The day has come. A new World Cup is underway, the most awaited football appointment and the crowdest event in the planet. The constellation of stars, promises, certainties and surprises. The battle for the biggest title that any player aims for. The reunion of multiple nations and fans. The party of the leader sport that stops the world with a bellyful of games for a month.

We know that it is not the most suitable country to host such an important event, but we can’t forget that Qatar 2022 have a special fragrance for being both the the beginning and the end of a new era in football within the players.

Qatar is the end of the binomial of the last decade, led by Messi and Cristiano. And, of course, their last chance to lift the only trophy that they are missing, and the most precious.

It will also be the last appearance in such competition for another symbol, Dani Alves, or even for Neymar, as he even warmed himself that he would think about resigning from the national team by the end of Qatar World Cup. And of other established stars such as Modric, Suárez, Griezmann, or Jordi Alba and Busquets in our case. It would have also been the last World Cup for Benzema, who would miss it due to an injury.

On the other hand, this will be the first World Cup for a group of extremely young players that have bounced into the elite thanks to an astonishing confidence that now looks to impress the entire world.

The controversial Spain of Luis Enrique is packed of this kind of players with Pedri, Gavi, Ansu Fati, Yéremi Pino or last-minute call Alejandro Balde. And so they are in other national teams Musiala, Bellingham, Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Vinicius, Rodrygo or Gio Reyna, among others.

Qatar is an unprecedented World Cup right at the start of winter that requires both the clubs and ourselves to stop our daily routines for a month. Qatar is also the reflect of a packed calendar at the most optimal moment fitness wise for the players. And, overall, an unknown to find out which of the favorite’s logic or the unpredictability of the possible surprises shows up.

A World Cup is always special, but Qatar is unique both for the context and for the generacional change within the players. Let the party of football begin.
Main image: Edit José Manuel Calviño.