Unfortunately for Irish football fans, the national side will not be competing at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, as the team continues to be banned from the largest stage in the world game. In order to qualify or truly make it there, which last occurred in 2002, The Boys in Green are always the underdogs, if we are being completely honest with ourselves.
However, we must not let the absence of Irish players dampen our enthusiasm for the game. Due to FIFA extending a competition that would include 48 teams, there will be a second chance for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. However, there are several other underdogs at the upcoming World Cup whom we may support in the interim.
The American Aces
We’ve already highlighted one team that Irish football fans are very interested in, and if rooting for Iran doesn’t whet our appetite, we can always support the United States. Our American relatives may be the only team in Group B that can legitimately offer a challenge to England or Wales.
Canada has only ever qualified for the World Cup once, in 1986, when they struggled in the scorching heat of Mexico, losing all three of their group games without scoring a goal. They now have a far stronger set of players, and they might cause trouble for any Group F competitors, such as Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco.
The Middle Eastern Trio
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held in the Middle East for the first time ever, with the tiny country of Qatar having the privilege of hosting the world’s most spectacular football tournament. They will also be joined by two of its neighbours, Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding to the local interest in the area, and hundreds of their fans are expected to travel.
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Even though gambling is generally frowned upon in this region, enthusiastic Middle Eastern bettors will nevertheless search for the top World Cup Arabic betting sites and reliable online bookmakers where privacy and security are of the utmost importance. They will look for the best deals and specials just as the rest of us do wherever in the world.
It’s difficult to dispute that supporting Iran will likely have added attraction for the Irish neutrals who are watching from a distance, especially given that they are in Group B with the United States, England, and Wales. Despite being vast underdogs, the Iranian team is also capable of pulling off a surprise or two.
