There are just a few days left until the 2022 World Cup begins in Qatar. The first match will be Sunday with the host nation playing Ecuador in Al Khor.
After friendlies in nearby countries, the last of the teams arrived in Qatar on Friday. While they’ll soon be donning official training attire and newly designed national team kits, the world’s best soccer players took the chance to arrive at the event in style.
Let’s start with one of the all-time greats. Lionel Messi is Argentina’s captain and led the team to a runner-up finish in the 2014 World Cup. He has made 165 appearances with his national team, but hinted that this World Cup could be his last.
He arrived in Abu Dhabi in a familiar shade of blue.
Messi’s teammate Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, however, had a much different travel experience. His flight to Qatar was full of Brazil fans.
Sergio Aguero got stuck on a flight full of Brazil fans heading to Qatar 😆🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/vfviPZyxcL
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 18, 2022
The team Messi lost to in 2014, Germany, did not make it out of the group stage in 2018. The Germans open their tournament against Japan and also have Spain in their group. They showed up in blazers with Germany’s crest on the left breast.
𝐖 𝐀 𝐀 𝐀 𝐀 👋 pic.twitter.com/OtE7jpH33G
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 17, 2022
France, the reigning World Cup champions, are trying to become the first team to win consecutive titles since Brazil won in 1958 and 1962. Le Bleus return 10 members from the 2018 team. The 2022 squad is loaded with stars, including Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud. They arrived at their training facility in Clairefontaine, France, in style before traveling to Qatar.
𝐼𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒!📍 pic.twitter.com/WU3l0NaSEQ
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 14, 2022
👋 @KMbappe pic.twitter.com/WLmurXszpx
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 14, 2022
Poland’s team got a special escort. Robert Lewandowski & Co. had two F-16 fighter jets flying alongside the team’s flight to Qatar. The jet caravan comes a few days after a missile struck a Polish town near the border with Ukraine. According to Polish news outlets, the fighters traveled with the team until it left Polish airspace.
Poland’s national football team were escorted by F16 planes to the southern border of Poland on their way to Qatar 😱✈️
(via @LaczyNasPilka) pic.twitter.com/mIZjW3FPEW
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 17, 2022
Here are more travel and arrivals from the countries at the World Cup.
A warm welcome as well #ThreeLions arrive at us @FIFAWorldCup basecamp 🙌 pic.twitter.com/791S8b7RxB
— England (@England) November 15, 2022
Make way for the best player at the end #FIFAWorldCup 🇭🇷@lukamodric10 | @HNS_CFF pic.twitter.com/hcCvV6JHjK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 18, 2022
Arriving in style 😎🇬🇭#FIFAWorldCup | @GhanaBlackstars pic.twitter.com/00ZFkJPVra
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 18, 2022
🫡 ¡¡El capitán @5sergiob marca el camino!!#VamosEspaña | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/DRavjQozRD
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 14, 2022
😉 ¡YA ESTAMOS TODOS!!
Los jugadores de la @SEFootball se encuentran alojados en la Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas, where they will remain until tomorrow at noon.
🌍 ¡¡Mᴏᴅᴏ MUNDIAL ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠᴀᴅᴏ!! #VamosEspaña | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/JURu8c7amp
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 14, 2022
👕 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐦__́𝐬
Josema, Ortega y Edi, tres uruguayos más en Abu Dabi. #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/PSw1luen9c
— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) November 13, 2022
😏 Good morning
Darwin and Fauci arrived in Abu Dhabi. #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/20WUQloXIT
— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) November 13, 2022
Day one! ✅
💪 World Cup preparations have started!#NothingLikeOrange pic.twitter.com/MWnOZJWPS8
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 15, 2022
🇷🇸 Team Serbia for the World Cup in Qatar. 🔥#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/2J9ohpca46
— Fudbalski savez Srbije | FA of Serbia (@FSSrbije) November 15, 2022