Culture
Iran, Saudi, other MidEast teams warm up in Qatar as World Cup approaches
Iran is looking to advance to the second round for the first time ever, but the team is mired in controversy over the protests in the country while host Qatar itself is facing criticism at home.
The 2022 World Cup will begin in the Qatari capital of Doha Sunday. It will be the first time the major soccer tournament to be played in the Middle East.
The following is a breakdown of the men’s teams from the Middle East and North Africa that will compete in the World Cup.
Qatar
Qatar qualified for the World Cup as the host country, and this will be the first time the Gulf state plays in the tournament. They will face off against Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands in the group stage. The Netherlands are among the favorites to win the World Cup.
