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WM 2026August 4, 2026

Goals, technology and drinking breaks: This is how the biggest World Cup in history will be

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar offered numerous highlights. An overview of goals, technology, drinking breaks and the biggest games of the World Cup.

Goals, technology and drinking breaks: This is how the biggest World Cup in history will be

Why this is important

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be remembered not only for the goals scored, but also for the innovative technology used to verify those goals. A new record was set with 172 goals, which underlines the attractiveness of the tournament. The introduction of drinking breaks due to the extreme temperatures also shows how FIFA has responded to the host country's challenges.

Background

The 2022 World Cup has not only increased viewership, but also increased interest in the technical aspects of the game. The use of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) could serve as a model for future tournaments to increase the efficiency and accuracy of referee decisions.

Key findings

  • Goals, technology and drinking breaks: This is how the biggest World Cup in history will be.
  • The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar offered numerous highlights.
  • Goals, technology and hydration breaks: How the biggest World Cup in history will be remembered - PBS.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will go down as the largest and most controversial World Cup in history. FIFA announced that 172 goals were scored in this World Cup, more than any other World Cup, and attendance was also record-breaking. The tournament, which was played from November 20 to December 18, 2022, had 2.2 million spectators for the 64 games in the stadiums, representing 90 percent of the available seats. There are also 1.5 million fans who watched the games in fan zones around the world. According to FIFA, this record is also supported by the use of new technology for reviewing goals, called Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT). This technology reduced gate inspection time by 50 percent. Referees in Qatar have conducted 47 missions using this technology, of which 25 goals were reviewed. The referee observed the game using 12 cameras that recorded the game from different perspectives, including a special camera that tracks the players' positions in real time. Drinking breaks were another highlight t this World Cup. Due to the high temperatures in Qatar, which reached up to 40 degrees Celsius at the start of the tournament, the referees introduced two drinking breaks during the games, one in each half. This led to very long playing times, which forced spectators to take their seats in front of the screens and in the stadiums for much longer than usual. FIFA announced that the average playing time per game in this World Cup was 60 minutes and 2 seconds, which is also a record. Most goals, most games with more than 4 goals, most games with more than 3 goals and most games overall with 172 goals. The 64 World Cup games resulted in a total of 1,022 yellow cards and 20 red cards. According to FIFA, the best games of the World Cup were: The opening match Qatar vs Ecuador, the match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia, the match between Argentina and France in the final, the match between Croatia and Brazil in the quarterfinals and the match between France and England in the quarterfinals. FIFA also announced that the largest number of spectators in the stadiums was for the Argentina-France match in the final, 88,966 spectators.

What happens next

The experiences from the 2022 World Cup could have an impact on upcoming tournaments, especially the 2026 World Cup. Goal review technology is expected to continue to be refined to improve the quality of play ssern. In addition, the introduction of drinking breaks could also be discussed in future competitions to enable players to perform better under extreme conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main features of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will go down as the largest and most controversial World Cup in history, with 172 goals scored and record-breaking attendance.

Who confirmed the use of the new technology for gate checking?

FIFA has confirmed the use of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) for goal review during the 2022 World Cup.

Why were drinking breaks introduced during the 2022 World Cup?

Drinking breaks were introduced due to the high temperatures in Qatar, which reached up to 40 degrees Celsius.

What changes were there in the playing time during the 2022 World Cup?

The average playing time per game was 60 minutes and 2 seconds, which is a record.

How has new technology affected game reviews?

Semi-Automated Offside Technology reduced gate inspection time by 50 percent.

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Häufig gestellte Fragen

What are the main features of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will go down as the largest and most controversial World Cup in history, with 172 goals scored and record-breaking attendance.
Who has confirmed the use of the new technology for gate checking?
FIFA has confirmed the use of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) to review goals during the 2022 World Cup.
Why were drinking breaks introduced during the 2022 World Cup?
Drinking breaks were introduced due to the high temperatures in Qatar, which reached up to 40 degrees Celsius.
What changes were there in the playing time during the 2022 World Cup?
The average playing time per game was 60 minutes and 2 seconds, which is a record.
How has new technology affected game reviews?
Semi-Automated Offside Technology reduced gate inspection time by 50 percent.
What happened in this story?
Goals, technology and drinking breaks: This is how the biggest World Cup in history will be summarizes the main development covered in this report.
Why is this news relevant right now?
The timing matters for how clubs, players, and fans prepare for the next competitive phase in the season or transfer window.