Both Qatar and Ecuador have been dogged by off-field controversy of varying degrees of seriousness in rocky build-ups to the World Cup for both nations.
Allegations of bribery surrounding the decision to award the tournament to Qatar, followed by intense scrutiny on the nation's human rights record, have dominated the build-up for the host nation.
Ecuador, meanwhile, only found out for certain that they would be taking part in the tournament earlier this month, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that they had not used an ineligible player during qualification.
Here, Sports Mole recaps how both countries made it to the 2022 World Cup.
QATAR
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As hosts, Qatar were exempt from the Asian qualifying process, from which they have never before emerged, and instead focused on sharpening their skills in a series of fixtures against teams far and wide.
Most notably, Serbia, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland were among their opponents as a non-competitive nation in the European qualifiers.
During that process, though, the Maroons were hit for four twice by the Serbians, conceded six versus Portugal across two games and also lost 4-0 in Dublin.
ECUADOR
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Ecuador qualified for the finals of the World Cup courtesy of finishing fourth in their South American qualification section.
Brazil took first position with 45 points, while Argentina were second on 39 points, and Uruguay just ahead of Ecuador on 28 points, with all four sides automatically booking their spot at the tournament in Qatar.
La Tri won seven, drew five and lost six of their 18 matches in the group stage to collect 26 points, while they scored 27 goals and conceded 19 in the process, ending with a goal difference of plus eight.
Ecuador only lost one of their last seven matches in the qualification phase, with the run including 1-1 draws with Brazil and Argentina earlier this year, which would have undoubtedly boosted their confidence.
The Tricolors were not present at the 2018 edition of the tournament, but they have recent experience when it comes to World Cups - bring present in 2006 and 2014 - while the national side demonstrated during qualification that there is plenty of quality within their group.
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