Sport
Goal! ATN secures rights to broadcast FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
Ariana Television Network (ATN) is thrilled to announce it has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in Afghanistan.
Afghans love football, and through its dedication to bring enjoyment to about 36 million people in the country, ATN has worked closely with FIFA to bring what is undoubtedly the world’s most prestigious event into as many homes in Afghanistan as possible.
The move will definitely bring joy and give the poverty-stricken nation something to look forward to and ultimately enjoy as it emerges from a grueling 20-year war.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will kick off on November 21 and run through to December 18 and all matches, including the opening and closing ceremonies will be broadcast live on ATN.
This year’s World Cup will however deviate slightly from historical norms and apart from being the first ever World Cup to be held in the Middle East, it will also be the first time that a World Cup is held in Winter – given that it would be too hot to play football in summer in Qatar.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be the 22nd edition of the competition and 64 matches will take place across eight venues – Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium – all of which are in and around Doha.
Not much has been reported about the opening ceremony yet, but one thing we know is that there will be a change in tradition on that day.
Since the inception of the World Cup, the hosts have played the opening match. Qatar, however, will be breaking this tradition come November 21.
This will make them the second hosts to sit out the opegning game of the World Cup after South Korea and Japan did it 20 years ago in the 2002 World Cup.
This year however, the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is reported to have special plans for the opening ceremony. This will see Senegal open the World Cup with Netherlands, before Qatar face Ecuador in the evening of November 21 when the Emir’s planned ceremony will take place.
Sheikh Tamim reportedly wants to put on a big fireworks display before his country – who are making their World Cup debut – faces Ecuador.
An afternoon kick-off would reduce the beauty of the display and as such, FIFA have agreed to push Qatar’s game until the evening of the opening day while the other teams in Group A, Senegal and the Netherlands, face off in the planned afternoon kickoff as the opening match.
The opening ceremony will take place at the 60,000 capacity Al Bayt Stadium, while Senegal and Netherlands will face off at Al Thumama Stadium.
Group Phase
The draw for the World Cup group phase took place in Doha on April 1 this year – which will be played from November 21 to December 2 and the 32-team line-up is split into eight groups.
The knockout phase will run from December 3 to 6 while the quarter-finals will be played on December 9 and 10.
The semi-finals will be played on December 13 and 14 and the play-off for third place will be December 17 – one day before the final.
Participating Teams
All 32 teams have officially qualified for this year’s World Cup, including the host nation.
In addition to Qatar, there have been 13 nations from Europe to qualify for the tournament, four from South America, four from Asia, five from Africa, four from North America, and Australia.
The countries that qualified are as follows: Qatar, Germany, Denmark, Brazil, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland, Netherlands, Argentina, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Canada, Ghana, Senegal, Portugal, Poland, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon, United States, Mexico, Wales, Australia and Costa Rica.
For a full match schedule CLICK HERE
About Ariana Television Network
Launched in 2005 by Dr Ehsanollah Bayat, Founder of ATN and the Chairman of The Bayat Group (www.bayat-group.com), ARIANA Television (ATN) and Radio Ariana 93.5 are the largest private media channels in Afghanistan, covering all 34 provinces and reaching about 36 million Afghans.
Focusing on information, content and entertainment that rekindles Afghanistan’s traditions and culture, ATN’s programming places particular emphasis on education, health, children’s programming, women’s and world issues.
The company also takes great pride in broadcasting accurate, unbiased news to its audience.
Zimbabwe produced a remarkable batting display to secure a draw against Afghanistan in the first Test in Sharjah, with Craig Ervine and Wessly Madhevere scoring unbeaten centuries on the final day.
Resuming the fifth and final day at 164/3, Zimbabwe finished on 523/5 in their second innings, following their first-innings total of 504. This marked the first time in Test cricket history that a team has scored more than 500 runs in both innings of a match.
Craig Ervine remained unbeaten on 206, while Madhevere scored 100 not out, as the pair frustrated Afghanistan’s bowlers throughout the day.
Ervine, aged 41 years and 82 days, became the third-oldest player to score a double century in Test cricket.
Afghanistan had posted 514 in their first innings. Afghanistan needed early wickets to put pressure on the hosts, but Zimbabwe’s batters showed patience and discipline on a pitch offering little assistance to the bowlers.
Brian Bennett scored a half-century before Mohammad Saleem dismissed him, while debutant Antum Naqvi contributed 61 runs. Naqvi and Ervine shared a 140-run partnership before Abdul Malik broke the stand.
However, Madhevere joined Ervine and the pair put together an unbeaten 208-run partnership for the sixth wicket, the highest for that wicket in Zimbabwe’s Test history. Madhevere also registered his maiden Test century during the partnership.
The result leaves the two sides level heading into the second and final Test, which is scheduled to begin in Sharjah on November 13.
Afghanistan’s Under-18 futsal team missed out on a place in the gold medal match at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Portugal in the semi-finals on Monday.
Portugal took the lead through Joao Carvalho, who capitalised on a goalkeeping error by Afghanistan’s Ahmad Esmaeili to score into an unguarded net from inside his own half.
Diego Ferreira doubled Portugal’s advantage before half-time, putting the European side firmly in control of the match.
Afghanistan pushed hard to get back into the game in the second half, creating several opportunities to reduce the deficit. However, they were unable to find the net, with Portugal goalkeeper Bernardo Borges making several important saves.
The victory sends Portugal into the gold medal match, while Afghanistan will now compete for the bronze medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team secured a convincing 106-run victory over Sri Lanka in the ACC Under-19s Asia Cup in Oman on Monday, recording their third consecutive win in the tournament.
Asked to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field, Afghanistan scored 275 runs in 49.5 overs.
Subhan Zakhail led the batting with an impressive 107 off 111 deliveries, while Abdiullah Nadarjan contributed 55 runs from 64 balls.
In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 169 in 34.1 overs, falling 106 runs short of Afghanistan’s target.
Noor Ali Niazai was Afghanistan’s leading bowler, claiming four wickets. He had also delivered an impressive performance in the previous match against Malaysia, taking six wickets.
The victory marks Afghanistan’s third consecutive win in the tournament, following their earlier victories over Bangladesh and Malaysia.
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