran for abuse of Afghan migrants, calls for probe