World cups in 2022 - a year of sporting excellence

Jon Varey, Physical Education and Sport Subject Advisor

Blink and you may miss a world cup during 2022! This year we have seen competitions taking place in different sports in locations spread across the continents. 

These major sporting events are not only an excellent opportunity to see world-class performance, but they also allow us all to develop our knowledge and understanding of associated issues. There’s the commercialisation of physical activity and sport, along with the influences of the media both positive and negative, including the effects on participation and performance in physical activities and sports. 

All these topics are covered within our specifications – check our website for more information on our PE and sport qualifications.

ICC cricket world cup

The first world cup of the year took place in New Zealand, where the women’s competition saw Australia defeat England to take the title. The men’s T20 version is currently underway in Australia with England hoping to retain the cup won on home soil back in 2019 in that amazing final on a boundary count at Lords. 

The T20 version of the game is growing in popularity and continues to generate interest in the sport which hopefully will lead to continued growth in spectators and players across the world.

Women’s rugby union world cup

The COVID-delayed women’s rugby union world cup takes place in New Zealand with the Red Roses hot favourites to win the tournament for the third time. They go into the tournament on the back of a remarkable winning streak and benefit from being fully professional when most teams competing are amateur. 

The world of women’s rugby is entering a new and exciting phase with more nations becoming fully professional and broadcasters taking a keener interest in the sport. The next few years will certainly be interesting and exciting for women’s rugby.

Rugby league world cup

Switching codes to the 13-a-side version, in the rugby league world cup, England, the host nation, is among the top teams competing for the title of world champions in the men’s, women’s, and wheelchair competitions. Games are being played across the country from Newcastle to London.

Organisers are hoping to showcase the sport to a new audience, with free-to-air coverage on TV at the forefront. The aim of this is to boost sponsorship and interest in the sport, but also to attract new participants to keep growing playing numbers – especially in areas away from the traditional northern regions of the sport.

Men’s football world cup

England’s men’s team are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Lionesses and win a major trophy in the men’s football world cup for the first time since 1966. 

This competition more than any other has been surrounded by controversy since FIFA awarded the event to Qatar in 2010 making it the first country in the Middle East to host a football world cup. 

There have been issues with switching the timings of the tournament from a summer event to a winter event, and with infrastructure, human rights and even the weather. It will be strange for sure especially watching the later stages of the tournament surrounded by Christmas decorations. 

Let’s hope that all goes to plan and that we can all enjoy these major sporting events. However, when they have all finished, we should also investigate the positive and negative impacts on the host country/city of hosting a global sporting event in terms of sporting, social, economic, and political aspects. Enjoy the spectacle!

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If you have any questions, you can email us at pe@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or tweet us @OCR_PhysEd. 

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About the author

Jon joined OCR as a PE and sport subject advisor in September 2021 having taught in a variety of secondary schools across the country for over 20 years gaining a wealth of experience and subject knowledge. During this time, he has set up, delivered, and assessed a wide range of courses within physical education and sport. In his spare time, he is a keen runner and enthusiastic mountain biker enjoys attending sporting and music events when possible and walking his two whippets.