![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HO7GWRAIH377J2I6ETVFZTPDFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15c903bfae2ca777c5bec63e1d3cdf3f2b551d199b500dc2256d06a9605e07f8&width=400&height=225)
Come Together by South Korean artist Choi Jeong-hwa, at Education City Stadium. The 12-metre-tall sculpture is a tribute to all those who made the Qatar World Cup possible. AFP
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France's Kylian Mbappe hugs Morocco's Achraf Hakimi at the end of the World Cup semi-final soccer match at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final. AP
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Morocco's Sofyan Amrabat looks dejected after the match as Morocco are eliminated from the World Cup. Reuters
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Randal Kolo Muani of France scores the team's second goal at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, to end Morocco's dream. Getty
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Morocco's Jawad El Yamiq tries to find a leveller with a wonderful a bicycle kick. AP Photo
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Theo Hernandez celebrates opening the scoring for France. AFP
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Hernandez found the net within the first five minutes of the tie. AP Photo
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Fans without tickets are watching in cafes and tea shops across Doha, the region and beyond. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRNT3MU2WVGZZUP2YPIP5T5CMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2786df483b81322941d4b8ea5fe23bc71d7d4617187f1b931269367390eb8ade&width=400&height=225)
Kylian Mbappe apologised to a fan after hitting him in the face with a ball. AFP
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Morocco fans outnumber France supports 10 to one inside the stadium. Reuters
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Mbappe is chasing his second World Cup winner's medal. Getty Images
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Morocco's midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. AFP
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Some fans are trying desperately to secure a last-minute ticket to the France-Morocco semi-final. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LE5OW2RFFPD3JOJVXCTKU25KSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=90f423c021ca5a44bd7f4f00f48d76e72628c6d8ba3d0a7d51ad832c7ab469e3&width=400&height=225)
David Beckham has been in Doha for a special screening of his new series called Save our Squad. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4BU5WA2VQ52KH5RY7LDS72FRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ea0aa4410137e9727fef8d64076be85d2f16d692767ca100ea39c76e634c0de&width=400&height=225)
France supporters are warming up for the semi-final. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2Q6JVVGK7GM4UIN7JPWD6D2TLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=49562021d48a036d5bc7ebee443a5ea554070b6581096ca0e2e8e09663346922&width=400&height=225)
Former Brazil footballer Ronaldinho has been meeting supporters in Doha. Reuters
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It was plain sailing for Argentina as they reached Sunday's final with a 3-0 win over Croatia. AFP
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Argentina supporters are hoping to see the nation's team lift the trophy for the third time. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GBQGYBF2624XWN5GWBUMIDFDFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2fd954bdb7c1ae835c1ff1eecb7f22b47b37d6cde7cad525b7b926d489fffc2c&width=400&height=225)
Doha's Katara beach has hosted many ad hoc kickabouts. AFP
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France and Morocco fans in Souq Waqif, Doha. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HO7GWRAIH377J2I6ETVFZTPDFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15c903bfae2ca777c5bec63e1d3cdf3f2b551d199b500dc2256d06a9605e07f8&width=400&height=225)
Come Together by South Korean artist Choi Jeong-hwa, at Education City Stadium. The 12-metre-tall sculpture is a tribute to all those who made the Qatar World Cup possible. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPNUZ7TEYJFX4EIODSDP6DUFYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=70c558abbe938c7f40fce6992630c15fee605eb23496b7d66ec86653d398b333&width=400&height=225)
France's Kylian Mbappe hugs Morocco's Achraf Hakimi at the end of the World Cup semi-final soccer match at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AUP4GFGESZEMZMQYUFSJHRIOME.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4e4c6170f1d154ede5c8ddd9bfba5277da299525e37465cab4bf0899b18bf555&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's Sofyan Amrabat looks dejected after the match as Morocco are eliminated from the World Cup. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTZ2OIL5N4ROS6YSWDLVD5BEOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b6ed44022d1eee108e6e5bef1fa01e22ad090697be132f06071f6dceabec7798&width=400&height=225)
Randal Kolo Muani of France scores the team's second goal at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, to end Morocco's dream. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5XBXIAAWXYRYXFU2WQ6Z2UB6LI.jpg?smart=true&auth=80120c258c05f7d4b67f77322729c42a3d329a3e3984bd42347a7e660b2cdae3&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's Jawad El Yamiq tries to find a leveller with a wonderful a bicycle kick. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B6M5R6NCLDFUY4ULWXBVF27EBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d3eb52641457292cd8755a509ead6023f6020931626bf0ab765507f254d8e86c&width=400&height=225)
Theo Hernandez celebrates opening the scoring for France. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VIM2FQ6FRNUL43NFNE2RZQE5WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fdffb3c4567709f47636fa81924f07a15da10dcca9e0b3fed1dd00614abf82fc&width=400&height=225)
Hernandez found the net within the first five minutes of the tie. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5VKKS5ONFVGYHMFEHNDMSOEMKA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=1020b78946d2b79696b12665e684941b4d85e836f4eb51ab5d7b880e52331d59&width=400&height=225)
Fans without tickets are watching in cafes and tea shops across Doha, the region and beyond. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRNT3MU2WVGZZUP2YPIP5T5CMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2786df483b81322941d4b8ea5fe23bc71d7d4617187f1b931269367390eb8ade&width=400&height=225)
Kylian Mbappe apologised to a fan after hitting him in the face with a ball. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HVX2NMIADBAHG5R5HF36LPKL2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=38bf3b56d92b535d838524fe2f40c495bf46ffb09e13fc925a0f7b04bc45ca5a&width=400&height=225)
Morocco fans outnumber France supports 10 to one inside the stadium. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TY4YKQGOVFTDXJK3SX3B5HNE7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffeff1550f3210271eff91212d679b080263495970384619ec766cd3c919e64a&width=400&height=225)
Mbappe is chasing his second World Cup winner's medal. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YNIZZJGZDYTP2BTH5RVNRGQXBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d4c1694e2c65299c4ecf108010661b2ee5ff1f9ef3f331b1b18a6631b4ac60f5&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TNBJ6OP2B6LGILK6CKA7AWOYPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d411b38c6a811b8ad26c3d468f73622b55b6d4b1f758d2be170a62de606094d1&width=400&height=225)
Some fans are trying desperately to secure a last-minute ticket to the France-Morocco semi-final. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LE5OW2RFFPD3JOJVXCTKU25KSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=90f423c021ca5a44bd7f4f00f48d76e72628c6d8ba3d0a7d51ad832c7ab469e3&width=400&height=225)
David Beckham has been in Doha for a special screening of his new series called Save our Squad. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4BU5WA2VQ52KH5RY7LDS72FRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ea0aa4410137e9727fef8d64076be85d2f16d692767ca100ea39c76e634c0de&width=400&height=225)
France supporters are warming up for the semi-final. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2Q6JVVGK7GM4UIN7JPWD6D2TLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=49562021d48a036d5bc7ebee443a5ea554070b6581096ca0e2e8e09663346922&width=400&height=225)
Former Brazil footballer Ronaldinho has been meeting supporters in Doha. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QJOGKQFVJKLZDAJO6FH2XDGZL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=27bdff566e3b354248430ff7086a7a886439d5589017dd69858e44086da32e84&width=400&height=225)
It was plain sailing for Argentina as they reached Sunday's final with a 3-0 win over Croatia. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OEICT4YES5F3DBSDNJW7ZXEDB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=606d300f4dfa3d83d93373f63409bfa63ee111f3a27ac4e3334e10e628ea7b24&width=400&height=225)
Argentina supporters are hoping to see the nation's team lift the trophy for the third time. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GBQGYBF2624XWN5GWBUMIDFDFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2fd954bdb7c1ae835c1ff1eecb7f22b47b37d6cde7cad525b7b926d489fffc2c&width=400&height=225)
Doha's Katara beach has hosted many ad hoc kickabouts. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JEC5O5XMTHOJDODMGDOSCW5NSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bfc3d30ec912fdd5cd2b752357d8faf5d775a73e5629a1c8e84df8b4f967923a&width=400&height=225)
France and Morocco fans in Souq Waqif, Doha. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HO7GWRAIH377J2I6ETVFZTPDFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15c903bfae2ca777c5bec63e1d3cdf3f2b551d199b500dc2256d06a9605e07f8&width=400&height=225)
Come Together by South Korean artist Choi Jeong-hwa, at Education City Stadium. The 12-metre-tall sculpture is a tribute to all those who made the Qatar World Cup possible. AFP
Qatar 2022 deemed 'best World Cup ever', Morocco to host next Club World Cup
Fifa president Infantino announces plans to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams in 2025
![John McAuley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F42fdb821-a1ba-456f-980a-444e78c14d20.png?smart=true&auth=e06a33d0c3a9b91f69d2f6f0423c3e38ec6692b751de87539e969acaa5c3893f&width=70&height=70)
John McAuley
16 December, 2022
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