THE BLUFFER'S GUIDE TO WORLD CUP

■ Sunday sees the start of the 22nd World Cup – the first to be held mid-season. But the tournament has broken new ground in many more ways...

❑ The competition will be held in the Arab world for the first time. Qatar is the world’s third-richest country. ❑ This World Cup will be the last such competition to feature 32 teams. From 2026 (in the US, Mexico, and Canada), there will be 48 competing countries.

❑ Qatar is making its debut in the finals – the first hosts to do so since Italy in 1934.

❑ Of the 32 teams, 24 played in the last World Cup in Russia.

❑ This World Cup Final will be held on December 18 – which is also Qatar’s National Day.

❑ Eight stadiums will be used in the tournament and six are in Doha – the first time since 1930 that the majority of grounds are in the same city. More than 80% of the population live in Doha.

❑ Five stadiums were designed by German company Albert Speer & Partners, a firm founded by the son of Adolf Hitler’s architect and Minister of Armaments.

❑ Qatar being a Muslim country is dry, so the organisers will arrange special sobering up places where fans who have overindulged can recover rather than be arrested by the police. Supporters will have to stay in the zones until they can demonstrate sobriety.

❑ From November 3, 1916, until September 3, 1971, Qatar was a British protectorate. Oil was discovered in 1939.

❑ Canada is making its first World Cup appearance since 1986, and it is 64 years since Wales last qualified.

❑ Italy failed to qualify for the second consecutive World Cup – the first time in its history this has happened.

❑ The Italians are also the only former World Cup winners not to qualify, and the fourth winners of the Euros to not get through.

❑ Russia was banned from taking part because of its invasion of Ukraine in February.

❑ Officiating will be 36 referees, 69 linesmen and 24 looking at VAR. Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will be England’s representatives.