FIFA World Cup: Activities for Schools
Whether you are or aren’t a soccer-fanatic, you have probably heard about the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place right now.
Here at PE Planning, we love every sport, and are excited about cheering on the United States Men’s National team. Want to get your students excited and involved, but not sure where to start? We have some information to get you started – and then some World Cup activities for schools!
The Unites States Womens National Soccer Team is the most successful international soccer team, winning both the Women’s World Cup and Olympics 4 times. They are now preparing for the Women’s World Cup Championships due to start in Australia and New Zealand in July 2023. In the meantime, it’s over to the men…
The team’s head coach is Gregg Berhalter who’s been in charge of the team since November 2018. The USMNT qualified for the very first FIFA World Cup in 1930, and in recent years have become regular competitors – often progressing to the knockout stages.
Unfortunately, they failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. But, since 2020 an influx of new, young talent, with many players playing across Europe, has meant the team is rebuilding and having success.
Qatar 2022
The FIFA World Cup started this Sunday (20th November) and lasts 30 days. Qatar are the hosts of this year’s tournament.
For the first 2 weeks, teams play in groups for points with the highest scoring team from each group progressing to the final stages. The final stages are based on a knock-out competition; if you lose a game you go home, if you win you play the next team, until there are just 2 teams remaining for the big final on 18th December.
The USA will host the 2026 World Cup along with Canada and Mexico.
For those who really want to impress their students, here’s a rough guide to the USMNT, and where you will see them on the pitch…
United States Men’s National Team
| USMNT (Usually Play in Red, White & Blue kit) | Squad Number | Position | Club |
| – | |||
| Matt Turner | 1 | Goalkeeper | Arsenal (Eng) |
| Ethan Horvath | 12 | Goalkeeper | Luton Town (Eng) |
| Sean Johnson | 25 | Goalkeeper | NYCFC (USA) |
| Sergino Dest | 2 | Defender | AC Milan (Ita) |
| Walker Zimmerman | 3 | Defender | Newcastle United (Eng) |
| Antonee Robinson | 5 | Defender | Fulham (Eng) |
| Tim Ream | 13 | Defender | Fulham (Eng) |
| Aaron Long | 15 | Defender | New York Red Bulls (USA) |
| Shaquell Moore | 18 | Defender | Nashville (USA) |
| Cameron Carter-Vickers | 20 | Defender | Celtic (Sco) |
| DeAndre Yedlin | 22 | Defender | Inter Miami (USA) |
| Joe Scally | 26 | Defender | Monchengladbach (Ger) |
| Tyler Adams | 4 | Midfielder | Leeds United (Eng) |
| Yunus Musah | 6 | Midfielder | Valencia (Spa) |
| Weston McKennie | 8 | Midfielder | Juventus (Ita) |
| Brendan Aaronson | 11 | Midfielder | Leeds United (USA) |
| Luca de la Torre | 14 | Midfielder | Celta Vigo (Spa) |
| Cristian Roldan | 17 | Midfielder | Seattle Sounders (USA) |
| Kellyn Acosta | 23 | Midfielder | LAFC (USA) |
| Giovanni Reyna | 7 | Forward | Borussia Dortmund (Ger) |
| Jesus Ferreira | 9 | Forward | FC Dallas (USA) |
| Christian Pulisic | 10 | Forward | Chelsea (Eng) |
| Jordan Morris | 16 | Forward | Seattle Sounders (USA) |
| Haji Wright | 19 | Forward | Antalyaspor (Tur) |
| Tim Weah | 21 | Forward | LOSC Lille (Fra) |
| Josh Sargent | 24 | Forward | Norwich City (Eng) |
FIFA World Cup Activities for Schools
We have created some one-off activities so you can celebrate the World Cup with your students. These activities (in our calendar section) are very easy to follow, and perfect for rewarding elementary school children. We hope you like them.
Whilst considering this blog, we were mindful of the controversy over the human rights laws in Qatar. Whilst this is an important subject to us at PE Planning, we feel it is important to focus on the football with our elementary school pupils and remind them that sport is a wonderful place for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender and sexuality. Go USA!
COME ON USA!!!
