Two ardent French soccer fans are cycling all the way from Paris to Doha to cheer for the defending champions at the World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off next month.

The approaching men's World Cup will be the first to feature female referees, with three women set to make history in Qatar while hoping that the focus remains on their job rather than their gender.

Ticket sales for the soccer World Cup are approaching the three-million mark ahead of the tournament kicking off in Qatar on Nov. 20, FIFA's president Gianni Infantino and event organisers said on Monday.

Chelsea and England defender Reece James will miss the World Cup in Qatar after the Premier League club confirmed on Saturday he will be out for eight weeks due to a knee injury.

Liverpool and Brazil midfielder Arthur Melo will miss the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, the player said on Friday.

Flight bookings to Qatar are booming for the soccer World Cup being held in November and December, with particularly strong demand from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as fans work round a shortage of accommodation in Doha, a study showed on Tuesday.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has said he is counting the days until the World Cup and believes his team have a good chance of winning the tournament.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi said Thursday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will "surely" be the last of his career.

Some spend crazy amounts, others line up at dawn or gather at informal swap meets -- anything to satisfy a passion that combines love of soccer, this year's World Cup in Qatar and the ever-popular pursuit of Panini soccer stickers.

A total of 32 teams including hosts Qatar have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022, scheduled to be in motion from November 21 to December 18.

Do you want to watch Brazil or Argentina or any of your favourite in action live from the stadium while enjoying when the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar in November this year? Do you want to enjoy the hospitality of FIFA and the whole package while witnessing Lionel Messi or Neymar dazzle the crowd in Qatar?

Global soccer heavyweights were pitted head-to-head as the schedule for the 2022 World Cup was completed at a glitzy ceremony in the Qatari capital on Friday.