The FIFA World Cup is held every four years, with Uruguay winning the inaugural tournament in 1930, beating Argentina 4-2. While the 1942 and 1946 editions were canceled due to World War II and its aftermath, it’s historically one of the most anticipated events on the sporting calendar.

Qatar 2022 will be the first World Cup in the northern hemisphere that will not be held during the summer, meaning Christmas has come early for soccer fans.

Falling outside its traditional summer window, the 2022 FIFA World Cup sees 32 nations fight for the famous Jules Rimet trophy this winter. This is because the world’s most prestigious soccer tournament will be taking place in the Middle East for the first time.

In 2010, the small peninsula of Qatar overcame Australia, South Korea, Japan, and our beloved USA for the right to host. The hot Qatari summer is characterized by its intense heat, where temperatures can swelter around 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) during June and July. This forced FIFA to reschedule the 2022 World Cup to the winter months, so players and spectators could avoid the life-threatening heat.

With the opening match penciled in for November 20 between the hosts and Ecuador, we’ve got everything you need to make “the beautiful game” even more beautiful.

You don’t need tickets to Qatar to enjoy the month-long extravaganza. Whether it’s your country’s opening match or the showpiece World Cup Final on December 18, here are some match-winning ideas for throwing your own World Cup party.

Decorate your space

“Wow” your guests on arrival by turning your house into soccer’s second home. Whether it’s blow-up soccer balls and balloons, hanging up soccer bunting, or displaying flags of the qualified nations, there are many ways to elevate the mood and spread world cup fever.

Customized shirts

The World Cup brings together different cultures and develops fierce loyalty, with a shirt, retro jersey, or even a complete kit as a sign of their allegiance. It’s always great to have supporters from both sides to heighten the excitement and instill a competitive (yet friendly) streak to 90 minutes of spectacular soccer.

Rather than rely on shop-bought apparel, you and your guests can configure unique designs by transforming a set of blank jerseys into something their nation would be proud of.

Use face paint and fabric dye to bring a sea of color to the viewing space. Think of an alternative logo demonstrating national pride, such as a landmark or dance. For example, the Iguazu Falls or the Argentinian Tango. Sets of stencils, stamps, application materials, and iron-on patches are also essential for fueling creativity.

This activity is particularly brilliant for creating an atmosphere when it’s a neutral encounter where you and your guests have no apparent affinity to either country.

Pre-match games

You don’t need to wait until kick-off for the fun to begin. Divide the room into two teams (nation vs. nation) and test their knowledge with a quick-fire World Cup quiz. Bonus marks if your questions only relate to each of the participating nations.

Predicting the first goalscorer or final score is another fun way to spark friendly competition among your guests. You can award the winners with themed prizes — perhaps some goodie bags or food and drink inspired by the countries playing.

Pinata is a perennial party staple, so add a soccer twist to this classic party game. You can easily make your own pinata from papier mache and decorate it with a classic black-and-white pentagon-on-hexagon pattern. Try filling it with soccer-themed treats — milk chocolate soccer balls will always ripple the back of the net with your guests. Try bringing this out during the half-time interval. Pinata can provide a morale-boosting 15 minutes, particularly if your nation is trailing at the break.

Themed snacks and dishes

Celebrate the occasion by firing up the barbeque or rustling together a series of snacks and dishes celebrating both nations. USA vs. England on November 25 is the perfect excuse to smoke a good-ole brisket, while snacks of mini sausage rolls and cheese and pineapple sticks roar for The Three Lions.

Alternatively, ask each guest to bring something indicative of a specific country participating in the tournament. Like soccer, food unites people from all walks of life, and this approach allows everyone to try different culinary fare from across the globe.

Smoke cigars

Soccer players are some of the most athletic and fittest footballers on the planet, but that doesn’t stop them from lighting up a well-earned stogie.

Box-to-box midfielder Frank Lampard delved into a cigar box after Chelsea’s Champions League victory in 2012 and was photographed proudly puffing away in the locker room next to the trophy.

One-paced Bulgarian maestro Dimitar Berbatov was once criticized for ”walking around like he is wearing an overcoat, smoking a cigar” during matches. He’s often seen smoking a cigar off the pitch, including during his acting debut when he played a cigar-loving dude in the Bulgarian movie Revolution X (2018).

It’s not just the players that crave a cigar that hits the (penalty) spot. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti celebrated winning La Liga by smoking a huge stogie during the club’s open-top bus parade.

We’ve picked out three cigars below that qualify for a spot at your World Cup party.

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Strength: Full
• Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Sizes Available: Boneshaker Tombstone War Hammer (6 x 60)

The tasty, full-bodied flavor is abundant in this powerful creation by master blender AJ Fernandez. Dressed in a red-hued oily Ecuadorian Sumatra Maduro wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder and fillers, the Boneshaker Tombstone War Hammer is loaded with mouthwatering flavors. Expect hits of red pepper, cocoa, white pepper, and a simple tobacco sweetness on the finish.

With a smoking time of around 100 minutes, be prepared for an exhilarating smoking journey that sets you (and your country) on the path to glory.

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium-Full
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Sizes Available: Warped Flor Del Valle Cristales (6 x 42)

This Nicaraguan puro defines elegance with its ornate cigar band, Cuban triple cap, and gorgeous hue of mocha coffee gleaming from the Corojo 99 wrapper. Once you’ve put fire to foot, you can expect a constant, straight burn and a solid smoke production.

The alluring leather aroma from the Warped Flor Del Valle Cristales is truly mesmerizing from start to finish. Woody notes of cedar and maple shine through, assisted by hints of pepper and honey and a very creamy finish.

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Strength: Full
• Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Sizes Available: Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary Toro (6.50 x 52)

Another classy-looking stick befitting of the biggest stage, the Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary is a dark and earthy box-pressed masterpiece. Draped in a chocolate brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, the Nicaraguan fillers are mixed with spices to enrich the aromas of this medium to full-bodied celebratory stogie.

Delivering plenty of dark chocolate and pepper spice with hints of cedar and leather, it exhibits a wonderfully balanced flavor profile. It makes for a great late-night smoke — ideal for the later kick-offs.

The World Cup is the pinnacle for professional soccer players, and JR Cigars is very much the high point for cigar connoisseurs with its unrivaled selection of premium handcrafted smokes. Check out our site today to see how we can help you notch your cigar (and World Cup) goals.