How the World Cup will Affect the Premier League this Season

No matter if you’re here in Exeter, another part of the UK, or anywhere else on the planet, there’s going to be no getting away from the FIFA World Cup when it kicks off later this year.

In many respects, this year’s iteration of the world’s biggest football tournament will be business as usual. Fans from every continent will be flocking to the host nation in the hopes of seeing their nation be crowned as the best in the world at the beautiful game.

There will, however, be a few key differences. Firstly, the World Cup will be taking place in Qatar, the first time it’s ever been hosted in the Middle East.

That brings with it a bigger difference. Due to the scorching summer temperatures in the country, it was deemed unsafe to host the tournament in its usual June slot. For that reason, it’s been moved to November and December.

That will bring with it a unique set of challenges that will have a knock on effect on the Premier League and other domestic competitions.

Fatigue

The football season is usually structured so that its players get a rest in the summer but still have time to play in international competitions. In 2022, that isn’t the case.

There’ll be no rest before or after the tournament, which will add an unequal strain on players and their teams. The ones that progress further will have tireder players.

With these additional pressures being placed on teams and players, the outcome of the season could be affected. For fans that are looking to get the most out of their Premier League betting, it will be important to consider which clubs will handle the extra pressures better.

Injuries

It’s not just tiredness that can be the problem. Most players only get a few opportunities to compete in the World Cup and make their country proud, so they want to make the most of the times they are called up.

This can lead to more aggressive play that often causes more injuries. On average, there are almost two injuries per game in the tournament, which is slightly above the normal rate.

Injuries can leave players out of action for their domestic duties too, which could affect the outcome of the Premier League.

A Break

Another factor to consider is that the Premier League is taking a break during the final months of the year to give players the opportunity to take part in the World Cup. This means there will be a break in momentum for everyone involved.

For some, this may help them refocus but for others, it could stop them in their tracks. We saw this in 2020 when fixtures were restarted. Although Liverpool went on to win the league, their unstoppable form had been dampened.

It is very possible that this could happen again later this year following the World Cup.