The excitement of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is truly ongoing. It’s the world’s biggest international soccer tournament(比赛)and also the most-watched sporting event in the world. There are 32 teams competing for championship. The tournament of 2022 looks to be particularly unique. What makes it different from the ones before?
For starters, it’s the first time the tournament has been held in the Middle East after Qatar beat other host competitors − the US, South Korea, Japan and Australia back in 2010. It’s also the first time in history the tournament has happened during the Northern Hemisphere(北半球)winter months, from Nov 20 to Dec 18.
That’s because Qatar is a desert country, and in summer the temperature can be as high as 42 ℃. That’s too hot to play outdoor sports. But it will still be pretty warm in winter. The temperature in the stadium is expected to be around 20 ℃ to 30 ℃. Air conditioning will help to keep it cooler.
Qatar is also the smallest nation by area hosting the cup. They play the first match of the tournament, facing Ecuador. It’s Qatar’s first-ever FIFV World Cup game. This makes them the first to perform their debut(首秀)game since Italy in 1934!
There are some new challenges for many players too. Apart from the hot weather, for European teams like England, France, Germany and Spain, it’s only just over a year since their last big international tournament, the UEFA Champions League.
According to FIFA’s rankings, the favorites to win the tournament this year are Brazil, followed by Argentina and France. Do you know who has had the last laugh?
【小题1】What can we learn about FIFA World Cup?| A．It is held every year. |
| B．It is the biggest international football tournament. |
| C．It is disliked by countries in the Middle East. |
| D．It is the most-watched sporting event only in Qatar. |
| A．32. | B．4. | C．5. | D．3. |
| A．It is the first time it has been held in Asia. |
| B．It is the first time Qatar and Italy have had a debut game. |
| C．It is the first time the players have met no problems. |
| D．It is the first time it has happened from November to December. |
| A．The FIFA World Cup | B．Qatar’s Unique World Cup |
| C．The Popularity of FIFA | D．The Development of Football |
