This month, soccer fans around the world will tune in as the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off. Held every four years in a different country, the World Cup is like soccer’s version of the Super Bowl. But the World Cup is much bigger. The Olympics are the only sporting event that comes close to the World Cup in popularity.
Qatar (KAH-tuhr), a country in the Middle East, will host the month-long tournament. The U.S. national team is one of the 32 teams hoping to be crowned world champions.
The World Cup usually takes place in June and July, but that wasn’t possible in Qatar. The country is mostly desert, and summer temperatures there regularly soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Even in the winter, temperatures often rise above 80 degrees. To help players and fans beat the heat, Qatar built stadiums with special cooling systems. U.S. star Christian Pulisic has high hopes for the American team.
“We’re going there with the intention of winning the World Cup,” he told ESPN. “I truly believe we have a strong team, a strong group of guys that can accomplish anything.”