The 2022 Soccer Cup and how to celebrate it safely
It's all set and ready to go! The global soccer celebration being held in Qatar this year will begin on November 20. Things kick off with an inaugural match between the host country's national team and Ecuador, one of the eight participating teams from the Americas.
The soccer championship has been played every four years since 1930, with a break during and after World War II. The 2022 championship is especially significant because there will be many firsts. For starters, no Arab country has ever hosted the championship. It'll also be the first time that it is held in the fall in the Northern Hemisphere since, to date, it's always been held during the warmer months in the middle of the year. Lastly, it'll be the first time that all three of the North American national teams — Mexico, the U.S. and Canada — will appear together on the roster of the 32 participating countries.
Almost without a doubt, the world will be talking exclusively about soccer throughout the 2022 Cup. It'll be that way here, too, seeing as every time there's a Major League Soccer match (MLS, the professional soccer league here in the U.S.), the stadiums fill up to capacity. And don't forget that some of biggest stars in international soccer are going to play on the U.S. national team.
Although many surely already have tickets in hand and are all set to travel to Qatar to watch the games in person, most people are getting ready to watch them at home, either on cable or via streaming.
Hosting a home game
As a great opportunity to spend time with friends and families, there is no question that celebrating international soccer can be especially important for many Hispanic communities. As a matter of fact, many already have their favorite team's jersey ready and are waiting for their guests to arrive to watch their national teams and other key matches together. Some will liven up their gatherings with snacks, food and — in some instances — plenty of drinks.
With so many people over, walking in and out of the house, wandering around with plates and drinks and celebrating loudly when there's a goal, it's hard to pay attention to safety. Not to worry though. As a Good Neighbor, that's what we're here for.
Before the game
If you'll be inviting guests over to the house, remember to clear entryways for both vehicles and people in such a way that your neighbors won't be affected and as a preventative measure against the possibility that guests will get carried off the field (or to a medical facility) with injuries due to a slip or fall. If you have kids, pick up their toys and balls. Also, remember that snow and rain are common this time of year, so don't forget to clear any snow or ice from walkways or any other area that might get some foot traffic from your guests.
If you'll be making food, remember to avoid situations where the stove could get left unattended amid people yelling out "goal!" and other key plays. According to a report published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), kitchen accidents were the primary cause of house fires (49%) in the U.S. between 2015 and 2019. With this in mind, it's a good idea to start making food well before the matches begin, and to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen so that any fire gets red-carded before it happens.
During the game
With your fellow fans over to watch the game, there will surely be someone who asks you for your WiFi password to look up game results, check messages or send photos of the gathering. But even the most well-meaning of guests could unintentionally open your network to different types of viruses and malware that are potentially dangerous. On the other hand, not giving out your password could cause a bad impression, so it's better to be prepared for these situations.
Ideally, you should decide on a good strategy before the match begins. You could set up a guest password or enable a guest network that would allow you to share your home's Internet, but using a different network with a distinct name and password. Nowadays, almost all routers and internet providers give you that option.
Game mascots
If you have cats or dogs at home, they'll more than likely be unsettled by your guests, and even more so if goals set people off yelling their hearts out. Consider taking them to a separate room while people are over and keeping them benched during the game.
If you're over at somebody else's place as a guest and are around the owner's pets, remember that it can be dangerous to feed them and that you can get yellow-carded for doing so. As a matter of fact, there are certain foods that you should never give a dog, a good thing to be aware of. If you're the owner of the house, fill yourself in on the variety of dangers that pets are surrounded by every day, and help protect them with pet medical insurance so that a sudden ailment doesn't wreck your budget while getting you expelled from the game.
During halftime
It's not uncommon for someone to realize in the middle of a gathering that they need to get more food or drinks, or that they need to go pick someone up. If a situation like that comes up, are you going to lend someone your vehicle? There are multiple auto insurance considerations that you should take into account prior to making a decision.
Nearing game's end
Try to limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages an hour before your guests will be leaving. It's a good idea to put out a dessert or some snacks around that time. Keep an eye out for anybody wanting to drive home that's had a little too much. If that happens, bust out the red card in friendly fashion, and send your guest to the bench.
Having a designated driver that abstains from drinking during the gathering, or using a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, is an excellent idea: one that you should be sure to suggest. Driving under the influence is no joke. According to the NHTSA, 11,654 people died in 2020 in alcohol-related auto collisions in the U.S.
Furthermore, drunk driving puts you at risk of having a DUI on your driving record, which could have a serious impact on your auto insurance rates, among other problems. You're better off not taking the risk of heading out to the field — or the highway — if you're not in any condition to drive.
Overtime
Alcohol is not the only problem that you should keep in mind. Remember that bad weather happens and that, during this time of year, it's a real possibility. If you're going to drive, it'd be good to check out some basic tips for driving in winter conditions.
If you are the homeowner, make sure that there is not snow or ice present in entryways or in the driveway prior to your guests leaving. Remember that, should one of your guests have an accident on your property, you may run the risk of facing an unexpected lawsuit. If you need help finding out what your home policy covers and what it doesn't, be sure to consult with your State Farm agent.
In closing, and before stepping off the field, we've provided a list of the matches to be held during the group phase of the soccer world championship in 2022 so that you can be ready for the games to begin. And lastly, yay for soccer!
GROUP STAGE
Sunday, Nov. 20
Qatar vs. Ecuador, 11 a.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 21
England vs. Iran, 8 a.m. ET
Senegal vs. Netherlands, 11 a.m. ET
U.S. vs. Wales, 2 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 22
Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia, 5 a.m. ET
Denmark vs. Tunisia, 8 a.m. ET
Mexico vs. Poland, 11 a.m. ET
France vs. Australia, 2 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Nov. 23
Morocco vs. Croatia, 5 a.m. ET
Germany vs. Japan, 8 a.m. ET
Spain vs. Costa Rica, 11 a.m. ET
Belgium vs. Canada, 2 p.m. ET
Thursday, Nov. 24
Switzerland vs. Cameroon, 5 a.m. ET
Uruguay vs. South Korea, 8 a.m. ET
Portugal vs. Ghana, 11 a.m. ET
Brazil vs. Serbia, 2 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 25
Wales vs. Iran, 5 a.m. ET
Qatar vs. Senegal, 8 a.m. ET
Netherlands vs. Ecuador, 11 a.m. ET
England vs. U.S., 2 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 26
Tunisia vs. Australia, 5 a.m. ET
Poland vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 a.m. ET
France vs. Denmark, 11 a.m. ET
Argentina vs. Mexico, 2 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 27
Japan vs. Costa Rica, 5 a.m. ET
Belgium vs. Morocco, 8 a.m. ET
Croatia vs. Canada, 11 a.m. ET
Spain vs. Germany, 2 p.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 28
Cameroon vs. Serbia, 5 a.m. ET
South Korea vs. Ghana, 8 a.m. ET
Brazil vs. Switzerland, 11 a.m. ET
Portugal vs. Uruguay, 2 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 29
Netherlands vs. Qatar, 10 a.m. ET
Ecuador vs. Senegal, 10 a.m. ET
Wales vs. England, 2 p.m. ET
Iran vs. U.S., 2 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Tunisia vs. France, 10 a.m. ET
Australia vs. Denmark, 10 a.m. ET
Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico, 2 p.m. ET
Poland vs. Argentina, 2 p.m. ET
Thursday, Dec. 1
Croatia vs. Belgium, 10 a.m. ET
Canada vs. Morocco, 10 a.m. ET
Japan vs. Spain, 2 p.m. ET
Costa Rica vs. Germany, 2 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 2
South Korea vs. Portugal, 10 a.m. ET
Ghana vs. Uruguay, 10 a.m. ET
Serbia vs. Switzerland, 2 p.m. ET
Cameroon vs. Brazil, 2 p.m. ET
FINAL
Sunday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m. ET
*Schedule provided by FIFA and subject to change.
