Teamwork: Covering the 2022 World Cup
The World Cup started with 32 competing teams on November 20. The finals on Sunday Dec. 18 come down to two, France and Argentina.
AP’s team of photographers and editors covering the World Cup games have made and edited thousands upon thousands of images in the process. Well before the first image was shot, preplanning sorted out staffing, travel, shooting positions and the technology needed to capture and distribute this massive, four-week event. Photographers chronicling the games worked from multiple positions: Ground-level, remotely firing cameras behind the goal and high above, in person, in the stadiums’ catwalks.
In this edition of The Shot, paired frames and a collection of outstanding moments show individual talent along with team effort are unbeatable.
Thank you for looking.
Japan's Daizen Maeda scores the opening goal past Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Japan and Croatia at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 12mm | F-Stop: 9 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 12800
Japan's Daizen Maeda, center, scores the opening goal against Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Japan and Croatia at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 4.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2500
A Mexico fan wearing a sombrero walks towards the Lusail Stadium before the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 15mm | F-Stop: 4 | Shutter Speed: 1/250 | ISO: 8000
Croatia's Mario Pasalic, center, reaches for the ball during the World Cup group F soccer match between Morocco and Croatia, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 800
Brazil's Richarlison, second right, scores the second goal of his team against Serbia during the World Cup group G soccer match between Brazil and Serbia, at the the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2000
Teammates celebrate with Brazil's Richarlison after he scored his second goal during the World Cup group G soccer match between Brazil and Serbia, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.5 | Shutter Speed: 2000 | ISO: 2500
England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is beaten by a header from France's Olivier Giroud to score his side's second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and France, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 18mm | F-Stop: 5.6 | Shutter Speed: 1/1250 | ISO: 3200
France's Olivier Giroud scores his side's second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and France, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/3200 | ISO: 3200
England's Mason Mount, left, and Sergino Dest, of the United States, fight for the ball during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 2000
Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa goes for the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Mexico, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 3.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/2500 | ISO: 3200
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Mexico, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/125 | ISO: 400
Spain's Nico Williams lays on the ground to support a defensive wall at a free kick during the World Cup group E soccer match between Spain and Germany, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 3.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 3200
Brazil's Neymar scores the opening goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and Brazil, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200 mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2000
Brazil's Neymar scores his side's first goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and Brazil, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 3200
A pitch invader runs across the field with a rainbow flag during the World Cup group H soccer match between Portugal and Uruguay, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 1600
France's Randal Kolo Muani, right, fights for the ball with Tunisia's Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane during the World Cup group D soccer match between Tunisia and France at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/2500 | ISO: 2500
Mexico's Hirving Lozano and Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari kick the ball during the World Cup group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/2500 | ISO: 3200
Japan's Kaoru Mitoma appears to have the ball over the line before crossing it for a goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 5000
Croatia's Luka Modric, bottom, challenges for the ball with Japan's Yuto Nagatomo during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Japan and Croatia at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 3.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/2500 | ISO: 2500
Japan's Yuto Nagatomo jumps for the ball against Croatia's Luka Modric during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Japan and Croatia at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2500
Ghana's Alidu Seidu, left, and Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta challenge for the ball during the World Cup group H soccer match between Ghana and Uruguay, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2500
Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui is thrown in the air at the end of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 1600
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo stands during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Switzerland, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 4 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2500
Croatia's Borna Sosa, left, fights for the ball with Brazil's Antony during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and Brazil, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/125 | ISO: 400
Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon fails to save the ball as Morocco's Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive penalty during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2500
Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon looks round after Morocco's Achraf Hakimi scored the winning penalty during a shootout after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 12mm | F-Stop: 4.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/800 | ISO: 2000
Brazil's Neymar challenges for the ball with Croatia's Josko Gvardiol during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and Brazil, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.5 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 3200
Brazil's Marquinhos is dejected after failing to score from the penalty spot as Croatia's players celebrate winning the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and Brazil, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 70-200mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/3200 | ISO: 2500
England's Harry Kane is comforted by head coach Gareth Southgate after losing 1-2 against France during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and France, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 1600
Argentina's Julian Alvarez scores his side's second goal passing Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Argentina and Croatia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 4 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 2000
France's Theo Hernandez, left, shoots to score his side's opening goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Model: Sony a1 | Lens: Sony 400mm | F-Stop: 3.2 | Shutter Speed: 1/2500 | ISO: 2500
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