The World Cup Over Time
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It's the biggest event in football. The World Cup is always highly anticipated, but this year, things will be different. The action will take place in Qatar, and because temperatures in June and July can soar to 41°C, the tournament will happen from November-December. This is the first time the World Cup will be held in winter.
Twenty-nine teams have qualified for the World Cup 2022, including England and France. Pubs and bars across the Isle of Wight will screen the matches in the winter months, although they are expected to be quieter, as it'll be outside the peak tourism period. The cold weather may encourage people to watch from home, and put money on teams to win instead. Fans can check and compare the odds for bets via sites like Oddschecker, so they know they're getting the best option. Bets are usually placed online, but sweepstakes at workplaces have also become popular in recent years, allowing colleagues to play together.
Here are a few highlights from the World Cup's long history.
Highlights
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1. South Korea Beats Italy
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Who could've seen this coming? South Korea hosted in 2002, automatically qualifying. However, their prior positions always left them in the group stage - 20th in 1986, 22nd in 1990, 20th in 1994, and 30th in 1998. They made it to 4th place in 2002, shocking everyone when they beat Italy 2-1.
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2. Carlos Alberto's 1970 Goal
​Known by many as a 'wondergoal', it was the fourth and final goal from Brazil in the 1970 World Cup Final. The ball was first passed between several players, all tackling Italy towards the goal. Carlos Alberto Torres then pelted it dramatically across the pitch and scored. It's seen as the perfect example of a well-managed team working in sync.
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The goal was voted the 36th greatest sporting moment by the UK public. Carlos Alberto was famously proud of this standout goal and he is still considered one of the greatest Brazilian players of all time.
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3. Fans Celebrate Win on the Isle of Wight
In June 2018, the Isle of Wight Festival welcomed 72,000 attendees - the highest recorded number to date. During the festival, on 24th June, a sea of football fans formed at the BT Sport Field of Dreams to watch Panama vs. England on the big screen. The explosive reaction to England's win was captured on video and included fans cheerfully throwing their caps in the air and letting off flares.
The magical moment was widely reported in the press, with temperatures that summer sky-high on both the island and the mainland.
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What we can expect this year
As the matches are happening during the UK's winter, we won't get any more sun-kissed moments at the Isle of Wight Festival. However, it's been speculated that the time of year may affect how well some countries will play, and temporarily change Christmas pub culture.
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These three moments show that it's impossible to predict things in football. Out-there moments and surprising goals are common in the beautiful game, always keeping things interesting for fans.
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