Qatar had to wait 4371 days to play their first World Cup match on home soil after being announced as the hosts of the 2022 tournament by FIFA on December 2, 2010.
And now the tournament they have waited so long for is in danger of being over in just nine days.
Qatar lost the opening match of the 2022 World Cup when they fell 3-1 to Ecuador.
That left them requiring a positive result against Senegal, the reigning African champions, in their second match of the tournament.
But, despite an improved performance, Qatar were defeated again, losing 3-1, leaving them on the verge of being eliminated from their own tournament at the first hurdle.
But are the hosts definitely out? And are they in danger of being the worst host nation in the 92-year history of the tournament? We take a look below.
Have Qatar been knocked out of the World Cup?
No. Not mathematically speaking, at least.
Qatar’s second loss leaves them bottom of Group A with zero points. Their group stage rivals — Netherlands, Ecuador and Senegal — all have three.
Netherlands and Ecuador have only played one match, however, and are due to clash later on Friday.
If that game ends in a draw, Qatar are out, as they will be unable to surpass four points.
But if that game ends in a win for Ecuador, Qatar are in with a shout. But they would need to deliver one of the greatest upsets in the history of the tournament by beating the Netherlands in their final game.
They would also need to beat them in style.
Qatar’s goal difference currently stands at minus four. Senegal’s stands at zero while the Netherlands’ is plus two. So they would require at least a six-goal swing to squeak through on goal difference.
Are they the worst host nation in the history of the World Cup?
They are in serious danger of being the worst host nation in the history of the World Cup in performance terms, yes.
South Africa became the first host nation to fail to escape the group stage when they hosted the tournament in 2010. In their defence, they were drawn in that year’s ‘group of death’, along with Uruguay, Mexico and France.
And South Africa equipped themselves well: drawing 1-1 with Mexico, losing 3-0 to Uruguay and memorably winning 2-1 against France to finish third, only to be eliminated on goal difference.
But they ended up with four points and did not finish bottom of the table, which means Qatar need to win their last game to avoid the unwanted distinction of being the worst host nation in the tournament’s history.
What about the other host nations?
The full record of host nations at the World Cup finals is as follows:
- 1930: Uruguay – Winner
- 1934: Italy – Winner
- 1938: France – Eliminated in the quarterfinals
- 1950: Brazil – Eliminated in the final
- 1954: Switzerland – Eliminated in the quarterfinals
- 1958: Sweden – Eliminated in the final
- 1962: Chile – Eliminated in the semifinals
- 1966: England – Winner
- 1970: Mexico – Eliminated in the quarterfinals
- 1974: West Germany – Winner
- 1978: Argentina – Winner
- 1982: Spain – Eliminated in the second group stage
- 1986: Mexico – Eliminated in the quarterfinals
- 1990: Italy – Eliminated in the semifinals
- 1994: United States – Eliminated in the Round of 16
- 1998: France – Winner
- 2002: Japan, South Korea – Both eliminated in the knockout stage
- 2006: Germany – Eliminated in the semifinals
- 2010: South Africa – Eliminated in the group stage
- 2014: Brazil – Eliminated in the semifinals
- 2018: Russia – Eliminated in the quarterfinals
Source link: https://theathletic.com/3934896/2022/11/25/qatar-hosts-world-cup-group-qualifying/
