The FIFA World Cup 2022
Sport is a universal bond that brings the world together. Football, in particular, is one of the most popular sports, with a worldwide viewership of 1.5 billion. This number has only been increasing, with 1.2 billion viewers in 2018 and 1.01 billion in 2014. The sport is also very lucrative, with top clubs paying their player’s massive salaries. The English Premier League, in particular, is highly popular and attracts millions of dollars worth of deals for players.
The FIFA World Cup, held every four years, is one of the biggest events in the world of football. In the most recent edition, Argentina won the tournament for the third time, earning a prize of 344 crore rupees. France, the runner-up, earned 248 crore rupees, while Croatia, the third-placed team, earned 223 crore rupees. Morocco, the fourth-placed team, earned 206 crore rupees, while teams placed 5th to 8th earned 140 crore rupees each and teams placed 9th to 16th earned 114 crore rupees each. Even teams that did not progress past the group stage earned 74 crore rupees each.
Despite the controversy surrounding the allocation of the World Cup to Qatar, a small country by European standards, and the change of schedule from June-July to November-December, the event was a success. Argentina’s victory was particularly memorable, with their star player, Lionel Messi, cementing his place as one of the greatest footballers of all time alongside legends like Pele and Maradona. The final match was a rollercoaster ride, with Argentina in possession of the ball for more than 70% of the game until the 80th minute, when French player Kylian Mbappé scored twice in quick succession to level the score. In the end, Argentina emerged victorious, thanks in part to the efforts of their goalkeeper.
In India, despite having no stakes in the World Cup, 110 million viewers watched the event on digital platforms, with 40 billion Indian minutes devoted to Sports18 and JioCinema. This demonstrates the passion for football in the country and serves as a reminder that it is a team game, where individual brilliance is not enough and only the winners on the podium matter. In comparison to other countries, India’s sports infrastructure and facilities lag behind, with sports being seen as a part-time activity rather than a career. It is time for introspection and for India to examine what other countries with smaller populations are achieving in sports and consider how they can also succeed.
