Costa Rica claimed the final spot for the 2022 Qatar World Cup with a 1-0 victory over New Zealand, completing the 32 finalists, so who will be the ones to watch during the group stage?
France will use their second title to kick off the tournament at the Al Thumama Stadium on November 21. Senegal defeats the Netherlands in the opening match, ahead of England, and Qatar, which defeated Ecuador, and the USA, who defeated Wales.
Wales lost their flight to the Middle East after defeating Ukraine in the UEFA play-off final. Poland clinched their spot at the World Cup after defeating Sweden in the Path B final, while Portugal defeated North Macedonia to triumph in the Path C.
Costa Rica is the last of the 32 countries to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Costa Rica was the last country to qualify for the World Cup after defeating New Zealand in the intercontinental play-off. Los Ticos took an early lead during their clash in Doha on June 14, when Joel Campbell put Luis Fernando Suarez'' side ahead in the third-minute.
Costa Rica joined Spain, Germany, and Japan in Group E, while Wales entered Group B with England, Iran, and the United States. Portugal is in Group H with Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea, and Poland will contest Group C with Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico.
Qatar and Ecuador have a partnership with Group A with the Netherlands and Senegal, while France will witness in their World Cup title defense with Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia in Group D. Croatia, who won in the 2018 final in Russia, is in group F, versus Belgium, Canada, and Morocco.
Brazil will win their first group title since 2002, according to the record five-time champions. So, with all 32 spots already occupied for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, who is one player to watch out for in each country in the group stage?
Group A will host Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands, so here''s what you can watch.
Almoez Ali will be one of the first players to compete against Qatar during the World Cup in 2022, having set a new high in international football. He has scored 36 goals in 76 caps, leading his country to the semifinal of the 2021 Gold Cup before defeating the United States.
When the footballing world returns to the Middle East, Byron Castillo will continue to showcase his potential on the international stage. He has accumulated 10-caps for Ecuador since his debut in 2021, and made his first move away this June to join Leon in Mexico.
Pape Gueye will hope to lead Senegal in Group A after making his international debut in 2021. He had a fantastic start in Aliou Cisses'' squad in February, winning the Africa Cup of Nations so far.
Following his international debut in 2021, Noa Lang will be one to watch the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar. Louis van Gaal has held the 23-year-old to a squad position across the forwards five-caps to date, but Lang scored his maiden goal this June.
Group B with England, Iran, USA, and Wales will be on hand.
After a spectacular spell for West Ham, Gareth Southgate gave Jarrod Bowen his England debut in June. He led 18 goals and assisted 13 in all competitions, and he will now hope to maintain his output next season, presumably to get a seat on the plane to Qatar.
After his 21-year-old debut in March, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh made his debut into international recognition with eight goals from 30 Persian Gulf Pro League matches. With Esteghlal in 2021/22, the midfielder has partnered with Iran for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The first World Cup to be held in the Middle East might be the global making of Dallas star Jesus Ferreira. He offers USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter a different and dynamische option at center-forward than Americas other strikers, and has scored seven goals in 13 games so far.
Neco Williams was one of Wales'' most under-the-radar yet key players as he beat Ukraine. He was always thorough at covering every blade of grass and made a powerful intervention to protect Andriy Yarmolenko. Rob Page is optimistic that the 21-year-old will be as successful in Qatar.
Group C will feature Argentine, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland.
Julian Alvarez is one to watch during the group stage as Argentina heads to Qatar for a first World Cup since 1986. He made his Albiceleste debut in 2021 and has now reached nine caps, doubling his River Plate appearances to Manchester City.
Firas Al-Buraikan will meet with Saudi Arabia in a ceremony to announce his name to the world. The 22-year-old has yet to play domestic games outside of his native country. However, the striker has demonstrated he can provide a threat on the international stage with four goals from 15 games.
Marcelo Flores has one to watch for Mexico as the Arsenal wonderkid continues to establish an international presence. The 18-year-old has three-caps since his debut in December, and the midfielder was the tournament''s most well-known player as El Tris U20s won the 2021 Revelations Cup.
After his 2021 season at Roma, Nicola Zalewski is proving wise and intending to make a return to Poland''s squad. Jose Mourinho, the five-cap pick, made his Bialo-czerwoni debut in September.
Group D has a few things to keep an eye on: France, Denmark, Tunisia, and Australia.
William Saliba will be one to watch France during the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar. In March, the centre-half received his Bleus debut as a reward for his excellent performances at Marseille on loan, where the 21-year-old showed a strong ability in duels and a remarkable speed.
Rasmus Kristensen is the only Danish player who has signed by Kasper Hjulmand since 2020. He made his Rod-Hvide debut in September, and has so far made eight appearances, including a 10 million move from RB Salzburg to Leeds United this June.
Hannibal Mejbri made his Tunisia debut in June 2021, but the Manchester United player has already played 16 games. The 19-year-old also enjoyed his Red Devils bow during 2021, returning to the starting line in April at Old Trafford.
Nathaniel Atkinson made his big debut to the Scottish Premiership side Hearts in January, before making his big debut for Australia. In March, the 23-year-old joined the Socceroos, defeating Peru in a World Cup match.
Group E has a few things to say about Spain, Germany, Japan, and Costa Rica.
Gavi is rapidly becoming more than one to watch, even though the Barcelona midfielder is just 17. He made his senior Blaugrana bow in August and finished the 2021/22 season with six assists in 47 games. He also made his first of his 10 Spania caps in October.
Luis Enrique has started Gavi in eight of his Roja appearances, as well as saw the teen net his first goal against the Czech Republic this June. It made him the youngest player to score as well as feature for Spain, after which Enrique was rewarded with respect.
According to Goal, it is an unusual volcano. It is very difficult not to fall in love with Gavi. Any fan wants to see him play. He picks up everything very quickly.
Jamal Musiala has made 15 appearances at just 19 as part of his team''s first-team team, completing a combined 15 goals and seven assists in 78 games.
Kaoru Mitoma is at a different stage of his club career than Gavi and Musiala on the international stage. On the international stage, the Brighton-owned forward had to wait until November 2021 for his Japan debut and is recuperating from losing time with four goals and two assists in seven-caps.
Daniel Chacon has only splied his trade on the international stage for Costa Rica since January 2022. Yet the 21-year-old centre-half has already recovered seven-caps from nine possible games, including a play-off victory against New Zealand.
Group F offers one thing to watch with Belgium, Canada, Morocco, and Croatia.
Roberto Martinez scored 23 goals in 49 games against Wales and Poland in June compared to the 22-year-old at the age of 12.
Tajon Buchanan made his Canada debut last June after winning the MLS Draft in 2019 and thrived to earn a $7 million (6 million) transfer to Club Brugge. The 23-year-old forward has also scored four goals and six assists in 24 games.
Azzedine Ounahi will feature on Morocco''s 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This January, the 22-year-old landed his international debut after impressing in Ligue 1 with SC Angers, and has so far offered two goals through seven-caps across a variety of midfield roles.
Borna Sosa has emerged as one of Bundesliga''s most promising left-backs after offering the fourth-most crosses from open play (10) in 2021/22 for Stuttgart. Yet the 24-year-old had to wait until September for his Croatia bow, but has had all six of his outings so far.
Group G will focus on Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon.
Gabriel Martinelli is already a striker at Arsenal, but the 20-year-old is still one to watch with Brazil ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He made his debut in March, but he is still having a difficult time starting an international game through three goals.
Aleksa Terzic is still striving to establish himself at home at Fiorentina, yet the 22-year-old is already an international regular. Dragan Stojkovic gave the left-back his bow last June and has kept the Belgrade native in and around his squad for five-caps.
Jordan Lotomba made his international debut for Switzerland in October 2020. However, the 23-year-old has struggled to maintain a regular position in the A-Team team over the years. The Nice right-back has only seven caps, but is expected to return to the game in 2022.
Christopher Wooh is one to watch in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This June, the 20-year-old made his international debut and is starting to develop a first-team career with RC Lens after scoring 11 starts from 14 Ligue 1 games in 2022.
Group H with Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea is on the lookout for other countries.
Vitinha will compete with Portugal during the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He made his debut on Selecao during his nations play-off final victory against North Macedonia this March, before earning two additional caps in the Nations League in June.
Edmund Addo made his Ghana debut in November, and Otto Addo will now take the lead on the FC Sheriff midfielder in the Middle East. The 22-year-old has now started four of his eight-caps so far, and has only missed one of the players he has ever met.
Penarol paid 9.2 million to sign Facundo Pellistri in October 2020 at the age of 19. He then joined Deportivo Alaves on loan in January 2021 and for the 2021/22, proving well for his Uruguay debut in January and his first six-caps for three assists.
Wooyeong Jeong has featured for South Korea at the U14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, and 23s levels and is now embarking on his senior career. Last March, the 20-year-old Freiburg striker made his bow, but is beginning to hold a more regular role, while offering two goals in six-caps.
