Ryan Gerbosi

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 
 What: 2022 FIFA World Cup Where: Qatar&nbsp;is the host country. When: Play begins Sunday with Qatar vs. Ecuador. A total of 64 matches will be played including the opener and the final on Dec. 18. When U.S. plays: Monday vs. Wales at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, 2 p.m.; Friday vs. England at Al Bayt Stadium, 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 29 vs. Iran at Al Thumama Stadium, 2 p.m. On the air: Fox; FS1. Format: 32 countries divided into eight groups. Teams play each of their groupmates, earning three points for a win and one for a draw. Two teams with most points in each group reach single-elimination Round of 16. Starting in knockout rounds, matches tied after 90 minutes will play two 15-minute extra periods, followed by a penalty shootout if still tied. Defending champion: France (Winners in 1998 and 2018) U.S. best finish: Third place (1930) About U.S. team: The Americans bring the World Cup’s second-youngest roster to Qatar. Led by fourth-year coach Gregg Berhalter, 17 members compete professionally in Europe, while the other nine play in Major League Soccer. The squad features an athletic midfield that can show its dominance with exciting players on the wings, allowing for a strong transitional attack. Weaknesses at centerback and striker could harm a team expecting to make it out of a tricky group. 
 PLAYERS TO WATCH 
 Kylian Mbappe, France: The best young player of 2018 won’t need to stand out on a loaded squad, but typically does. Neymar, Brazil: Now 30, the technically-gifted star is still the biggest threat on a strong Brazilian team. Lionel Messi, Argentina, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal: Can either all-timer finally win in likely last Cup? Harry Kane, England: 2018 Golden Boot winner aiming to bring home England’s first Cup since 1966. Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium: The elite playmaker will have to carry an aging side deep in the tournament. 
 Best from U.S.: Dynamic attacker Christian Pulisic remains the top American talent, but midfielder Yunus Musah may prove more important to Berhalter’s tactical plans alongside Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.Local connections: Joe Scally of Lake Grove, formerly of NYCFC and now with Gladbach, is the youngest player on the roster at 19 and will provide depth at fullback. Other players with area ties include Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Gio Reyna (NYCFC academy product), Aaron Long (Red Bulls), Adams (Red Bulls academy product), Musah (born in NYC), Sergi&ntilde;o Dest (born in NYC) and Tim Weah (born in NYC).

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW What: 2022 FIFA World Cup Where: Qatar is the host country. When: Play begins Sunday with Qatar vs. Ecuador. A total of 64 matches will be played including the opener and the final on Dec. 18. When U.S. plays: Monday vs. Wales at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, 2 p.m.; Friday vs. England at Al Bayt Stadium, 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 29 vs. Iran at Al Thumama Stadium, 2 p.m. On the air: Fox; FS1. Format: 32 countries divided into eight groups. Teams play each of their groupmates, earning three points for a win and one for a draw. Two teams with most points in each group reach single-elimination Round of 16. Starting in knockout rounds, matches tied after 90 minutes will play two 15-minute extra periods, followed by a penalty shootout if still tied. Defending champion: France (Winners in 1998 and 2018) U.S. best finish: Third place (1930) About U.S. team: The Americans bring the World Cup’s second-youngest roster to Qatar. Led by fourth-year coach Gregg Berhalter, 17 members compete professionally in Europe, while the other nine play in Major League Soccer. The squad features an athletic midfield that can show its dominance with exciting players on the wings, allowing for a strong transitional attack. Weaknesses at centerback and striker could harm a team expecting to make it out of a tricky group. PLAYERS TO WATCH Kylian Mbappe, France: The best young player of 2018 won’t need to stand out on a loaded squad, but typically does. Neymar, Brazil: Now 30, the technically-gifted star is still the biggest threat on a strong Brazilian team. Lionel Messi, Argentina, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal: Can either all-timer finally win in likely last Cup? Harry Kane, England: 2018 Golden Boot winner aiming to bring home England’s first Cup since 1966. Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium: The elite playmaker will have to carry an aging side deep in the tournament. Best from U.S.: Dynamic attacker Christian Pulisic remains the top American talent, but midfielder Yunus Musah may prove more important to Berhalter’s tactical plans alongside Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.Local connections: Joe Scally of Lake Grove, formerly of NYCFC and now with Gladbach, is the youngest player on the roster at 19 and will provide depth at fullback. Other players with area ties include Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Gio Reyna (NYCFC academy product), Aaron Long (Red Bulls), Adams (Red Bulls academy product), Musah (born in NYC), Sergiño Dest (born in NYC) and Tim Weah (born in NYC).

Sports

Soccer

SPWCBOX221120

2022 FIFA World Cup: Just the facts

onecms:0762071f-df72-4ffa-80df-108bb96282bf

Newsday

Soccer WCup United States

More soccer news

soccer article rail

The Italian soccer federation has talked to Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti about leading the national team.

Italy in crisis: federation sounds out Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti for coach

Premier League champion Arsenal has signed Greece forward Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge on a long-term contract.

Premier League champion Arsenal signs Greece forward Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge

U.S. President Donald Trump's role in clearing Folarin Balogun from a mandatory one-game ban at the World Cup is set to provoke a formal complaint to FIFA ethics investigators.

Trump role in World Cup red-card ruling for Balogun pushes Norway toward FIFA ethics complaint

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu will continue through next year's Asian Cup and then step away, the Japan Football Association said in a statement.

Moriyasu to continue as Japan coach and replaced after Asian Cup by Oiwa

Spanish champion Barcelona has signed forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract.

Barcelona signs forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund until 2031

More New York Sports

Sports Article Bottom Module

Newsday spoke with four former high-ranking team officials and two World Series champions to see how they would help the struggling club.

Fixing the Mets won't be easy, but it's doable; here's how

Massapequa manager Joe Sollitto said, "We are a true all-star team. To say that I'm proud of these girls is an understatement."

Massapequa softball falls to Toms River, eliminated from Little League tournament

Taylor, a rookie on the WNBA's Chicago Sky, scored a career-high 31 points on Wednesday night against the Liberty.

Huntington's Sydney Taylor puts on show in front of family and friends at Barclays Center

He struck out seven in five scoreless innings and took a no-decision in the Yankees' 2-0 win over the Pirates to gain a doubleheader split.

More soccer news

Stay logged in.