2022 IFA World Cup

2022 IFA World Cup

Copa Mundial de Fútbol 2022
Tournament details
Host country	Anáhuac
Dates	1 December – 20 December
Teams	32 (from 5 confederations)
Venue(s)	16 (in 13 host cities)
Final positions
Champions	Wellsenfaile (3rd title)
Runners-up	Gavrilia
Third place	Kentalis
Fourth place	Ezenchia
Tournament statistics
Matches played	64

The 2022 IFA World Cup was the 65th IFA World Cup, the bianual world championship for Anterian men's national football teams. It was played in Anáhuac from 1 December to 20 December 2022. Vultesia was originally chosen to host the competition by the IFA but, largely due to inner politics, was not able to do so, and resigned in 2021. After bids from Riojania, Gavrilia, Anáhuac, The Cape Bay and Frarstizk, Anáhuac was finally chosen as the new host on late October 2022; making it the third tournament held in the country (after the 1962 and 1986 tournaments) and the fifth tournament organized by the IFA (after the 1992 and 2008 tournaments of the female world cup).

The World Cup was won by Wellsenfaile (their third title, after winning in 1904 and 1920). Wellsenfaile beat Gavrilia in the final at San Jorge Xayacatlán's Estadio Xalieca. Total attendance was of 3,404,252, an average per match of 53,192. To avoid the extremes of Anáhuac's hot climate, this World Cup was held during the month of December. Being played in a reduced timeframe of 19 days with 64 matches, the 2022 tournament broke several World Records regarding the time frame for organization, preparation, matches and to date is the first World Cup that had more than 7 cities hosting games.

Host Selection

Vultesia was originally chosen as hosts by the IFA in 2020, with Saltstil, Vodtsil, Nilmödydrom, Hærtstil, Agralbosz, Pyperdrom and Hoxhal intended as the hosts cities, plus otentially Obstreldrær. At some point however, Vultesia declared that they could not afford to host the World Cup. A new bidding procedure to host the 2022 Mens and Womens IFA World Cups began on April 27th 2021, and national associations have until May 4th 2021 to register their interest. Layfet, which hosted the 2020 Mens World Cup was ineligible to host the 2022 Men's World Cup, while Encessia, which hosted the 2020 Women's World Cup was ineligible to host the 2022 Womens World Cup.

Competition on the Men's World Cup bidding came from countries such as IFA favorite Riojania, Gavrilia, The Cape Bay, Frarstizk and Anáhuac. On June 2022, the IFA committee announced Anáhuac as the replacement hosts after majority of votes and despite the Riojania bid being a favorite amongst directives. Anáhuac became the only Olivacian nation to host three World Cups, as it hosted the 1962 and 1986 tournaments. Despite losing the 2022 bid, Riojania was assured to be the hosts of the 2024 World Cup.

On the Women's Cup, competition was far more soft as only two countries applied for bidding: Mbuntrare and The Vanna. The Vanna eventually was announced as hosts the same day as the announcement of the Men's new hosts. The Women's Cup is expected to begin after the Men's World Cup tournamnet has ended.

The preparations of the World Cup and subjected to criticisms, due to the very tight timeframe between the annoucement of the new host and the inaugural game being just months away, being considered "rushed". While many experts expressed doubts on whether deadlines could be meeted, Anáhuac continued to go ahead with the preparations, mostly using the national Liga Ana assets that were already in place. Because of this, the 2022 World Cup broke the World Record of the "fastest organized professional tournament".

Qualification

IFA's six continental confederations organize their own qualifying competitions. All IFA member associations are eligible to enter qualification. The hosts will be qualified automatically for the tournament.

The allocation of slots for each confederation was discussed by the IFA Executive Committee on January 10th, 2021 at the IFA Headquarters. The committee decided the following allocation of slots:

Thuadia (THUCON):
Caleren (CALCON):
Thrismari (RISCON):
Astariax (ASTCON):
Olivacia (OLICON):
Meredonne (MERCON):

The first qualifying matches will be played in May 2020. Nations have until May 4th to declare their intent to participate in the qualifier.

List of qualified teams

THUCON (10)

• New Sebronia
• Tiskaiya
• Senefpat
• Yryel
• Kentalis
• The Cape Bay
• Kiyortza
• Shadoveil
• Neuewland
• Acriae

CALCON (0)

• None qualified

RISCON (7)

• Hiblund
• Frarstizk
• Kakland
• Salamat
• Morrawia
• Androren Spear
• Khirmania

HIRCON (6)

• Gavrilia
• Riamo
• Wellsenfaile
• The Vanna
• Zona Umida
• Riojania

OLICON (5)

• Anáhuac (H)
• Dwetasia
• Xzavaria
• Fresia
• Lehmhügel
• Ezenchia

MERCON (3)

• Mbuntrare
• Hylia
• Nexalan

Results

Group stage

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Anáhuac	3	1	2	0	5	3	2	5
Riamo	3	1	1	1	3	2	1	4
Androren Spear	3	1	1	1	4	5	-3	4
Shadoveil	3	1	0	2	5	5	0	3

1 December

Anáhuac	1-1	Androren Spear

Estadio Xalieca, San Jorge Xayacatlán

1 December

Riamo	2-0	Shadoveil

Estadio Ferronales, Izamal

---

4 December

Shadoveil	4-0	Androren Spear

Estadio José Canizales, Heróica Mendoza

4 December

Riamo	1-1	Anáhuac

Estadio Susete Hernández, Santiago de Lujambio

---

7 December

Anáhuac	3-1	Shadoveil

Estadio Olímpico Universitario, San Jorge Xayacatlán

7 December

Androren Spear	1-0	Riamo

Estadio 19 de Septiembre, Temixtlán

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Gavrilia (A)	3	2	1	0	5	1	+4	7
Senefpat (A)	3	1	1	1	1	1	0	4
Nexalan	3	1	0	2	4	3	+1	3
Fresia	3	1	0	2	1	6	−5	3

Group C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Hylia (A)	3	3	0	0	6	1	+5	9
Zona Umida (A)	3	0	2	1	4	5	−1	2
Yryel	3	0	2	1	2	4	−2	2
Salamat	3	0	2	1	1	3	−2	2

Group D

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Hiblund (A)	3	2	0	1	6	3	+3	6
Kentalis (A)	3	2	0	1	6	3	+3	6
Lehmhügel	3	2	0	1	4	3	+1	6
The Vanna	3	0	0	3	3	10	−7	0

Group E

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
New Sebronia (A)	3	2	0	1	3	0	+3	6
Xzavaria (A)	3	1	1	1	2	3	−1	4
Riojania	3	1	0	2	3	4	−1	3
Khirmania	3	0	2	1	1	2	−1	2

Group F

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Ezenchia (A)	3	2	0	1	3	1	+2	6
The Cape Bay (A)	3	2	0	1	4	4	0	6
Morrawia	3	1	0	2	2	3	−1	3
San Calia	3	1	0	2	2	3	−1	3

Group G

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Kakland (A)	3	2	1	0	4	2	+2	7
Mbuntrare (A)	3	2	0	1	4	3	+1	6
Tiskaiya	3	0	2	1	1	2	−1	2
Acriae	3	0	1	2	3	5	−2	1

Group H

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Wellsenfaile (A)	3	1	2	0	4	2	+2	5
Frarstizk (A)	3	1	2	0	5	4	+1	5
Dwetasia	3	1	0	2	7	6	+1	3
Neuewland	3	0	2	1	5	9	−4	2

Knockout stage

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

10 December- San Jorge Xayacatlán (Olímpico Uni)

Anáhuac

0

14 December- San Agustín

Senefpat

2

Senefpat

3

10 December- San Jorge Xayacatlán (Xalieca)

Gavrilia

4

Gavrilia

4

17 December- Santa Elisa (Universitario)

Riamo

2

Gavrilia(p)

1 (4)

10 December- Santa Elisa (Tecnológico)

Kentalis

1 (2)

Hylia

1

14 December- Ixchel

Kentalis

3

Kentalis

2

10 December- Izamal

Zona Umida

1

Hiblund

0

20 December- San Jorge Xayacatlán (Xalieca)

Zona Umida

1

Gavrilia

1

11 December- Aztlán

Wellsenfaile

3

New Sebronia

3

15 December- Costa Escondida

The Cape Bay

'0

New Sebronia

1 (1)

11 December- Kabah

Ezenchia (p)

1 (3)

Ezenchia

1

18 December- San Jorge Xayacatlán (Villa Olímpica II)

Xzavaria

0

Ezenchia

1

11 December- Zaragoza de Seguín

Wellsenfaile

2

Third place

Kakland

0 (2)

15 December- Santiago de Lujambio

19 December- San Jorge Xayacatlán (Olímpico Uni)

Frarstizk(p)

0 (3)

Frarstizk

1

Kentalis

2

11 December- Santa Elisa (Universitario)

Wellsenfaile

3

Ezenchia

0

Wellsenfaile

2

Mbuntrare

1

Marketing

Sponsors

Supporters. The National Supporters are all Gran Rugido based sponsors.

World Cup partners	World Cup sponsors	National supporters
Telrenz Motor Company Kretaze CapeCola Co. Ordeler United Trenchways Yourcast Inc. Lipowá Inc. Letitalis Znackables	Userva Salamoil YamÁn ANTEL Nbehambo Jewelry Stabhardt Supreme NRG RTM Star Cargo	Grupo Financiero Gran Rugido

Symbols

Mascot

Main article: Axel el Ajolote

Tournament mascot, Axel el Ajolote

The tournament's official mascot was unveiled on 21 October 2021, and selected through a design competition among university students. A public vote was used to select the mascot from three finalists—a quetzal, a jaguar , and a axolotl. The winner, with 53% or approximately 1 million votes, was an anthropomorphic axolotl dressed in the colours of the Gran Rugidoense national team. The mascot's name is Axel and his official backstory states that he is an aspiring football player who is "charming, confident and social". People associated with the ecological Regeneración program, praised the selection of the amphibian as the mascot as it could "raise awareness on the critically-endangered species".

Match ball

The Hunahpu on the fields of the Estadio Xalieca

Main article: Kretaze Hunahpu

The match ball for the 2022 World Cup, manufactured by Kretaze, was named the Hunahpu, one of the mythological twins that defeated the gods in a ballgame in the Tarascan mythology. Requested by the national committee, it is the 1st World Cup match ball made by the Kentalian sports equipment maker; it features the 3 colours of the Gran Rugidoense flag. A special match ball with gold panels, called the Xbalanque is expected to be used at the final in San Jorge Xayacatlán.

The ball was constructed using a new design, consisting of eight thermally bonded, three-dimensional panels. These were spherically moulded from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU). The surface of the ball was textured with grooves, intended to improve the ball's aerodynamics. The balls were made in Kenyalis, using latex bladders and thermoplastic polyurethane-elastomer from Riamo, ethylene vinyl acetate, isotropic polyester/cotton fabric, and glue and ink from Hoterallia.

Music

Main article: IFA World Cup songs and anthems

The official song of the 2022 World Cup "Ulama", was performed by the Rugidoense-Kentalian singer Ximena Koliševski, and the band Mistrales, and is sung in both English and Spanish. The song is based on pre-Canterian culture music, with it's choreography being based on supposed dances perfomed before a ballgame. Koliševski and Mistrales performed the song at the pre-inaugural tournament in the Estadio Xalieca on 31 November. It was also be sung at the opening ceremony on 1 December and will be sung on the closing ceremony on 20 December.

The official mascot song of the 2022 World Cup was "Parchís".

The official anthem of the 2022 World Cup was "Juego de Pelota" by Tlalóc Peréz with vocals from the Opera Xalieca, which was also performed at the opening ceremony.

Media

Broadcasting

The IFA sold the broadcasting rights for the 2022 World Cup to various local broadcasters. The 2022 World Cup is the first World Cup in which all matches were produced in 4K ultra high definition.

• Arris Temiir - Hiblund

• Challenge Place Broadcasting - Frarstizk

• Salamat 1 - Salamat

• Khirmanian Broadcasting Corporation - Khirmania

• Imevisión - Imagen 5 Joint Partnership - Anáhuac