Six Qatar 2022 matches worth watching again

Which Qatar 2022 match should you watch again? The answer depends on what you want from the replay. A final offers the highest stakes, but an opening-round surprise can reveal a different side of the same tournament.

This is an editorial selection, not an official ranking or a claim that six games can represent every supporter’s experience. We chose matches for a combination of changes in momentum, the importance of the result and how much there is to notice beyond the goals. The list follows tournament chronology rather than ranking the teams.

Argentina 1–2 Saudi Arabia — 22 November

The opening match of Argentina's campaign belongs on the list because it challenges the way a champion's journey is usually remembered. Messi's early penalty could have been the start of a routine win. Instead, Al Shehri and Al Dawsari scored after the break and Saudi Arabia held the lead.

On a replay, resist the temptation to skip directly to the winning strike. The contrast between Argentina going ahead and Saudi Arabia protecting their advantage is the substance of the game. Knowing that Argentina later won the tournament adds context, but the afternoon belongs to the side who beat them.

Japan 2–1 Spain — 1 December

Japan's victory is a strong choice for viewers interested in how a group can change direction. Spain led through Álvaro Morata; Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka turned the game around after half-time. Japan finished first in Group E.

The game rewards watching as a contest rather than as a debate about one incident. Spain's initial advantage and Japan's response give the second half its force. A highlights package preserves the goals; a fuller replay lets the viewer see how quickly a comfortable-looking position can become uncertain.

Croatia 1–1 Brazil, Croatia win 4–2 on penalties — 9 December

Neymar put Brazil ahead in extra time. Bruno Petković equalised before Croatia won the shoot-out at Education City.

For a rewatch, the key is the limited time between those events. A late extra-time lead carries a powerful suggestion of finality, yet it is still only a lead. Croatia's response is a useful corrective to the habit of treating a goal as the ending before the match has actually finished.

This is also a reminder that a compelling game need not produce a steady stream of goals. The waiting is part of what gives the breakthrough and equaliser their weight.

Netherlands 2–2 Argentina, Argentina win 4–3 on penalties — 9 December

Argentina established a two-goal lead before Wout Weghorst scored twice, including a stoppage-time equaliser. Extra time did not separate the sides, and the shoot-out sent Argentina through.

The reason to revisit this quarter-final is its refusal to remain the same kind of match. A lead becomes a recovery, the recovery becomes extra time, and another level score becomes penalties. Watching it with the result already known creates room to notice the changes instead of simply surviving them.

Morocco 1–0 Portugal — 10 December

En-Nesyri's first-half header gave Morocco the goal they needed to become the first African men's World Cup semi-finalists. This selection is about the significance and tension of protecting a narrow lead, rather than the number of scoring incidents.

It pairs well with the Morocco–Spain tie from the previous round, even though that match is outside this six-game list. Together, they show two different knockout tasks: keeping a game level until penalties and defending a goal that could make history.

Argentina 3–3 France, Argentina win 4–2 on penalties — 18 December

The final offers the broadest range of reasons to return: Di María's first-half influence, Mbappé's late double, another exchange of goals in extra time and the deciding shoot-out.

Watch the first half rather than starting at France's comeback. Argentina's early control is what makes the reversal so striking. Then keep the end of extra time attached to the penalties; separating them loses the sense of how close the alternative ending remained.

A watchlist, not a substitute for the record

Our choices favour tight results and changes in momentum. Someone looking for attacking fluency might start instead with Brazil–South Korea or Portugal–Switzerland. That is a difference in viewing priorities, not a disagreement over the scores.

Use our match archive for dates, grounds and results, and FIFA's official summaries below for the underlying records. For video, consult authorised highlights or replay services in your region. The point of this list is to help choose a match, not to imply that this site hosts match footage.