FIFA's president promised it would be like "child going to Disneyland for the first time and seeing the attractions and the toys," while attendees were dismayed at the host nation's last-minute stadium beer ban and exorbitant accommodation costs, but one thing is certain -- there is not going to be another World Cup like Qatar 2022.
Thirty-two teams. 64 matches. 29 days. 172 goals. But that's not all about this year's football carnival. There was a list of novelties around it: First World Cup held on Arab soil. First World Cup kicking off in November. First World Cup with an Olympics-style opening ceremony. First men's World Cup with female referees. First modern edition based around a single city.
Now it is all over. When looking back on it, we find there were as many on-the-field reasons for us to relish the tournament as those off it, and some of them could endure our memories and go down in football's history.
A FIFA World Cup sign is backdropped by the skyline of Doha on November 17, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
As soon as the final whistle was blown for the heavyweight showdown between Argentina and France at the iconic Lusail Stadium, most of fans have already grasped a crucial clue that how an inspired team manages to keep the World Cup dream alive all the way through competitions and emerges as the ultimate winner to lift the most coveted trophy in football world.
It was more than a run-off between the two national teams, but also a clash between two continents. European sides have gripped the World Cup trophy for two decades since Brazil last lifted the trophy in South Korea and Japan in 2002, and Argentina sought to end South America continent's long drought for the greatest prize.
It turned out Argentina did it. With a 4-2 triumph on penalties, Lionel Scaloni's men dethroned Russia 2018 winner France in an epic final that shall be remembered by many for being full of twists and turns.
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophy during the Qatar 2022 World Cup trophy ceremony after the football final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. Argentina won in the penalty shoot-out. (Photo: AFP)
The truly remarkable game saw Messi and Mbappe both unleash their magics, with Messi scoring twice and Mbappe becoming the first player since England's Geoff Hurst in 1966 to net a World Cup final hat-trick in a game that ended 3-3 after extra time.
At 35, Messi was competing in his fifth World Cup and is in the twilight of his playing time on international stage. He was a man on mission as he dragged Argentina from the depths of a shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia to the summit that eventually paved way for them to land the country's third world title after wins in 1978 and 1986.
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi kisses the trophy after receiving the Golden Ball award during the Qatar 2022 World Cup trophy ceremony after the football final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. (Photo: AP)
When Messi stood there, kissing the trophy that has eluded him for so long in front of global fans, he has muted all debates over his influences in football world. He is now definitively in the pantheon of football's greatest ever players, alongside Pele -- a record three-time World Cup champion from Brazil -- and Diego Maradona, the late Argentina great that he has been emulating over the years.
But when the jubilation erupted across streets in Buenos Aires with fans draped in the iconic blue and white colors waving their national flags, it must have turned down fans gathering in the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris and waiting to see France crowned again four years after the World Cup in Russia.
French fans had to cut parties short and matched their moods with the bleak winter skies as they were heart-broken to see their national team, who was just on the doorsteps of becoming the first country to win back-to-back championships after Brazil in 1958 and 1962, came short of making it happen in Qatar.
France's coach Didier Deschamps walks past the FIFA World Cup Trophy after receiving a silver medal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup trophy ceremony after the football final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Les Bleus had a disappointing run at Euro 2020 and Deschamps was already dealing with a flood of injuries before Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema withdrew from the squad on the eve of the tournament. Plus, an unexpected cold virus was running through the France squad ahead of the final, affecting at least three players. All the issues semed to have threatened their title defense.
France's loss, however, should not cast shadow over Kylian Mbappe's inspiring eight goals at this year's tournament. The 23-year-old has scored 12 World Cup goals in 14 matches and is level with Brazil legend Pele in sixth on the all-time list. His scintillating performances fully deserved the glory of a World Cup Golden Boot.
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe is consoled by French President Emmanuel Macron (L) during the trophy ceremony after France lost the Qatar 2022 World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Croatia, runner-up in 2018, took bronze with a 2-1 win in the third-place playoff against Morocco to cement its status as one of the emerging football powerhouses.
The triumph was also a crowning feat for Luka Modric, whose last dance at the global stage was nothing short of extraordinary. He started all seven of Croatia's matches in Qatar, playing for 656 minutes out of a possible 690. He might be in the autumn of his career, but his impact on the pitch has hardly declined.
Croatia players celebrate during the awarding ceremony after their World Cup win over Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, December 17, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
A cruel chapter of Qatar 2022 was more of a farewell party for many widely-known top footballers as they had to say goodbye to the world's greatest stage that had graced them with so many unforgettable memories.
Fans were sad to witness tears ran down Cristiano Ronaldo's cheeks as the 37-year-old walked off the pitch after his team's early exit, with his hopes of earning a major title for his country in his last World Cup left in tatters.
Portugal's forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Morocco and Portugal at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on December 10, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Neymar was reduced to tears -- he was psychologically destroyed to see his dreams slip away due to his national team's elimination in a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia. And Luis Suarez couldn't watch as his Uruguay team slid toward a painful World Cup exit from group stage, so he put his hands in front of his eyes, then pulled his shirt over his head. When his face emerged again, there were tears.
Brazil's Neymar cries at the end of the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and Brazil, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on December 9, 2022. (Photo: AP)
Meanwhile, many other big names, including Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski, are preparing to bring the curtains down on their World Cup careers.
Sad endings for so many veterans underlined a sense of powerlessness stemming from early exits by some traditional powers. Four-time winner Germany suffered the fate of crashing out the tournament at group stage for the second straight World Cup and Belgium's much-vaunted "golden generation" had to end their ages on a low note after terrible elimination from group stage, while favorite England continued its agonizing chapter in the team's decades-long psychodrama revolving around major tournaments and penalty heartaches.
England's forward #09 Harry Kane reacts after he missed a penalty kick during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between England and France at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha, on December 10, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
The World Cup in Qatar may have been the last hurrah for a host of stars, but the tournament also witnessed the arrival of a new crop of talented young players.
England pair Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham announced themselves on the global stage along with Argentina's Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez for their glittering performances at the tournament. Portugal's Goncalo Ramos smashed a hat-trick in a 6-1 win against Switzerland, showing he has the potential to be the successor to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal's forward #15 Rafael Leao (L) and Portugal's forward #26 Goncalo Ramos celebrate after they won the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Portugal and Switzerland at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 6, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Let us not forget those big and intriguing moments. Spain 7-0 Costa Rica happened at this World Cup, as did England's 6-2 rout of Iran, France's 4-1 dismantling of Australia and the host nation's taking of an unwanted place in the tournament's 92-year history as the first host country to lose all three group stage matches, scoring just once.
In Qatar, teams from Asia, Africa and North America have all been represented in knockout stage, which had never happened before. And who would have foreseen Asian and African teams closing the gap on the global elite? Few.
For the first time, three of the six Asian Football Confederation teams reached the knockout stage. African teams collected more points in the group stage than ever.
Japan's players react after the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Japan and Spain at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on December 1, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
The greatest upset at this World Cup was produced by Saudi Arabia in a match against the ultimate winner Argentina. The South American giant arrived with a 36-match unbeaten streak in the lead-up to the tournament, but its hopes of matching the international record of 37 games without defeat was dampened by a team that was 48 places lower in the world rankings.
Saudi Arabia's midfielder #10 Salem Al-Dawsari (R) fights for the ball with Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 22, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
And if there is a super surprise package for fans to root for, it must be Morocco. The Atlas Lions fell just short of reaching the World Cup final, but they have made their campaign at Qatar 2022 truly historic, not only for the country itself, but also for the entire African continent.
Morocco's players celebrate at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022. (Photo: CFP)
In a daunting group that contained teams finishing second and third at Russia 2018, Walid Regragui's men breezed through it, finishing top after beating Belgium and Canada and earning a goalless draw with Croatia. The opening match of knockout stage brought Spain to be slain and Morocco wielded the sword, seeing off the 2010 champion on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate.
Portugal's midfielder #16 Vitinha is marked by Morocco's forward #14 Zakaria Aboukhlal and Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Morocco and Portugal at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on December 10, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Morocco went even further on its remarkable giant-killing run thanks to a superb first-half header from Youssef El-Nesyri that help the team seal a victory against Portugal in quarterfinal match. The North African team's World Cup final dream was eventually ended by France, but Moroccans have already made everyone sit up and take notice, knowing that no African team before them has ever reached the last four of a World Cup.
Such stories will continue to unravel in front of us four years later and Qatar has offered us every reason to believe they do happen.
Fireworks blow as Argentina's players (C) attend the Qatar 2022 World Cup trophy ceremony after the football final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
When the tournament makes its way to North America in 2026, it will expand participation to 48 teams from current 32, like no World Cup before. That would mean more of football's small fishes that didn't make it to Qatar will be given a chance of a lifetime.
Will a bigger World Cup be better? Nobody knows so far. But when we have to wave goodbye to the World Cup in Qatar and game rules that we have been so accustomed to, it does sparkle a sense of nostalgia. That adds another reason for us to remember football's highs and lows this winter.