Qatar will be the home of the FIFA World Cup beginning Nov. 20, marking the first time the Mideast has hosted the world-watched tournament.
This year's World Cup also marks the first time it will be played in November and December, in part due to the sweltering summer heat of this small, energy-rich desert sheikhdom on the Arabian Peninsula.
All these changes — as well as the cultural sensitivities of the competition being held in one of the Arab world's more conservative nations — have soccer fans curious about what to expect.