This year's World Cup 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.

We rely on both local correspondents in the Persian Gulf and international sportswriters covering the tournament to put together a series of stories to help answer some our questions. FOX Sports sports

United States record      Matches & Stats      Results, scores, and standing

ready

Leading Argentina to the World Cup, the
final Messi victory lifts the team and
may be the last in our lifetime

Set

Messi finally crowned his record-breaking
career with the one trophy he wanted
after this World Cup victory

go

A massive Argentina crowd of thousands
welcomes the team home after a
​World Cup triumph