INTERNATIONAL: Plans for the 2022 World Cup will gather pace this week, with the draw for the tournament taking place in Qatar on Friday 1ST April.

Teams will learn their fate, although the complicated qualification process in some regions, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, means all 32 participants have not yet been decided.

The likes of defending champions France, as well as Brazil, Argentina, England, Belgium, Germany, and Spain, will be there, although European Champions Italy miss out.

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, On Continued Criticism Over Worker Rights in Qatar, Said:

"Human rights and the protection of human rights at the international level is a top priority for FIFA. We enshrined it, then again, we are probably the first in our statutes. We put it as a condition in our bidding processes for all our competitions and wherever we go around the world we are of course highlighting the need for protecting human rights. When it comes to the situation in Qatar in particular, I think we need to be fair there as well and admit that a lot of progress has happened. A lot of progress in the conditions of the workers. Of course, more can be done everywhere, always."

Secretary-General Of 2022 Supreme Committee, Hassan Al Thawadi, said:

"This is not just a 28-day tournament, this is not just a football tournament. This is a milestone, one milestone within our country and our region's story. It is one milestone within our timeline. And we will try and utilize it to the maximum benefit possible to ensure we leave a lasting legacy."

Fifa President, Gianni Infantino, Said:

"And thanks to you, we can show to the entire world that Qatar, that The Gulf, that the whole Middle East, that the whole Arab world is welcoming the world for an incredible experience here in November and December of this year. The world will unite in Qatar, the world will unite in this part of the universe, the world will be together, the world will celebrate an unforgettable event."

Qatar has spent billions of dollars so it can host the tournament, build state-of-the-art stadiums and training facilities, as well as upgrade and install infrastructure projects.

The World Cup will take place in November and December to avoid the heat of June and July in The Gulf, and will cause disruption, especially to European leagues.

It has also attracted criticism over the rights of workers, although the Qatari government and FIFA say improvements have been made to working conditions.

^{PHOTO: FOOTAGE WHICH ILLUSTRATES QATAR'S HOSTING OF THE 2022 SOCCER WORLD CUP - SHOTS OF FIFA ANNOUNCING QATAR'S WINNING BID, STADIUM CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY, BEAUTY SHOTS OF QATAR AND DOHA /FOOTAGE TO ILLUSTRATE HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS / FOOTAGE AROUND DECEMBER'S ARAB CUP / FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO SAYING WORLD CUP WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS AND FOOTAGE OF WORLD CHAMPIONS FRANCE}