After over four years of waiting, another FIFA World Cup is finally here.
The 2022 tournament will take place in Qatar with many of the world's best players vying for the biggest football trophy of them all as the group stage begins at the end of this week.
With only 32 nations securing their spot at this World Cup, that leaves plenty of football fans without their own country competing and wondering who to support.
Never fear, The Sporting News is here with 10 unique ways to decide who to cheer on in Qatar.
MORE: The biggest teams missing from World Cup 2022
The team that's the biggest underdog
Arriving in Qatar as the lowest-ranked nation, Ghana will have to battle against the odds to achieve success at this World Cup.
The African nation have been drawn in a tough group alongside Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea, so they will be up against it to claim any points — let alone win the whole thing.
They also boast one of the least experienced squads in the tournament: 18 of their 26 players have just 53 senior caps between them.
But who doesn't love an underdog?
The team with the best kits
Mexico haven't been playing their best football of late, but their kits in Qatar are absolutely mouth-watering.
From an eye-catching green home jersey to an away top that combines Mixtec art and Aztec deities, Mexico will certainly be easy on the eye at the World Cup.
From our roots to our present. ❤️⚽️
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) August 29, 2022
Meet our new away jersey for the World Cup, Incondicionales. 🇲🇽😍#ElOrigenQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/5fib7L44UK
The team you're closest to geographically
So, your own nation missed out on playing in Qatar? Well, it's time to jump on the bandwagon of your closest neighbour.
Okay, perhaps it's a bit much to ask Scottish fans to cheer on England, but how about backing their Group B rivals Wales?
Those from New Zealand will have to put their sporting rivalry with Australia to one side to support the Socceroos.
The team with Messi
One of the greatest football players in history, Lionel Messi, will play in his final World Cup in Qatar.
The 35-year-old is yet to win the tournament with Argentina and it would be quite the story if he were to lift the trophy in his parting appearance.
The team with Ronaldo
OK, so you're not Team Messi? Well, that probably means you're more of a Cristiano Ronaldo person.
No problem, he'll also be playing at the 2022 World Cup with Portugal and, like Messi, is yet to win the tournament.
Ronaldo is yet to confirm whether this is his last World Cup, but at the age of 37, time is surely against him.
The team chasing history
No side has ever won six World Cups, but Brazil could do just that with a triumph in Qatar.
The Selecao haven't won the tournament since 2002 but history is still on their side overall.
The team with the nicest people
Call it a cliche, but Canada seems to have universally friendly people so it would be nice in turn to see their country achieve some success in Qatar.
Their side does look capable of doing damage in what is their first World Cup appearance since 1986, but they'll have to be able to park their manners once on the pitch.
The team making its World Cup debut
The beauty of the World Cup is that there are so many nations yet to qualify for the tournament.
Hosts Qatar are the latest to make their debut and will be eager to leave their mark on home soil.
🇶🇦 Qatar's #FIFAWorldCup debut is nearly here
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 28, 2022
How far can the Asian Champions go?
The team with the best nickname
Japan doubtless have the coolest nickname for the 2022 World Cup.
A nod to their past and preferred kit colour, the Samurai Blue will be aiming to cut through teams in Qatar.
Whether you're a history buff or anime fan, Japan could be the team for you.
The team somehow yet to win a World Cup
Packed with star players and ranked the best team in the world for nearly four years, Belgium have repeatedly fallen short on the big stage.
Remarkably, they haven't even made it to a World Cup final yet and with a number of their best players in their prime, it could be now or never for the Red Devils.
If there was ever a time to jump on the Belgium bandwagon, it could well be now.
