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FIFA World Cup presentation ceremony in pictures: Argentina clinches title, Messi wins Golden Ball

Here are the best moments from the fifa world cup presentation ceremony as argentina beat france and lifted the trophy to end a 36-year wait..

Published : Dec 19, 2022 01:20 IST

The wait ends: Argentina beat France 4-2 in penalty shootout to clinch the World Cup title. PHOTO: Reuters

Let that sink in: Messi, the golden ball winner, kisses the World cup trophy while walking off to pose with his individual achievement award. PHOTO: AP

End of the GOAT debate?: Lionel Messi became the first ever player to win the Golden Ball twice, having won the first won in 2014.

Eyes on the prize: Emiliano Martinez poses with the World Cup with his daughter, Ava. PHOTO: AP

You can’t do that Emi: Emiliano Martinez lets his wild side out after receiving the Golden Glove award. The Aston Villa keeper put in an ever important save in the dying minutes of extra-time. PHOTO: Reuters

Greatness in the reckoning: Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was adjudged the World Cup 2022 Young Player of the Tournament. PHOTO: Reuters

Agony: A dejected Kylian Mbappe walks past the World Cup trophy after getting his Golden Boot award. The 23-year-old scored eight goals this tournament, including a hat-trick in the final. PHOTO: Getty Images

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What channel is the World Cup trophy ceremony on? How to watch as Fox broadcast switches to NFL

Argentina has been crowned as champion of the 2022 World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout win over France and will be awarded the trophy as the winner of soccer's most prestigious event. 

Many around the world will be wanting to watch the trophy ceremony. Because of a quirk in the broadcasting schedule, viewers in the U.S. will have to switch channels in order to do that.

Here's a breakdown of how to watch the World Cup trophy presentation:

MORE:  Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

What channel is the World Cup trophy ceremony on?

• TV channel:  FS1
• Live stream (English):  fuboTV , FoxSports.com, Fox Sports app
• Live stream (Spanish):  fuboTV ,   Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Peacock

The World Cup trophy ceremony will air on FS1 after the France vs. Argentina game ends. FS1 is an affiliate of Fox — which aired the entire World Cup Final — and has broadcast numerous games during the 2022 World Cup.

A live stream of the trophy presentation will be available in both English and Spanish on fuboTV,  which offers a free trial for new users . The other primary streaming options for this contest are through the Fox Sports app or FoxSports.com.

Viewers can stream Telemundo's Spanish broadcast of the trophy ceremony with  fuboTV , Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, or Peacock.

Why isn't Fox airing the World Cup trophy ceremony?

Fox isn't airing the World Cup trophy ceremony because the final went to extra time and then a penalty shootout. It's Sunday, so Fox is pivoting to its usual coverage of the NFL — starting with an abbreviated version of its usual pregame show.

As such, the World Cup final will end and Fox will go straight to its pregame show as it transitions into the 1 p.m. ET window of NFL games. And because of that, FS1 will pick up where Fox's World Cup broadcast left off during the trophy presentation.

Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News.

Argentina wins World Cup on penalty kicks over France

A World Cup final for the ages delivered a crowning glory for soccer icon Lionel Messi on Sunday as Argentina beat reigning men's champion France on penalty kicks.

One of the most dramatic major sporting events in history had the teams tied 3-3 after extra time, with the French ultimately missing twice in the shootout before Gonzalo Montiel converted to seal an exhausting and emotional victory.

Argentina had dominated the bulk of the match, leading 2-0 with just about 10 minutes to go, but France burst into life with star forward Kylian Mbappé scoring twice in as many minutes. Both sides traded missed chances and then late goals again in the 30 minutes of extra time before the tension of penalty kicks.

The game capped a month of sporting drama and geopolitical controversy in Qatar. The tournament featured surprise results and fairy-tale runs , but the final had two giants of the game compete for the title — headlined by a pair of stars.

The speedy and skillful Mbappé solidified his claim as the young pretender to Messi’s throne, scoring a hat trick as France came so close to being the first team to go back to back since Brazil in 1962.

But ultimately, it was Messi, 35, who took the glory, securing the trophy that cements his status as perhaps the game's greatest ever player by sealing a third title for his soccer-mad country.

Afterward, he said he isn’t through.

“I’m not retiring from the national team. I want to continue playing as a champion,” Messi said in a Spanish-language  interview with TyC Sports  after the final. “It’s the most beautiful thing there is.”

Follow our live coverage here.

What to know about the World Cup final

• Argentina wins on penalty kicks after a dramatic final ended 3-3 in extra time.
• France scored twice in 90 seconds late in the game to stun Argentina and tie the final.
• Argentina led 2-0 at the half thanks to goals from Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi.
• Sunday's final took place in Lusail, a city fast-tracked into existence for the World Cup, which has been clouded by criticism of host Qatar's human rights record , as well as the environmental and financial cost of the tournament.

Photo: Lionel Messi holds the trophy

Golden Ball awarded to Lionel Messi

David K. Li

Lionel Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, recognizing him as the tournament's most outstanding player.

Moments after being given the honor, Messi kissed the World Cup.

The resume is complete: Messi has his World Cup trophy

Teammates mobbed the great Lionel Messi moments after the winning kick, knowing he can no longer be dogged by the one trophy not on his mantle.

Despite being a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and a member of 10 Spanish League championship teams and four UEFA Champions League-winning sides, fans back home in Argentina had long held that missing World Cup trophy against him.

Argentina won last year's Copa America , but fans weren't satisfied until Sunday, when Messi's side won the sport's ultimate prize.

ARGENTINA WINS THE WORLD CUP

Gonzalo Montiel converts his penalty, and a dramatic final is won by Lionel Messi and his team!

FRANCE SCORES

Randal Kolo Muani ensures this isn't over just yet.

ARGENTINA SCORES

Leandro Paredes makes it 3-1. One away ...

FRANCE MISSES

Aurelien Tchouameni hits it wide, and France has missed 2 out of 3!

Photos: Fans watch as World Cup heads to penalty shootout

It's advantage Argentina! Paulo Dybala scores.

FRANCE MISSES!!

Kingsley Coman has his penalty saved by Emi Martinez!

MESSI SCORES! IT'S 1-1

We are tied on penalty kicks after 1 each.

Mbappé Scores! 1-0 TO FRANCE

Messi next ...

Kylian Mbappé to take first

He's scored two penalties already. Can he again?

Mbappé only second player to hat trick in World Cup final

Doha Madani

France's Kylian Mbappé is the first player in more than 50 years to score three goals in a World Cup final.

Mbappé, 23, scored two back-to-back goals at 80 minutes to tie the game after an early deficit for France. HE once again saved Les Bleus’ chances with a penalty kick goal.

England's Geoff Hurst was previously the only player to ever score a hat trick in a World Cup final. He was 24 when he made history against West Germany in 1966.

World Cup to be won on penalties

The 2022 World Cup final will be decided on penalty kicks after Argentina and France could not be separated at the end of extra time.

The shootout will bring back bitter memories for French fans, as the last World Cup to be decided by penalties was France's 2006 loss to Italy. Argentina may have a slight edge, having just won a quarterfinal in a shootout against the Netherlands.

Both teams have scored penalties in the game, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the decisive shootout.

Both teams miss huge chances to win it

First Argentina goalie Emi Martinez thwarts France with an incredible save, then Argentina pours forward and Lautaro Martinez heads wide.

One final twist?

We have three more minutes of a truly stunning final. Can someone win it before penalty kicks?

The NFL must go on as scheduled

English-language viewers in the U.S. will probably have to change channels if they want to see the World Cup trophy presentation.

With 1 p.m. ET NFL kickoffs approaching, postmatch action from Qatar will likely shift from Fox to Fox Sports 1.

It's 3-3. Kylian Mbappé scores again and we are tied!

The French forward sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and has a hat trick in the World Cup final.

PENALTY TO FRANCE

The drama isn't over ... it's a handball.

GOAL ARGENTINA

Lionel Messi has the ball in the net, and Argentina's players go wild.

There were suggestions of a potential offside in the buildup, but the goal stands, and Argentina leads this dramatic World Cup final 3-2 with 10 minutes of extra time to go.

Argentina misses chances

Argentina came close with a flurry of chances to end the first period of extra time.

Substitute forward Lautaro Martinez was twice played in behind the French line but missed thanks to a combination of desperate defending and wayward finishing.

The weekend of comebacks: Vikings and Les Bleus

The Minnesota Vikings scored the greatest comeback in NFL history on Saturday, and now France is on the verge of another historic rally.

The comparison wasn't lost on American sports fans.

Penalty kicks will follow if no winner after extra time

France and Argentina will be given two additional halves of 15 minutes to decide this final, and the match would go to penalty kicks if there's no winner after that.

The last World Cup final decided by a shootout was in 2006, when France lost to Italy.

Extra time underway

As if 90 minutes wasn't exhausting enough ... we're back underway for 30 more.

Messi almost wins it at the death

Messi may be 35, but he still has enough left in the tank to come oh so close to glory in the dying moments.

After consistent French pressure, a rare Argentina attack in the 96th minute saw the ball fall to Messi in a central position about 25 yards out. He struck a fierce shot that was just a little too close to French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who parried it away to ensure we would head to extra time.

90 minutes not enough to crown World Cup winner

France and Argentina are headed for at least 30 more minutes of play with the score tied, 2-2.

Extra time in the World Cup final is far from uncommon, as Germany needed more than 90 minutes to defeat Argentina, 1-0, for the 2014 crown in Brazil. Mario Götze scored in the 114th minute for the Germans.

Photos: Kylian Mbappé's  back-to-back goals

8 minutes of added time

The officials have added eight minutes on at the end here.

Is there time for one last dramatic twist, or are we heading for an extra 30?

Argentina gives up lead, echoing mistakes in Netherlands game

Soccer fans are in disbelief as France rallied from 2-0 goal deficit with back-to-back goals from Kylian Mbappé at about 80 minutes of play.

Argentina is echoing mistakes it made in the game against the Netherlands earlier in the tournament. The Dutch team equalized the game with two late goals in the quarterfinal. Argentina scraped a win on penalty kicks to advance to the semifinals.

France's comeback was unlikely after it had given up so much of the momentum to Argentina early in the game, but clearly not impossible.

Incredible. Kylian Mbappé has scored again, a second goal in two minutes.

A remarkable turnaround from the reigning champs, barely threatening for 80 minutes but bursting into life to level the final and stun Argentina.

It's 2-1 with 10 minutes to go after Kylian Mbappé converts the penalty kick.

Hugo Lloris staying busy, keeping France's slim hopes alive

Lloris, the French captain, has made four saves for Les Bleus, limiting what could be an even more one-sided match.

On the other side of the pitch, Argentina's Emiliano Martínez has not yet needed to stop an on-target French shot.

France has a golden chance to get back in the final!

Nicolas Otamendi brought down Randal Kolo Muani inside the area, and after failing to threaten for 80 minutes, the holders have a chance.

France finally takes a shot on goal after an hour of play

Kylian Mbappé took the first shot on goal for France at the 70-minute mark of Sunday's final match.

Les Bleus are being devastated by the Argentine team, which has taken nine shots on goal and leads 2-0. It's been an abysmal attempt to keep the title of reigning champions by France despite a strong defense and a lineup of stars.

Hugo Lloris making two big plays to keep match within sight

Julián Álvarez's left-footed blast from a short angle was saved nicely by Hugo Lloris in the 59th minute.

Then, moments later, Lloris made a desperate sliding clearance to keep the ball away from Alexis Mac Allister and what could have been another goal for Argentina.

Argentina eases its attack, plays keepaway from France

In a big shift in tactics, Argentina came into the second half taking its time as it looks to secure its lead without exhausting its players.

The team came back after the break and appeared to be slowing down the pace of play. With a 2-0 lead, Argentina is looking to keep possession away from France but without the pressure it previously applied.

France had to come back with a more aggressive offensive than it applied at the beginning of the match. All eyes were on Kylian Mbappé, France’s 23-year-old superstar.

But Mbappé hasn't shown the powerhouse attacks that have made him a French favorite.

France not making much headway into Argentina defense

Twelve minutes into the second half, Les Bleus have barely made a dent into Argentina's stout defense.

Argentina still holds a solid advantage in possession, holding on to the ball 47% of the time, compared to France's 37%.

This 2-0 deficit is looking more mountainous by the moment.

Was it a penalty kick? Referee's call draws scrutiny

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak wasted no time pointing to the spot when Angel Di Maria went down under the challenge of Ousmane Dembele midway through the half.

There appeared to be minimal contact, but the Video Assistant Referee saw nothing worthy of overturning the call. It will be scrutinized long after the game is over, but France has failed to perform regardless of the merits of the decision.

Second half underway

Argentina is 45 minutes, and maybe a few more, from glory.

France needs to turn things around to overcome the 2-goal hole it's left itself in.

France, down 2-0 at halftime, looking for a Swiss miracle

Only one team has ever rallied from a two-goal deficit in World Cup final history, and that was staged by a country that's no longer on the map.

In a match known as the "Miracle of Bern," Hungary scored twice in the first eight minutes before West Germany came back for a 3-2 victory in the 1954 final played in the Swiss capital.

France's mountain will be much more steep that West Germany's in "Das Wunder von Bern" as the underdogs responded immediately with two goals that had the match tied at halftime.

Helmut Rahn scored the winne r in the 84th minute.

A goal fit for the final

Argentina's second was a thrilling goal that saw them sweep forward at pace, exposing France's defense with pinpoint passes from Messi and others.

The inclusion of Angel Di Maria for Argentina was a slight surprise, but he won the penalty and then converted the second to justify coach Lionel Scaloni's big call.

Reigning champs outplayed

Though France came in as the World Cup's reigning champions, they failed to show up in the first half against Argentina.

The French team has shown a strong defense throughout the tournament and sought to pick its moments to attack. But cracks showed in the goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria, and with the defense under pressure France's attack has failed to fire.

Argentina has 6 shots to 0 from Les Bleus, who will have to come out of halftime with a more aggressive game if they plan to overcome the deficit.

Struggling France makes early subs

France has barely had a kick so far, and now coach Didier Deschamps has made a pair of changes just before half time.

Center forward Olivier Giroud and wide forward Ousmane Dembele have been replaced by Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani, who scored in the semi final.

It's surprisingly early to make drastic changes but France needs to shift things, and there were reports of players being struck by a cold virus and some injuries in the past week.

Argentina fans overjoyed as team leads first half 2-0

Argentina fans in Qatar and around the world are besides themselves after a surprise goal from Angel Di Maria offers the team a deeper advantage before the conclusion of the first half.

France is being dominated offensively as Argentina attempts to take their title as reigning champions.

GOAL FOR ARGENTINA

Argentina burst through the French defense with a sweeping move on the counterattack and Angel Di Maria lifts his finish past helpless French goalie Hugo Lloris to double his side's lead.

Another free kick for France

France was awarded a second free kick after Argentina fouled Olivier Giroud as he approached the goal.

It's the second free kick where France failed to score in the first half hour of the game.

Messi sends the goalie the wrong way and puts Argentina 1-0 up in the World Cup final.

Penalty to Argentina

Argentina has a penalty after Angel Di Maria was tripped inside the box by a French defender. A chance for Lionel Messi to give his team the lead...

France fails to take lead with free kick

France squandered the opportunity to take the advantage early on after being given a free kick just before the match hit the 20 minute mark.

The kick, taken by Antoine Griezmann, sailed toward Argentina's box where Olivier Giroud attempted to assist the ball into the net.

Unfortunately for the French, the bail sailed well over the net.

Photos: Fans gather in Paris and Buenos Aires

Roars all around the fan zones in Doha

Elizabeth Kuhr

Mithil Aggarwal

DOHA, Qatar — Hundreds of roaring fans took to the jam-packed fan zones across Doha as an alternative to the main stadium.

Ahmed Eid, 22, who is Saudi Arabian, said he was rooting for Argentina. "Because Messi. I love Messi," he said.

Another Argentian fan Daniela Tabia, 35, cried as the national anthem played moments before kickoff. "Soccer unites the people," Tabia, who is Cuban-Columbian told NBC News.

Argentina starts on the front foot

Argentina has applied pressure to the reigning champions early on in the final.

The team has already has a couple attempts on France's goal in the first 15 minutes of the gave, failing to score.

Messi led his team into the box for one failed shot on goal, but France's defense has proved hard to break down through the tournament

Argentina earned its first corner kick at about 10 minutes, however. It was taken by Messi and led to chaos in front of the goal that saw Hugo Lloris, the French goalie, go down as he got hit in the stomach while players scrambled.

Will Mbappé repeat Pelé's run?

The golden name in French soccer, forward striker Kylian Mbappé, will attempt to emulate the success of the Brazilian superstar Pelé today.

In 2018, Mbappe joined Pelé to be the only teenagers ever to score a goal at a world cup final. His stunning performance led France to its ultimate victory.

On Sunday, he goes up against his club teammate and Argentian captain, Lionel Messi, to secure his first two world cups, back-to-back, just like Pelé.

Elon Musk seen at FIFA World Cup Final

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and the new owner of Twitter, was seen at Lusail Stadium in Qatar attending the final.

Musk has been making headlines over his recent changes to Twitter policies, including suspending accounts of multiple journalists who cover him. He recently changed Twitter's terms and conditions to ban accounts who track the locations of private airplanes. He justified the decision by citing safety concerns.

Some Twitter users joked the risk of posting Musk's attendance at the World Cup for fear he might ban accounts for sharing his real-time location . The new Twitter policies don't ban users from posting their own location, which Musk did shortly after others noted his appearance at the game.

Americans in Paris cheer for France

PARIS, France — Minneapolis resident Casie Budolfson, 47, who was on a holiday with her 13-year-old son Rylan, was cheering for France.

"We’re gonna support France since we’re in Paris," she said, adding the French team was stronger.

“I think we should have more world sports events like this because everybody seems to put aside all their worries and watch the games,” said Budolfson. "Everyone just comes together," she added.

Final reminder: Here's how to watch the World Cup final

U.S. TV viewers can watch the Argentina-France match on their local Fox or Telemundo stations, for English and Spanish broadcasts, respectively.

Fox and Peacock will also stream the title match with kickoff at 10 a.m. EST from Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

"The party is going to be here," French fans cheer in Paris

PARIS, France — French fans from all across the country have flocked sports bars in Paris, as a celebratory festive mood takes over the streets before the big match kicks off.

"The party is going to be here, it’s going to be better," Lucas Yocom, 21, who came with his three friends from Vosges in northeastern France, told NBC News, adding that there was "no chance" for Argentina to win.“They have just Messi; we have a good team. A very good team. Everyone on the team,” he said.

The lineups are in

Here are how the teams line up for the World Cup final.

The headlines appear to be the return of experienced midfielder Angel Di Maria for Argentina, an attacking addition, and the return of Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot from illness for France.

Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi.

France: Hugo Lloris; Jules Koundé, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud.

The last time they met

Today's finalists also clashed in Russia in 2018.

A topsy-turvy game in the final 16 of that tournament saw France win 4-3. This Argentina side is much improved, however, and both teams play a style that may mean we're in for a lower scoring affair this time.

Messi's grand finale

This is not just a final between Argentina and France, it's also a tussle with history for Lionel Messi.

Argentina's legendary forward will try, one last time, to clinch what would be both his first and final World Cup at the age of 35.

With over 750 goals for club and country, Messi is already in the pantheon of soccer greats. He's scored five goals so far in Qatar, putting in his best performance on the global stage, and is now hoping to lead his country to its first title since 1986.

Can Messi win his first World Cup? France’s Mbappé stands in the way

The first half of france's bid for back-to-back world cups.

France is back Sunday to defend its crown after beating Croatia 4-2 in the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

That tournament marked the emergence of Kylian Mbappé, who was just 19 at the time. He became the only teen after the Brazilian superstar Pelé to score a goal in the World Cup final.

France's other scorers that day were Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann. Pogba missed this tournament through injury but Griezmann has been a key player in the French run, working tirelessly and allowing Mbappé to focus on terrifying opposition defenses.

U.S. envoy to U.N. talks sports and diplomacy

Meagan Fitzgerald

DOHA, Qatar — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told NBC News ahead of the final that major sporting events like the World Cup can help fuel progress and smooth diplomacy.

Host Qatar has faced criticism over its human rights record, but Thomas-Greenfield said “we hope we can influence those countries to make changes to accept people who are different...and you can’t do that if you’re not talking to them. If you’re not engaging. That’s what diplomacy is about.”

Scenes from the stadium

The huge environmental cost of the Qatar World Cup

Armelle De Oliveira

Patrick Smith Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Air conditioning in huge open-air stadiums, hundreds of international flights, lots and lots of lights. 

More than a million people have traveled to Qatar for one of the planet’s biggest sporting events. But as it hosts the soccer World Cup, controversy is also descending on the tiny Gulf kingdom.

Alongside concerns over human rights, anti-LGBTQ laws and the treatment of migrant workers — issues that have dogged the tournament for years — critics say Qatar 2022 will be one of the most environmentally damaging of modern times.

Read the full story here.

All France wants for Christmas...

A World Cup in winter may feel strange, but fans taking part in the traditional Christmas bath in Nice this morning appear to have made a virtue out of it.

The song that's become the anthem for Argentina's run

Associated Press

If you've watched an Argentina game this World Cup, you've heard it.

Fans clad in blue-and-white have belted it out in the stands, on the streets of Doha and back home in South America. The team has joined in after games both on the field and in videos from the locker room.

"Muchachos,” which was written by a fan, includes references to soccer greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. It also knocks rival Brazil and pays homage to the Argentine soldiers who fought in the Falklands war against Britain.

“Guys, now we’re getting our hopes up again, I want to win the third one, I want to be a world champion,” says the chorus of the song you'll surely be hearing again once the game begins.

Morocco’s surprise World Cup run rallied a legion of Arab fans

Morocco won't be in today's big game, but the team's fairytale run to the semi finals will go down as one of the stories of this World Cup.

Led by coach Walid Regragui, the Atlas Lions beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal thanks to a style that combined stout defense with daring counterattacks.

Morocco lost to France in the semi finals, but not before they sealed their place in soccer folklore as the first African and Arab team to reach that stage. The run was backed by a legion of loud and proud fans in Qatar and beyond.

Why Qatar may see the World Cup as a win despite the criticism

Alexander Smith

Qatar’s World Cup appeared to be a public relations disaster.

The event has become a magnifying glass for the tiny petrostate’s human rights record, highlighting rather than airbrushing its treatment of LGBTQ people, women and migrant workers. On the field, the Qatari national team’s performances earned it the sorry record of being the worst showing by a host nation in the competition’s 92-year history.

But for this gas-rich Gulf peninsula, the real spoils of this tournament may be found elsewhere: satisfied visitors, business deals and international recognition that could lead to greater national security.

How they made the final

France qualified easily from the group stage and beat Poland in the first knockout round, before squeezing past England in the quarter final. Surprise package Morocco, the tournament's Cindarella team, were waiting in the semi final but Les Bleus advanced thanks to an early goal from defender Theo Hernández and a late second from young substitute Randal Kolo Muani.

Argentina opened its campaign with a shock defeat to unfancied Saudi Arabia but still recovered to top its group. A narrow win over Australia was followed by a tense penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands, which had knocked out Team USA a round prior. Messi then led a comfortable semi final win over Croatia. which had knocked out favorites Brazil a round earlier.

Bronze goes to...

It's the game nobody really wants to play in or let's face it, watch. But the 3rd place playoff gives the losing semifinalists a chance to exit on a high despite their disappointment at missing out on the big game.

On Saturday Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 to seal 3rd place, following their loss to France in the final in Russia in 2018.

A final for the ages

France, winners of soccer’s most coveted trophy in 1998 and 2018, is seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back men's World Cup titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962.

On the other side Argentina is hoping to capture the country’s first World Cup title since the 1986 tournament, best known for a quarterfinal victory over England that featured legend Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal.

Les Bleus against La Albiceleste. Kylian Mbappé against Lionel Messi. 

Follow our coverage here through kick off at 10 a.m. ET and beyond.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

Senior Breaking News Reporter

Max Burman is deputy editor in the London bureau of NBC News Digital.

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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™­

Eleven years after Qatar was awarded the rights to host the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup™, the countdown to the tournament has entered its final year – with many milestone moments reached during 2021.

Countdown clock unveiled­

On 21 November 2021, the one-year-to-go anniversary until the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was marked with a special ceremony in Qatar. The tournament will be like no other, and the spectacular ceremony on the Corniche waterfront across from the West Bay skyline gave a taste of the spectacular event to come.

Football fans worldwide were also invited to “Join the Beat” virtually and celebrate the milestone, as the official countdown clock, powered by Hublot, was revealed. The 30-minute launch ceremony also featured a drone show, special guests and other surprises, ramping up the anticipation as the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab world emerges over the horizon.

Speaking at the event, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said:

“I’ve been involved in the organisation of sports events for the past few decades, and I’ve never witnessed anything like what is happening here. Everything is ready, the venues will be fantastic. The experience for the fans will be great.”

“The world will discover a country and a whole region. Qatar, the Gulf region, the Middle East, the Arab world. A place where people meet and come together. This is what football is all about, this is about what this part of the world and its culture is all about, and the world will realise that."

“This is a unique and special moment for Qatar as the host country. After 11 years of hard work and lasting progress, we are well on the way towards delivering the first World Cup in our region, one that will leave a profound legacy for Qatar, the region and the entire world.”

Three more stadiums inaugurated­

The stunning Al Bayt Stadium – which will host the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 – was unveiled on the opening day of the FIFA Arab Cup. The 60,000-capacity venue, which was designed to resemble the tents formerly used by nomadic people in the Gulf region, hosted Qatar’s 1-0 victory against Bahrain as the 16-team tournament got off to an exciting start.

Straight after Al Bayt’s inauguration, Stadium 974 also hosted its first game. The arena, which is made primarily from shipping containers and can seat 40,000, staged the United Arab Emirates’ 2-1 victory against Syria. Stadium 974 was named after the number of shipping containers used in its construction. It is also Qatar’s international dialling code.

“ The world will discover a country and a whole region. Qatar, the Gulf region, the Middle East, the Arab world. A place where people meet and come together. ”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “Al Bayt is the house where everyone is uniting, where everyone is coming together. It is a symbol for what the World Cup represents. The Arab Cup represents today what the World Cup will represent next year of people coming together, of people being united from all over the world. So, to have games in such a beautiful stadium, in such a symbolic stadium, is something that we have to cherish and that will be crucial for the success of the World Cup.”

In October 2021, another FIFA World Cup milestone was reached as Al Thumama Stadium became the sixth tournament-ready venue to be inaugurated when it hosted the Amir Cup final, which was won by Al Sadd. The stadium followed Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Education City, Ahmad Bin Ali and Al Bayt in being declared ready to host matches during the 22ⁿᵈ edition of the FIFA World Cup.

This leaves just one FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue to be inaugurated – Lusail Stadium. The main construction work was completed in 2021 and the stadium was due to open its doors to the public in early 2022.

More articles

Fifa statistics­, the road to qatar — as things stand­.

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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 PPT And Google Slides Templates

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Presentation Slide

Dive into the excitement of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with our dynamic presentation slides. Capturing the essence of the highly anticipated event, these fully editable FIFA World Cup 2022 PPT slides offer a comprehensive pack of 35 templates. Explore the tournament's key details, teams, and match schedules effortlessly. Crafted for sports enthusiasts, this collection features vibrant graphics, team profiles, and match analysis, making it an ideal resource for sports presentations , events, or discussions around the FIFA World Cup 2022. Immerse your audience in the world of football with these engaging and visually appealing sports templates, ensuring a winning presentation every time.

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Home / Free Animated Templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides / Free Animated FIFA World Cup 2022 Template PowerPoint and Google Slides

Free Animated FIFA World Cup 2022 Template PowerPoint and Google Slides

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Key Takeaways from Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT Presentation: "We Need to Believe"

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For the first time, new U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino addressed the media in New York City on Friday. It didn't take long for his smile and warmth to light up the room.

Pochettino took questions for the better part of an hour, alongside U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, sporting director Matt Crocker and CEO JT Batson. Those three individuals led the process to identify, court and ultimately get the deal done for Pochettino.

A lot of ground was covered in the press availability: from why Pochettino was interested in the job, to the inner workings of the deal, and most importantly, what’s next and how he plans to elevate the U.S. national team.

Below are the key takeaways from Pochetttino's first remarks as USMNT manager.

Why did Pochettino Take the USMNT Job?

Pochettino has never managed internationally. After high-profile jobs at Southampton, Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea, he had plenty of options to stay on the club side of things.

For the U.S., the courtship of a top manager like Pochettino was never going to be easy. But following several in-person meetings in Barcelona, both sides were convinced it was a perfect match and an agreement was reached.

“Why did I take the job? There are too many reasons ,” Pochettino said. “It’s a great opportunity for our coaching staff because we really believe , that’s the most important thing. We really believe we can do something good .”

Crocker added: “I had the easy bit: Identify the best coach.”

Pochettino also pointed to the three people around him on that stage — Crocker, Batson and Parlow Cone — and said they were big reasons why he committed to the USMNT.

“I am happy,” he said with a smile to the trio on stage with him, “and I hope you are happy, too.”

USMNT World Cup Roster Watch: Locks and Bubble Players for 2026

GIVEMESPORT's Tom Bogert is tracking the 2026 World Cup chances for each player in the USMNT pool available to Mauricio Pochettino.

Coming to an agreement with Pochettino wasn’t the only contract that needed to be sorted. A complete exit from his Chelsea contract also needed to be executed.

Pochettino was let go by the English club in May, but Chelsea were still paying him per the terms of his deal. To officially take over with the USMNT, there was paperwork that needed to be resolved. But with the European transfer window coming to a close at the same time that the Pochettino deal was reached, Chelsea obviously had their own priorities, creating a delay.

“Chelsea could not have been more positive and constructive through this,” Batson said. “We were running up against the transfer window, everyone [at Chelsea] had to prioritize that. And it turns out that after the transfer window, everyone who works on that goes on vacation. Not the most helpful for speed, but Chelsea deserves a lot of credit for their work to ensure this deal came to life.”

Lack of competitive games? Poch isn’t worried

The biggest issue facing Pochettino from the very start is the lack of high-level, competitive matches between now and the 2026 World Cup.

As host nation, the USMNT automatically qualified, and will not be participating in World Cup qualifying matches. The Copa América is also now in the rearview mirror, with a group-stage elimination erasing potential meaningful knockout matchups in the competition and ultimately resulting in the firing of former coach Gregg Berhalter.

The only competitive matches remaining will be the CONCACAF Nations Leagues and Gold Cup. And with World Cup qualifying happening all over the globe, plus the Nations League in Europe, it won’t be easy to consistently schedule matches against top opponents during every single international window.

“When I was a player with Argentina, whether it was a Copa America, World Cup or friendly? It was all the same,” Pochettino said. “It was to go, show you are the best, win the game for your country. That’s what it means to be competitive.”

As for time, there are only 10 international windows remaining between now and the World Cup kicking off in less than two years. That's more than enough for Pochettino to get his message across, according to the new manager.

“Everyone thinks there’s not enough time to prepare. What I want to tell you, I’m on the opposite side. It’s enough time. I do not want to make an excuse and I don’t want to create an excuse for the players to say there’s not enough time to buy into the new philosophy.”

Pochettino on Culture and Style

Particularly at his height with Tottenham, Pochettino’s best teams were known for fitness, bravery and mentality.

Those pillars can be found across any game model, but Pochettino didn’t reveal too many specifics about his tactics at the moment.

“We are flexible,” Pochettino said. “We’re a coaching staff that wants to play good football. To convince our fans to join us. The aesthetic is important. We want to play nice football, attacking football.”

Part of why there aren’t a ton of specifics yet is because the staff wants to shape the game model with the players.

“What’s most important now is to find an idea that fits everyone,” Pochettino said.

An inextricable ingredient in that mix is an improved culture. Star winger Christian Pulisic urged Pochettino to change the culture after the USMNT suffered a disappointing 1-1 draw with New Zealand this week.

“What does culture mean? What does our philosophy mean? It’s difficult to describe that in words,” Pochettino said. “In that case, Christian was really frustrated after a game. It’s normal, he was disappointed about the result and performance.”

Fresh Slate for Every USMNT Player

One way to continue building the culture is to have the entire player pool pulling in the same direction and making sure all players feel they have a chance to break into the team with positive performances.

Pochettino spoke directly to all the players in the USMNT pool at the beginning of his press conference.

“Not only the players in Europe, not only the players who play here in MLS — to every single player around the world — we are going to pay attention ,” Pochettino said. “The door is open. It’s only about who performs and who can show they can join the national team. That’s one of our first ideas we want to translate to the players. If they perform, we are going to be there watching.”

Pochettino Is Thinking Big

Lastly, Pochettino is not putting any ceilings on the group. It’s a refreshing ambition.

The USMNT reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. They have made it to the quarterfinals once in the last 90 years: at the 2002 World Cup. Expectations and hopes are high that the team can raise the bar as the host nation in 2026.

“ We need to believe we can win ,” Pochettino said. “Not win just a game, but to win the World Cup .”

Pochettino has less than two years to shape the team and get this group playing in the way he envisions. That ambition can only be achieved with belief.

“If I had to pick only one word, it would be: Believe,” Pochettino said.

The USMNT players who could benefit most from Mauricio Pochettino's hiring as coach

The arrival of a new U.S. coach could boost the chances of a handful of players who are on the fringes of the starting lineup.

Morocco at the 2022 World Cup: 6 forces behind a history-making performance

Professor of Health and Kinesiology, University of Texas at Tyler

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Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Despite losing to defending champions France in the final four, history was made by Morocco at the 2022 men’s football World Cup in Qatar. They became the first African and first Arab team to advance to a semi-final at the tournament.

The Atlas Lions, endowed with impeccable organisation and defensive will, creative midfield passing, speedy offence and the rousing racket of its fans, broke the elusive World Cup glass ceiling against Portugal to face France.

The sound of the Moroccan fans was a lifeblood coursing through the first World Cup to be staged in the Arab world. As magical as Morocco’s progress seemed, one should not ignore the fact that no team had scored against them (save for an own goal while defeating Canada) – until France did. The team stamped its authority with unimaginable flair and controlled composure.

There are six notable forces that drove their success.

1. Team spirit

Morocco demonstrated the ultimate collective team spirit to eliminate higher ranked teams that boasted a generous supply of star individual talents – Belgium, Spain, Portugal. What Morocco lacked in stardom was compensated by sheer desire to win and technical application by the whole team.

Their quarter-final goal, coming after repeated defensive pressure, was scored in the 42nd minute. Some good touches led to Yahya Attiat Allah fielding the ball, controlling it and then sending a cross into the box. There, Youssef En-Nesyri seemed to rise forever above the outstretched hands of the tall Portuguese defenders, to head it in from the centre. The fluid passing was beautiful to watch, leaving Portugal bewildered and eliciting pandemonium in the stadium that rippled around the world.

2. Driven by history

Motivated by a desire to go past the quarter-final, Morocco had to learn from history. The last three African sides to reach World Cup quarter-finals – Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 – had gone out in the most painful manner, in overtime. In each of these cases, the African teams lacked the composure to see through their leads.

The Atlas Lions defended with all of their hearts and then scored, preventing any possibility of overtime. Even injuries – and striker Walid Cheddira being sent off after a second yellow card – did not destabilise the defensive rhythm of the team. Portugal, including star player Cristiano Ronaldo , could not find the equaliser. From the beginning, the Moroccans looked determined that history would be made.

3. Defences win championships

Until the semi-finals, Morocco had remained unbeaten. In the round of 16, they eliminated Spain on penalty kicks, where their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made huge saves to propel them to the quarter-finals. The elimination of Portugal, just like Spain, came on the back of a solid defence that had conceded no goals.

It is often said that defences win championships. If that’s the case then Morocco has the qualifications to compete and win at the highest level. But, against France, they could not summon sufficient self belief and energy to handle the onslaught for long stretches of time. Their ball possession had been 22% against Spain and 23% against Portugal, which speaks to their defensive discipline and efficient execution at scoring. The low possession percentages also show that having plenty of ball possession is not a guarantee for victory. However, taking leads also allows the team to narrow spaces, forcing the opposition to run more – and then be hit on the counter attack.

4. Fans are the 12th player

Morocco found itself in the unique position of carrying the dual hopes of the Arab region as well as the African continent. Their matches felt like home games , with the team’s supporters dominating in the stands. The Moroccan fans cheered the team, jeered their opponents and relentlessly willed on their heroes.

After the final whistle in the quarter-final, the stadium erupted as thousands jumped up and down, hugging and embracing. With fans acting as the 12th player for Morocco, it would not be a big shock if the Atlas Lions can dig deep and mount one more upset in the bronze medal playoff against Croatia. For Morocco, playing for the third place is historic and they have already opened a new chapter in the history of the World Cup.

5. Star performers

Despite the pressure of bearing the burden of history, the Atlas Lions demonstrated that they had the technical and tactical capacity to cope. Indeed, the team was steady, organised, serene, defensively sound, creative in midfield and smart and efficient in attack . Bounou, Achraf Hakimi , Azzedine Ounahi , Romain Saiss , Sofyan Amrabat , En-Nesyri and Hakim Ziyech were Morocco’s stand out performers. However, an injury to Saiss was a big blow to their hopes in the semi-final.

Historically, Morocco has been a trailblazer at the World Cup for Africa and were not fazed by Spain and Portugal. They gave a good account of themselves against France. This team has raised the ceiling for African teams and send out a notice to the rest of the world that they can compete with the best.

6. Local coaching

Morocco’s Cinderella story at the 2022 World Cup had a lot to do with coach Walid Regragui , who installed an effective defend-and-counter style that none of their opponents – until France – came close to solving.

Regragui ingeniously set up and steered the team to the semi-finals and, in the process, changed the false narrative that local African coaches are not equal to the task of masterminding team success at this level. Indeed Regragui’s side showed that an African coach can creatively harness both the skills and the wills of the players to achieve national glory.

Eyes on the trophy

The 2022 World Cup has been characterised by unexpected upsets and exceptional entertainment for fans. One of the goals of world football body Fifa is to continue growing the game.

Morocco’s qualification for a semi-final spot was a breakthrough in demonstrating that parity is emerging. There was a big portion of the world’s population that would have erupted with joy and tears if team Morocco had their name engraved on the trophy. Morocco showed that it’s possible for an African team to win the World Cup in the near future.

This article was updated to reflect the outcome of the semi-final match.

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World Cup Qatar 2022 PowerPoint Template

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The free FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 PowerPoint Template has a maroon background with a logo of this tournament. This image fits with the topic and makes this template look very remarkable. Therefore, the template and PPT background are suitable for all kinds of fans’ presentations about the Word Cup participants, stadiums in Qatar, tickets, etc. Finally, its background makes it the perfect background for presentations about the history and stats of the World Cup. If you want to make a beautiful presentation with a professional look, this is the right PPT background for you. There are also similar templates in our Sports Category . You can also find similar backgrounds by browsing through labels such as football , FIFA , etc.

How to Use World Cup Qatar PPT Background?

Now, you can download either the presentation template in the POTX format or duplicate the Google Slides template. Both formats are very easy to use. There are various slide layouts in this template that you can use to organize your content in a good way. If you want to impress your audience, read some of our  blog articles  that will help you to improve your presentation skills.

In addition, if you like this free widescreen PowerPoint template you can share your thoughts by replying to this post. Do not forget to follow our social media where you can get links to exclusive stories and templates. Visit our  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  and  Pinterest  pages and stay tuned to the latest news and trends from the world of presenting.

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