FIFA World Cup 2022 Teams 5

Canada

A goal is all that Canada requires to create history in Qatar.

The Canadian national men's football team has reached the World Cup for the second time, following their first and only appearance in Mexico in 1986.

However, the team failed to score a single goal in three games (all defeats) during the tournament's first phase 36 years ago, laying the stage for what may be a historical event in Qatar 2022.

They only need to discover the net's backside.

"The first attempt in 1986 was certainly less than spectacular," said Alan McDougall, a history professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario and the author of Contested Fields: A Global History of Modern Football.

Canada faces its first massive test on Wednesday as it takes on Belgium, the world's second-ranked team, at Al-Rayyan Stadium in its first campaign encounter.

Only once have the two countries played each other, with Belgium winning 2-0 in an international friendly in Ottawa in 1989.

This time, the 41st-ranked Canadian squad will be hoping for a lift from Alphonso Davies, their 22-year-old sensation who just suffered a hamstring injury while playing Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

The first opportunity will come on Wednesday against Belgium, followed by games against Croatia on November 27 and Morocco on December 1.

Morocco

Morocco coach Walid Regragui revealed a 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup 2022, featuring five players from big European clubs.

Chelsea striker Hakim Ziyech, Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi, Bayern Munich's Nosair Mazraoui, Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and Marseille forward Amin Harit, who was born in France, are among these players. Except for Mazraoui, the remaining five players competed in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Morocco qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022 with a 5-2 victory against Congo DR in the third round of CAF World Cup qualifiers. Morocco qualified for the World Cup for the sixth time but has never won the competition.

Making its second straight appearance in the FIFA World Cup, it wants to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time since 1996.

Morocco plays in Group F and will face the runner-up from 2018. Croatia, Belgium, and Canada

Morocco is one of five African nations chosen to compete in the world's most prestigious soccer competition. Morocco will be making its sixth appearance in the CAF World Cup following a remarkable run in the qualifications that ended with a 5 - 2 defeat against Congo. Before we go any further, let's take a look at the team's background.

Croatia

Croatia's World Cup 2022 lineup has been confirmed, with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric poised to captain his country in Qatar.

Croatia may actually have a better squad than the one that reached the 2018 final, thanks to a good mix of seasoned veterans and intriguing recruits - not all of whom are necessarily young guns.

The Vatreni are also extremely fragile, capable of exploding at the group stage as well as reaching the final. Modric is back for one more World Cup with Ivan Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Dejan Lovren by his side, but most of the group has been revamped and revitalized.

Croatia, drawn in Group F, will fancy their chances against Morocco, Belgium, and Canada, and they'll certainly be a side others would prefer to avoid in the knockout rounds if they advance.

Croatia has operated with a new team for most of the route to the Qatar World Cup 2022, with only nine of last year's runners-up making the final roster - which is a positive thing. Many newcomers immediately established their value, including Atalanta winger Mario Pasalic and highly touted Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, and the process was only accelerated in June with Nations League victories away to France and Denmark. Croatia overcame Denmark at home and away thanks to goals from newcomers Pasalic, Borna Sosa, and Lovro Majer.

Croatia also appears to be in strong form heading into the competition, having won their past four games, including a 1-0 win away to France (who defeated them to World Cup triumph four years ago) in the Nations League finals, which they will play in next summer.

However, there are other flaws in the team that the opponent will attempt to exploit. There are no competent goalkeepers, and there is no proven scoring presence up front. They've had their fair share of structural issues in the build-up, and they can be vulnerable while defending set pieces as well.

Brazil

Late Saturday, Neymar and the rest of Brazil's World Cup team landed in Doha. The aircraft from Turin, Italy, where the South Americans had been stationed this week, landed around 23:00 local time (21:00GMT). In quest of a sixth world title, Brazil had a fantastic qualification campaign, going undefeated and finishing first in the single South American qualifying group. Tite's team was the last of the 32 to arrive for the World Cup, which begins on Sunday with the hosts taking on Ecuador.

Brazil, who were eliminated by Belgium in the quarterfinals of the 2018 edition in Russia, will kick up their campaign against Serbia next Thursday.

Brazil won the World Cup 20 years ago, led by the offensive trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho.

The class of 2022 will hold its first practice session at Al Arabi Stadium on Sunday evening.

Neymar, the world's most expensive player, lines up for his third World Cup in excellent form for his French club, Paris Saint-Germain.

They are unbeaten in their past 15 games. Brazil last lost to Argentina in the Copa America final in 2021 in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium, to Lionel Messi.

Brazil is in Group G with the Serbs, Switzerland, and Cameroon, all of whom they faced four years ago.

Brazil's arrival in Qatar concludes a substantial and long period of effort for FIFA and the organizers who are in charge of the logistics surrounding each team's entrance.

In fact, four teams — Japan, Canada, Switzerland, and Morocco - arrived in Doha twice for this FIFA World Cup, first arriving in Qatar before going for international friendlies in the area, and then returning.

Because of the added complications for these four teams, Hamad International Airport welcomed 32 charter planes carrying team representatives, while several nations arrived in Qatar solely on commercial flights.

Serbia

Serbia has been a consistent World Cup contender since 2010, with Qatar 2022 being their third berth in the previous four tournaments. Serbia dominated qualifying, finishing first in Group A, ahead of Portugal.

Serbia is in Group G with Brazil, Switzerland, and Cameroon, and will kick off its campaign against Brazil on November 25. After losing out on Euro 2020, Serbia will be keen to show the world what they are capable of at the forthcoming World Cup. Head coach Dragan Stojkovic, on the other hand, has a plethora of qualities at his disposal and will be quietly confident in bringing his squad through the group stages.

Serbia was represented (together with Montenegro) in the new FR Yugoslavia national football team after the collapse of SFR Yugoslavia and its football team in 1992. Despite qualifying for Euro 92, the squad was barred from competing owing to international penalties, with the verdict also applying to World Cup 94 and Euro 96 qualifiers. The national team played its first friendly match in December 1994, and with the lifting of sanctions, the golden generation of the 1990s was able to compete in the World Cup in 1998, reaching the round of 16, and the Euro 2000 quarter-finals. The national team competed in the FIFA World Cup competitions in 2006, 2010, and 2018, but failed to advance past the group stage on all three occasions.

They are currently competing in the World Cup 2022.

Serbia began qualification in March 2021 with a 3-2 win over the Republic of Ireland in Belgrade. Serbia defeated Azerbaijan 2-1 in Baku after a 2-2 tie with Portugal. Because of the mixed results, Serbia needed to beat Portugal to advance from the group. Serbia met Portugal in the Estádio da Luz on November 14, 2021, trailing by a goal. However, an equalizer by Duan Tadi and a crucial goal by Aleksandar Mitrovic in the waning minutes of the second half guaranteed Serbia a trip to Qatar.

Switzerland

Switzerland advanced from their group at the previous FIFA World Cup, and they are likely to do so again this year. Switzerland is grouped alongside Brazil, Serbia, and Cameroon in Group G. While this is not the easiest group, Switzerland is likely to go beyond the group stages and into the knockout rounds.

Switzerland goalie Yann Sommer was instrumental in the team's success at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and Swiss supporters will be hoping that the Monchengladbach goalkeeper can help them go even further this time.

Murat Yakin is Switzerland's head coach. Murat Yakin was named Switzerland's next head coach in August 2021. This is not Yakin's first managerial position. Before becoming Switzerland's head coach, he managed prestigious clubs such as Basel and Spartak Moscow.

Switzerland is preparing for its fifth consecutive World Cup campaign in Qatar, having advanced past the group stages in three of its previous four efforts. The Swiss have only ever made it to the quarter-finals three times (1934, 1938, 1954). The Swiss took a senior squad to the last World Cup and are making the trip to Qatar without a few familiar stalwarts like now-retired Stephan Lichtsteiner and Valon Behrami, but fresh faces have stepped up to lead, and the Swiss will be a tenacious, well-drilled side once again.

However, they have a difficult battle in the World Cup, as they have been matched with pre-tournament favorites Brazil, as well as Cameroon and Serbia. Murat Yakin has announced his final 26-man roster for Qatar, including numerous Premier League players.