Over the years, the editions of the World Cup have been marked by a series of curious factors. Whether by teams that surprise everyone, like Costa Rica in 2014, by teams that disappoint or by atypical countries that have managed to qualify, the most modern versions of the tournament always offer their spectators the means the most diverse.

Although the 2022 Cup has not yet started, the tournament already holds some initial surprises, such as the ranking of Ecuador, Canada and Wales, who returned to the competition after many years of drought and caused some surprise to those who have not seen them. support on a daily basis.

Wales and the 64-year break

With Gareth Bale’s worldwide notoriety, the Wales team have started to get more attention from football fans in recent years and had a promising generation to re-enter international tournaments.

In 2016, the Welsh qualified for their first European Championship and surprised the world by knocking out promising Belgium and reaching the semi-finals. In 2020 the team qualified for another Euro, but having failed to get their passports stamped for Russia in 2018, hopes that Wales would return to a World Cup after 64 years were dim. – but not far away.

After finishing second in Group E of the qualifiers, just one point clear of the Czech Republic, the Red Dragons side had to go through a difficult European play-off to qualify for their second World Cup, leaving Austria and Ukraine for good.

oh canadian

Anyone who thinks of Canada will hardly associate the North American country with football. Having participated in only one World Cup (in 1986, where he was eliminated with three defeats) and with only three Concacaf Gold Cup titles to his name, Canada’s qualification for the Qatari world was considered unlikely.

With the skillful Bayern side Alphonso Davies as the highlight, the Canadians surprised and not only qualified but did so with skill, taking first place in the Concacaf qualifiers, with 28 points and leaving teams with a certain tradition in the tournament like Mexico and the United States.

four times the equator

It is true that the Ecuadorian team finally managed to qualify for the 2002 World Cups. Out of five qualifiers, the team qualified in three, but considering their poor campaign in the last Copa América – when ‘She was eliminated without a win – and having competed for a place with teams of a certain tradition like Chile, Uruguay and Colombia, her trip to Qatar was not taken for granted.

However, the Ecuadorian team surprised and ended their qualifying campaign in fourth place, sending Peru to repechage and eliminating Colombia. The question that remains is: will Ecuador surprise and reach the round of 16 like in 2006 or will they be knocked out in the first round like in 2002 and 2014?

The groups :

Among the selections considered atypical, the one which, in theory, will have the quietest life will be Wales, which fell into Group B with England, the United States and Iran. Ecuador fell into Group A and will play the Cup opener against Qatar. Holland and Senegal will be your other adversaries. Finally, Canada will also have to prove itself since it is in group F with Belgium, Croatia and Morocco.

The Cup begins on 11/20, with Qatar and Ecuador playing the opening match at 1:00 p.m. (Brasilia time) at Al Bayt Stadium.