FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar Host, Argentina Winner, Full Recap

For months, the world argued about whether a tiny Gulf nation could pull off the world’s most-watched sporting event. By December 18, 2022, those doubts felt distant—88,966 spectators filled Lusail Stadium not just for a final, but for what many called the greatest in World Cup history. Argentina and France traded goals through 120 minutes, then went to penalties. When Gonzalo Montiel scored the final spot kick, Lionel Messi finally held the one trophy that had eluded him across a legendary career.

Host Country: Qatar ·
Dates: 20 November to 18 December 2022 ·
Winner: Argentina ·
Runner-up: France ·
Final Stadium: Lusail Stadium

The table below summarizes key figures from the 22nd FIFA World Cup.

Which country won the FIFA World Cup football 2022 for men?

Argentina claimed their third World Cup title on December 18, 2022, defeating France 3–3 after extra time before winning the penalty shootout 4–2 at Lusail Stadium (ESPN). The match, contested by 88,966 spectators, is widely regarded as one of the wildest finals in the tournament’s 92-year history (ESPN). Argentina’s victory marked their first World Cup win since 1986, ending a 36-year drought (Wikipedia).

Final match details

The game began with Argentina in control. Ángel Di María scored after a counterattack in the 36th minute, and Lionel Messi converted a penalty in the 23rd minute to put Argentina ahead 2–0 at halftime (ESPN). France, goalless through 80 minutes, mounted a comeback when Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty, then equalized 81 seconds later with a volley—scoring three goals in a 10-minute spell (Wikipedia).

Messi restored Argentina’s lead in the 108th minute of extra time, only for Mbappé to equalize again from the penalty spot in the 118th minute, forcing the shootout (Wikipedia). In the shootout, Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive fourth penalty for Argentina, sealing a 4–2 victory (ESPN). Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saved two penalties and blocked a key chance from France’s Randal Kolo Muani during the shootout (ESPN).

Lionel Messi’s role

Messi’s two-goal performance cemented his place as a World Cup legend. He became the first Argentine to score in a World Cup final since Diego Maradona in 1986 (Wikipedia). After the match, Messi kissed the trophy while wearing a black Qatari robe, a moment broadcast worldwide (ESPN). Argentina overtook France and Uruguay in total World Cup titles with their win, now ranking behind only Brazil (5) and Italy/Germany (4) (Wikipedia).

What city hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Qatar hosted the entire 2022 FIFA World Cup across five cities: Doha, Lusail, Al Khor, Al Rayyan, and Madinat ash-Shamal (FIFA). The tournament ran from November 20 to December 18, 2022, featuring 32 teams competing in 64 matches across eight stadiums (FIFA). Qatar became the first Middle Eastern nation to host the World Cup, a milestone that brought both prestige and scrutiny over labor conditions leading up to the event (Wikipedia).

Host nation Qatar

Qatar spent years constructing stadiums, metro lines, and infrastructure for the tournament. The stadiums included Lusail Iconic Stadium (capacity 80,000), Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor (60,000), Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan (40,000), and Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Madinat ash-Shamal (40,000) (FIFA). The compact geography meant most venues were within an hour’s drive of Doha, a design choice intended to reduce the need for internal flights.

Stadium locations

The final was held at Lusail Stadium, located north of Doha and purpose-built for the tournament. The venue hosted seven matches total, including the opening match and the championship game (ESPN). Kick-off for the December 18 final was scheduled for 10:00 AM local time, an unusual afternoon start time chosen to accommodate European television audiences (ESPN).

Where was the FIFA World Cup 2022 final held?

The final took place at Lusail Stadium, a purpose-built 80,000-seat venue north of Doha, Qatar. With 88,966 spectators in attendance, the stadium exceeded its official capacity for the championship match (ESPN). The venue, designed by architect Ibrahim Al-Maghrabi, featured distinctive golden facade panels inspired by fanar lanterns and Islamic geometric patterns (FIFA).

Lusail Stadium details

Lusail Stadium served as the centerpiece of Qatar’s World Cup bid. The stadium cost approximately $767 million to construct and was officially inaugurated in November 2021 (FIFA). After the tournament, the upper tier was dismantled, reducing capacity to 40,000, with seat components repurposed for football facilities elsewhere in Qatar. The stadium’s name commemorated Lusail, the city that gave the tournament its name.

Final match overview

The game lasted 3 hours and 57 minutes including halftime and extra-time breaks, one of the longest World Cup finals on record. Referee Szymon Marciniak of Poland officiated the match (ESPN). The penalty shootout took place after 30 minutes of extra time failed to produce a winner, with Argentina ultimately prevailing 4–2 in the shootout sequence (ESPN).

Who knocked Portugal out of the World Cup in 2022?

Morocco defeated Portugal 1–0 in the quarter-final on December 10, 2022, eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad and advancing to become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final (Wikipedia). Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning header in the 51st minute at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. Portugal had previously beaten Ghana (3–2) and Uruguay (2–0) in the group stage and round of 16 (Wikipedia).

Quarterfinal matchup

Portugal entered the quarterfinal as favorites against Morocco, who had stunned Spain in the round of 16 on penalties. Ronaldo, then 37, was seeking his first World Cup title in what many considered his final tournament. The defeat ended Portugal’s campaign and triggered widespread speculation about Ronaldo’s international future (Wikipedia).

Key moments

Morocco’s defensive discipline frustrated Portugal throughout the match. En-Nesyri’s goal came from a cross by Hakim Ziyech, who continued his strong tournament form. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved a late penalty from Gonçalo Ramos to preserve the lead (Wikipedia). Morocco subsequently lost 2–0 to France in the semi-final, ending their historic run one match away from the final.

Did Ronaldo ever win a World Cup?

No. Cristiano Ronaldo never won a FIFA World Cup. His Portugal squad finished fourth in 2006—the best result of his career—before the 2022 quarter-final exit against Morocco ended his World Cup journey (Wikipedia). Ronaldo finished the 2022 tournament with one goal, scored in the group stage against Ghana. He retired from international football in 2024.

Ronaldo’s World Cup record

Ronaldo appeared in five World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), scoring eight goals across 15 matches. His 2006 campaign included a goal against Iran in Portugal’s opening group match. The quarter-final defeat in 2006 remains his career-best World Cup finish, a result shared with Eusébio in 1966 (Wikipedia).

2022 performance

Ronaldo entered the 2022 World Cup amid controversy after a tumultuous season at Manchester United that ended in his contract termination. He started all four of Portugal’s matches, losing his starting spot after the group stage before regaining it for the Morocco knockout game (Wikipedia). His 88th-minute penalty against Ghana broke the record for most goals scored across five World Cups, surpassing Just Fontaine’s mark of 13.