World Cup 2022

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      Who is Portugal vs Ghana referee Ismail Elfath at World Cup 2022?

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      THE biggest tournament in world football is about to get underway, and referee Ismail Elfath is set to be in the thick of it.Elfath is the only American referee boarding the plane to Qatar, and will be a part of a large group of officials managing the games – and he takes charge of Portugal vs Ghana in the first round of group games.
      Ismail Elfath has been selected to referee at this year’s World CupCredit: Reuters
      Here is all you need to know about him.
      Who is Ismail Elfath?
      Ismail Elfath was born in Morocco in 1982 before moving to the United States at the age of eighteen.
      Elfath started his career as a fourth official in 2011, and made his MLS refereeing debut the following year.
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      Four years on, the 40-year-old became a registered FIFA official.
      Later that year, Elfath refereed the first ever match involving VAR, a system now used in the Premier League.
      In 2019, the Amercian got his international call-up, officiating at the 2019 Under-20 World Cup final between Ukraine and South Korea.
      This led to his involvement with the 2019 Club World Cup where he took charge of Liverpool’s semi-final 2-1 win over Monterrey.
      Elfath was the referee for the World Club Cup semi-final between Monterrey and LiverpoolCredit: Alamy
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      He has since won the MLS Referee of the Year two times and been selected to referee at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

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      Inside World Cup training centres with England on outskirts of Doha but facing ‘spy’ fears with teams just FEET apart

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      OUT of the 32 nations competing at the World Cup, 24 will be training within a six-mile radius of each other.England’s base is the luxury Souq Al-Wakra hotel, with the Three Lions training at the Al Wakrah Sports Complex.
      24 out of the 32 World Cup teams are based within a six-mile radiusCredit: FIFA
      Qatar, Australia and Ghana are all training at the Aspire AcademyCredit: Getty – Contributor
      England are training at Al Wakrah Stadium on the outskirts of DohaCredit: Getty
      A look inside England’s luxury Souq al-Wakra HotelCredit: AFP
      Gareth Southgate’s side are staying on the outskirts of Doha, but the majority of teams at the tournament are training close together in the city.
      Fast forward four years to the next World Cup, teams are likely to be staying in different time zones altogether to each other.
      The 2026 edition will be held across USA, Mexico and Canada, which will see nations hundreds of miles apart.
      Qatar on the other hand has three-quarters of the competing countries within a tiny radius.
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      Some sides are separated by just a matter of feet, with hosts Qatar, Ghana and Australia ALL training at the incredible Aspire Academy.
      The state-funded centre was founded in 2004 to develop and nurture talent from Qatar.
      The three countries are staying at different hotels but all three nations training at the same centre could heighten fears of training ground ‘spies’.
      Fortunately the three sides are all in different groups so treading on each other’s toes is unlikely to be a problem unless they reach the latter stages of the tournament.
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      Elsewhere current holders France, Wales and Japan are all using facilities from Qatari side Al Sadd.
      Tunisia and South Korea are using separate sites at the Al Egla training facility, while Uruguay and Croatia are using different Al Erssal sites.
      But Brazil and Serbia, who are in Group G, have BOTH trained at the Al-Arabi Sports Club ahead of the game.
      The Brazilians trained at the Grand Hamad Stadium, also known as the Al–Arabi Sports Club Stadium, while Serbia trained at the practice facilities nearby.
      Five-time champions Brazil kick off their campaign against Serbia tomorrow.
      Brazil have trained at Grand Hamad Stadium, which is also known as the Al–Arabi Sports Club StadiumCredit: AP
      Serbia have also trained at the Al Arabi Sports ClubCredit: AFP More

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      Germany stars in defiant message to Fifa in team photo ahead of Japan clash after World Cup ban on One Love armband

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      GERMANY sent a defiant message to Fifa with an iconic team photo ahead of their World Cup opener against Japan.Hansi Flick’s side were one of the seven European nations that planned on wearing the One Love armband.
      Germany’s players covered their mouths for the team photo in a united stanceCredit: EPA
      Gianni Infantino was in the stadium to see the protestCredit: Getty
      German FA chief Bernd Neuendorf talks to Nancy Faeser as she wears the One Love armbandCredit: Getty
      Faeser had the armband out just a couple of metres from InfantinoCredit: Reuters
      The armband has been used as a message of support and unity, especially for the LGBTQ+ community with England, Wales, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Denmark also set to join with Team DFB.
      However, Fifa made a last-minute decision to ban the accessory – and threatened captains with yellow cards or even one-match suspensions prompting a U-turn from all seven countries.
      It means captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer walked out with the regular generic ‘No Discrimination’ version instead.
      But Germany’s starting XI still made a protest of their own ahead of kick-off in Qatar.
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      The 11 stars, including Chelsea’s Kai Havertz and wonderkid Jamal Musiala, lined up and all covered their mouths with their right hand – as if to say they have been silenced by the tournament organisers.
      That includes Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who was in the stadium to witness the silent stand first hand.
      Like Alex Scott on Monday, German Federal Minister of the Interior and Community, Nancy Faeser, showed her support by wearing the One Love armband inside the ground – and even as she sat right next to Infantino.
      The German and Japanese players also wore training tops with rainbow colours on the sleeves for the warm-up at the Khalifa International Stadium – while Neuer’s World Cup boots feature the colours too.
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      The official Team DFB Twitter account posted: “We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect.
      “Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard.
      “It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable.
      “That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us.
      “Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position.”
      German manager Hansi Flick spoke of his dismay over the armband saga in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. 
      🗣 “It’s a gesture and it’s a start… They say they’ve been silenced but by who? Use your voice! Wear the armband! We always say leadership is about action!@IanWright0 & Roy Keane discuss Germany’s pre match stand pic.twitter.com/bMDRFBQCy3— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 23, 2022

      He said: “About the One Love armband, together with the German FA and other countries, the German team wanted to do this and to take a stand.
      “But now Fifa have threatened us basically with sanctions. The associations that played on Monday (England and Wales), it was very short notice.
      “If you want to run a campaign like this together, you should stick to your decisions.”
      Ian Wright praised the Germany players as “fantastic” for the global gesture in the ITV studio at half-time.
      But Roy Keane encouraged them to go further and show leadership by actually wear the One Love armband for a match.
      Keane said: “It’s a gesture and it’s a start but I think they can do more.
      “They say they’ve been silenced but by who?
      Read More on The Sun
      “They’re the players, the most important people in football.
      “Use your voice! Wear the armband! Stand up! We always say leadership is about action! Go and do it!”
      The silent protest comes after Fifa’s U-turn on the One Love armbandCredit: Reuters
      Manuel Neuer wore the Fifa armband insteadCredit: Getty
      Assistant referee Zachari Zeegelaar made a beeline to check itCredit: EPA
      Neuer sent a message with his choice of boot coloursCredit: Reuters
      Germany’s warm-up tops with rainbow colours on the sleevesCredit: Getty More

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      I was worried my outfit for Qatar World Cup pool party would be inappropriate – but I could have been MORE revealing

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      A MODEL was worried her outfit for a pool party in Qatar was inappropriate – but it turned out other women were wearing much less.World Class Bikini Model 2022 winner Cassandra Wallace went shopping for a “conservative” once-piece costume to wear poolside at a resort in Doha for the 2022 World Cup.
      Cassandra Wallace posted a video of her cossie on TikTok
      The model was not sure what to wear at a pool party in QatarCredit: cassandra.bannon.wallace/TIKTOK
      In a TikTok video, Ms Wallace said it turned out almost everyone else was in a bikini.
      She said: “Totally didn’t know what was appropriate to wear poolside in Doha, Qatar.
      “I hit the local mall and got this beauty. although I went with a conservative suit, almost everyone else was in a bikini.”
      Viewers of her social media had commented that it was a nice choice.
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      “You look amazing, be careful over there my friend,” the Instagram follower said.
      Qatar has regulations over what residents and visitors can and cannot wear.
      Most public attire regulations are considered conservative, but when on private property the rules are relaxed.
      As for beaches, most of them in Doha are owned by hotels, hence you can wear your bikini or another swimsuit that you have.
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      The only beach not owned by a hotel and is a public place is the Katara Beach, where the dress code does apply.
      More parties are expected to take place as the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 carries on into its later stages.
      World Cup fans risk being slapped with huge fines or even put behind bars if they flash their shoulder or midriffs in public spaces.
      Men risk fines if their jeans, athletic or chino shorts do not cover the knee.
      Cassandra said other women were showing much more fleshCredit: cassandra.bannon.wallace/TIKTOK
      Cassandra is a beauty queen and bikini modelCredit: cassandra.bannon.wallace/INSTAGRAM
      She has thousands of fans on TikTok and InstagramCredit: cassandra.bannon.wallace/INSTAGRAM More

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      Who is Germany vs Japan referee Ivan Barton? El Salvador ref at the 2022 World Cup

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      THE World Cup is here and Ivan Barton has been announced as one of the referees who will make sure games run smoothly in Qatar – and he is in charge of Germany’s opening game against Japan.Barton is one of three officials representing Central America at this year’s tournament.
      Ivan Barton took charge of Germany’s group game against Japan at the 2022 World CupCredit: Getty
      Here is some more information on him.
      Who is Ivan Barton?
      Ivan Barton was born in Santa Ana in 1991, making him the third-youngest referee at the World Cup, behind Kevin Ortega and Said Martinez.
      Barton currently referees in El Salvador’s Primera Division and was appointed as a FIFA referee in 2018.
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      The 31-year-old has plenty of experience officiating international tournaments, taking charge of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil.
      Here, he came across the likes of Manchester city star Phil Foden, who will be in Gareth Southgate’s plans for Qatar.
      Ivan Barton officiated at the Brazil Under-17 World Cup in 2017Credit: AP:Associated Press
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      Aside from football, Barton obtained a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Sciences from the University of El Salvador.
      He has since become a professor at the institution.

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      I’m Mexico’s sexiest fan along with weather girl, actress and Instagram model… I’m backing us to bring it home

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      MEXICAN weathergirl Yanet Garcia has been dubbed their sexiest fan and is backing them to win the World Cup.Model Garcia has been posting World Cup pics to her 14.8m followers on Instagram.
      Yanet Garcia regularly posts sexy snaps to her 14.8m Instagram followersCredit: Instagram / @iamyanetgarcia
      Garcia reportedly has a net worth of $3mCredit: Instagram / @iamyanetgarcia
      Garcia is backing Mexico to win the World CupCredit: Getty

      At the 2018 tournament, the 32-year-old stunned in Mexico’s home shirt.
      And the beauty is back again, this time stripping down to just red lingerie with a mesh dress over the top.
      Despite Mexico being involved in a bore draw with Poland on Tuesday, the model is already looking towards their next group match.
      The first of two sexy photos she posted were accompanied by a caption that read: “Are you ready for this Saturday? Mexico vs Argentina. Who will win?”
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      The number of likes might be hidden, but the comments section was overwhelmed with complements and fire emojis.
      One said: “Beautiful.”

      A second admitted: “Stunning women.”
      A third replied: “What a perfect women.”
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      But if Garcia wants to get her wish, Mexico need to play far better than their opening game, especially with Saudi Arabia’s win against Argentina blowing Group C wide open.
      The North American side have crashed out in the Round of 16 at the last seven World Cups and will hoping to go behind the first knockout Qatar.
      Garcia is 32-years-old and regularly posts on her InstagramCredit: Instagram / @iamyanetgarcia
      Garcia is a weather girl, actress and modelCredit: Instagram / @iamyanetgarcia
      The Mexican weather girl has her own OnlyFansCredit: Instagram / @iamyanetgarcia
      Garcia is known as the sexiest weather girl in the worldCredit: Instagram / @iamyanetgarcia
      Garcia attending an awards nightCredit: Getty More

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      I tracked down the Qatar World Cup’s most expensive beer – it’s only a bottle and it’s not exactly a premium brand

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      EVEN for wallet-busting Doha, my bar tab came as a sobering shock.Watching France thrash Australia at popular sports bar Shots I was charged a whopping 65 riyals – that’s around £15 – for a bottle of Becks.
      Sun man Oliver Harvey was stunned by the price of his bottle of BecksCredit: THE SUN/MAX MOLYNEux
      Two beers and a salad set our reporters back £44Credit: THE SUN/MAX MOLYNEux
      A Saudi Arabia supporter – celebrating his team’s World Cup win over Argentina – told me: “The prices are ludicrous. How are we supposed to party?”
      After a day in the Qatari sunshine my 275ml bottle of Becks  – just over half a pint – disappeared in a flash. 
      And that is approximately 20p per millilitre on beer.
      An apologetic barman told me: “We’ve run out of draught beer tonight so it’s bottles only. Draught will be back on tomorrow.”
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      A draught pint of Budweiser in the bar costs 60 riyals (around £13.90).
      The wine list was equally lumpy. A glass of pino grigio would have set me back 70 riyals (around £16.15).
      My bill for the evening at the popular sports bar – inside the Hilton Doha Hotel with stunning views of Doha’s bay – was 190 riyals – around £44 – for two bottles of Becks and Greek salad.
      Fans have been searching for an affordable beer in Doha’s hotel bars with prices in the fan zone also eye-wateringly steep. 
      Most read in The Sun
      The fan zone at Al Bidda Park on the waterfront Corniche has room for 40,000 people – yet there was just one designated beer tent with 78 fridges packed with tins of Budweiser.
      A 500ml glass of the lager goes for 50 riyals – around  £11.50 – and you’re limited to four alcoholic drinks.
      A bog standard slice of pizza to soak it up is around £8.
      Alcohol isn’t served until after 6.30pm and you’re only allowed four measly 500ml cups of World Cup sponsor Budweiser’s fare.
      Only alcohol-free beer is on sale in stadium perimeters.
      According to the 2021 World Beer Index by Expensivity, Qatar has the most expensive beer prices in the world.
      Analysing prices in the capitals of 58 nations, Doha came out tops with a 330ml bottle of beer costing around £9.45.
      Bottles of beer cost £15 a pop at the pricey bar in Doha More

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      Meet Spain’s stunning World Cup Wags including Italian fashion designer, qualified architect and the manager’s DAUGHTER

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      SPAIN have every chance of winning the World Cup in Qatar.And if they do, the stars of Luis Enrique’s team will be celebrated by their amazing Wags.
      Stunning Spain Wag Sandra Garal leads her country’s Wags
      Qualified architect Garal with Marco Asensio
      From a qualified architect to an Italian model and fashion designer, they are as glam as you would expect.
      While the manager’s daughter also dates a former Man City star.
      Here’s Spain’s glorious Wags in all their glory.
      Sandra Garal
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      Sandra, 28, met Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio in a nightclub, where she worked as a waitress.
      A former architecture student, she is now a model – who regularly shows off her curves in a bikini on Instagram.
      She has over 300,000 followers on the social media platform, who will be entranced by the glam lifestyle she leads.
      From epic holidays to fancy fashion photoshoots, she lives a life to envy.
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      Alice Campello
      Italian stunner Alice, 27, is the wife of centre forward Alvaro Morata.
      But she’s more than that – and is an entrepreneur in her own right.
      A former model, Campello has branched out into the fashion world – launching her own clothing label, Akala Studio.
      And she also has her own make-up line MASQMAI that’s available at Sephora.
      Stunning Italian beauty Alice Campello is one of Spain’s most famous WagsCredit: Instagram / @alicecampello
      Campello has her own fashion and make-up linesCredit: Instagram / @alicecampello
      Alvaro Morata with gorgeous CampelloCredit: Instagram / @alicecampello
      Sira Martinez
      Sira, 22, is an equestrian, polo player and girlfriend of Ferran Torres, who used to grace the Etihad.
      They began dating last year, although it’s unknown if he had to seek her dad’s approval.
      Because Sira’s old man is Spain’s coach, Luis Enrique.
      Ahead of the coach, Enrique joked that his daughter would kill him if he didn’t pick Torres in his team.

      Sira Martinez is the daughter of Luis EnriqueCredit: Instagram / @siramartinezc
      Enrique joked that daughter Martinez would kill him if she didn’t pick her footballer boyfriend for the national teamCredit: Instagram / @siramartinezc
      Martinez dates former Man City ace Ferran TorresCredit: Instagram / @siramartinezc
      Sara Botello
      Beautiful brunette Botello divides her time between her hometown Bilbao and where she currently lives in Manchester with City ace Aymeric Laporte.
      The brunette beauty is a trained dancer, having performed ballet and contemporary dance in shows around Spain.
      And back in August they welcomed their first child together – a boy named Lucay.
      Brunette beauty Sara Botello shows off her stunning curvesCredit: Instagram / @sara_botello
      Botello is a dancer originally from BilbaoCredit: Instagram / @sara_botello
      Botello lives a glam life with Man City’s Aymeric LaporteCredit: Instagram / @sara_botello
      Tatiana Trouboul
      David Raya is not the only keeper in his life – his stunning Wag Tatiana is someone you would never want to let go of.
      She’s 27 and is originally from Barcelona, although she now lives in London with the Brentford shotstopper.
      They reportedly met in 2021, but kept their romance private until this year.
      She is a model, who formerly worked in a nightclub.
      Tatiana Trouboul is from Barcelona – but now lives in LondonCredit: Instagram / @t.trouboul
      Trouboul used to work in a nightclub in her homelandCredit: Instagram / @t.trouboul
      David Raya and Trouboul kept their romance under wraps until this yearCredit: Instagram / @t.trouboul
      Marta Marchena
      Glam Marta Marchena, 28, is originally from Sevilla.
      She was thrust into the public eye, after she dated Spanish singer Antonio Jose for five years.
      She has since got together with PSG midfielder Carlos Soler this year.
      Marta is a blogger who runs her own consultancy business.
      Seville beauty Marta Marchena is a blogger and runs a consultancy companyCredit: Instagram / @martamarchena3
      Marchena was thrust into the spotlight when she dated Spanish pop star Antonio JoseCredit: Instagram / @martamarchena3
      Now, Marchena dates Carlos SolerCredit: Instagram / @martamarchena3
      Beatriz Espejel
      Bilingual Beatriz, 33, is the founder and director of International Academy of Languages school.
      In 2018, she married Atletico Madrid ace Koke – and they have one son together called Leo.
      In her spare time, she likes to write a travel blog – documenting her travels as a Wag.
      She is well followed on social media – boasting over 150,000 followers on Instagram.
      Beatriz Espejel is bilingual and runs a language schoolCredit: Instagram / @beatrizespejel
      Koke and Espejel have been married since 2018Credit: Instagram / @beatrizespejel More