2022 World Cup: First Thoughts

I remember watching the announcement that this World Cup would be in Qatar. It was December 2010. I was in Denver for a job interview. A month later we'd find out we were having a baby. Eight months later, I'd actually get hired at the same place I interviewed at in December and we'd be moving to Colorado. 

By 2014, I had two kids and was watching the World Cup at that same Denver agency. My life had changed between 2010 and 2014. And then it's changed a couple times since then too. 

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By the way, for all the authenticity nerds, I'll be pronouncing it Qatar and not Qatar for the remainder of the post. You'll just have to deal with it.

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I've gone in-depth before, so here's the abridged version of where I was for every World Cup that's mattered to me:

1998: Peoria, high school. Fell in love with the World Cup.

2002: Peoria, college. Didn't really pay attention.

2006: Chicago, 1st agency. Watched games at Timothy O'Toole's.

2010: Chicago, same agency, different building. Watched at office watch party.

2014: Denver, 2nd agency. Watched at office watch party.

2018: Kansas City, 3rd agency. USA missed tournament, watched mostly at home.

2022: Kansas City, 4th agency. USA is back

In 7 lines of text about a soccer tournament, there's a pretty good snapshot of my life from high school to present. From one World Cup to the next, I've been in a different office building for every one. The four agencies I've worked at are all represented. 

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Here's how the USA has fared at these World Cups:

1998: Finished 4th in group.

2002: Finished 2nd in group, beat Mexico 2-0 in round of 16, lost to Germany 0-1 in quarterfinals.

2006: Finished 4th in group.

2010: Finished 1st in group, lost to Ghana 1-2 in extra time in round of 16.

2014: Finished 2nd in group, lost to Belgium 1-2 in extra time in round of 16.

2018: Did not qualify.

2022: Qualified

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Here's the history of the Finals over this time:

1998: France defeated Brazil in France

2002: Brazil defeated Germany in Japan

2006: Italy defeated France in Germany

2010: Spain defeated Netherlands in South Africa

2014: Germany defeated Argentina in Brazil

2018: France defeated Croatia in Russia

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Two years ago, I did my 23 and Me, so in addition to the USMNT, I have dna ties to these countries:

Germany (Group E)

Poland (Group C)

Sweden (Did not qualify)

Denmark (Group D)

England (Group B)

Because of the Qatar heat, the 2022 World Cup starts in November instead of the traditional summer schedule. 

The first game will be on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

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Here's Group B of the 2022 World Cup:

England

USA

Iran

tbd (one of Scotland/Ukraine/Wales)

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Here's USA's Schedule

Game 1 vs tbd: 10pm local time / 1pm Central on Monday, November 21 (day before my birthday)

Game 2 vs England: 10pm local time / 1pm Central on Friday, November 25 (day after Thanksgiving)

Game 3 vs Iran: 10pm local time / 1pm Central on Tuesday, November 29 

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For us folks in central time, the first two group stage matches will be played at these times:

4am

7am

10am

1pm

The final group stage matches are simultaneous per group, and will be at 9am and 1pm, starting on 11/29. 

The knockout round continues in December culminating with the final on December 18 at 9am central.