How FIFA World Cup 2022 became an era-defining competition?

This tournament saw many records coming to an end and the beginning of new ones.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 saw a thrilling climax to the tournament. With 172 goals scored throughout 64 games, Argentina carried the trophy home for the third time following a nail-biting penalty shootout win over France.

This article contains trends and great moments that will be remembered for generations. The following is a list of the best trends in the FIFA World Cup 2022.

5. Tournament for underdogs

Over 15 matches in the World Cup 2022 ended in upsets. Beginning with Saudi Arabia's 2-1 triumph over Argentina, one of the surprises of the tournament and often viewed as the biggest tragedy of the event.

Morocco then accomplished the same sequence by defeating Spain and Portugal, before Croatia overcame tournament contenders Brazil in a penalty shootout. This amounted to 24% of all games ending in upsets.

This is the greatest percentage of surprises since 1958 in Sweden (26%).

According to the BBC, the winning team had a 33% chance of victory in 90 minutes. And a 47% chance of ousting their opposition in the knockout stage.

4. Fewer shots but more goals

This World Cup saw the fewest shots hit the target since the 2002 World Cup, with 1661 registered in the 2014 World Cup. Hence the average total number of shots taken in World Cup 2022 was 22.8.

However, the tournament saw more goals, with a total of 172 goals scored. It saw the most since a competition with 32 teams in 1998 when 171 goals were scored in both France in 1998 and Brazil in 2014.

Only the United States in 1994 could outperform Qatar 2022's 2.71 goals per game.

As reported by the BBC, 177 goals had been scored by different players. Just five short of the 2010 World Cup in Russia, while the most penalties were scored, the most in any of the past 4 World Cups.

Inside the penalty area, 92.9% of goals were scored, with a record 62.7% of shots within the box.

3. Less yellow cards shown with more stoppage time

As per the BBC, the World Cup 2022 referees issued 227 yellow cards and four red cards, the most since 2010.

However, statistics suggest that fewer fouls were committed this time, with a decrease in the fourth consecutive World Cup - 1,599, with officials enabling the flow of the game. While there were 23 penalties handed at an average of 0.36 per match and three in the final.

Due to rigorous time-wasting restrictions, FIFA introduced stopping the clock as the game stops. This tournament saw the most stoppage time given in this World Cup, with 11 minutes for each match.

2. Teenagers stepping up their game

Most young players made appearances in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Ten youngsters, including 18-year-old Spain midfielder Gavi, 19-year-old Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala, and 19-year-old England midfielder Jude Bellingham, appeared in 20 games.

However, currently, 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe owns the record for most starts with six in the 2018 edition for France.

1. Old players had a role at this World Cup

Not only did young players have a significant impact on this World Cup, but so did veteran players. A total of 27 players aged 35 or older started the tournament, breaking the World Cup 2002 record of 32 more starts.

With seven starts apiece, Messi, 35, and Croatia's Luka Modric, 37, were the most experienced players in Qatar.