After 4 years (and a bit) of waiting, the FIFA World Cup 2022 is finally here and matches are in full swing across multiple stadiums in Qatar. Due to the scorching summer temperatures in this area of the world, this year's edition is taking place a few months later than usual. However, this hasn't dampened the spirits of billions of football fans worldwide who are currently glued to their screens, dressed in all of their team's merchandise and getting into heated arguments over why they will take home the cup. 

Even football analysts have started making their predictions based on previous FIFA World Cup results with the most common contenders among the 32 participating countries being: Brazil, France, Argentina, England and Spain.

So, in anticipation of the month-long schedule of football matches, we are presenting you with some seriously delicious and easy snacks based on the top contending countries. These will make the perfect snack to wash down with some beer at any FIFA World Cup viewing party you've got planned — even if it's just a party of one, all the more food for you! 

Frango Á Passarinho — Brazil

Brazil is an all-time favourite having snatched five first-place FIFA World Cup titles over the running of the tournament which makes it the most successful team to date, so it's no surprise they find themselves on the list. And you know what else they're amazingly good at? Chicken wings!

Frango á passarinho is a beloved dish among locals consisting of gorgeously fried chicken wings showered in an explosive concoction of spices and zesty goodness. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients

• 1kg of chicken wings or thighs
• 120g of flour
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 4 finely chopped garlic cloves 
• 4 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 1 tsp Bahia seasoning
• 5 tbsp lemon juice
• 700ml vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Method

• In a bowl mix the chicken pieces with the garlic, onion, parsley, lemon juice and Bahia seasoning, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• In a second bowl, whisk together the flour, oregano and baking powder to make the batter and put it in the first bowl.
• Cover the bowl and shake well until all chicken pieces are coated with the batter.
• In a deep pan, heat up the vegetable oil until it reaches 350°C.
• Carefully place the battered chicken pieces in the pan and fry for around 15 minutes, until they are golden brown. 
• Remove the chicken pieces from the oil and place them on paper towels.
• Serve hot with some parsley and lime wedges as garnish.

Fondue Savoyarde — France

With two FIFA World Cup wins under its belt, France is one to watch, especially considering its success in other tournaments such as the UEFA European Football Championships where it also holds two winning titles.

When we think of France we think of perfectly baked bread and cheese, lots of cheese! So, what's easier than putting them together and making a creamy, heartwarming fondue with some iconic French cheeses?

Ingredients

• 700g of cheese mixture of Beaufort, Abondance and Comté cheese, grated
• 1 big clove of garlic
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 350ml white wine
• 2 large baguettes roughly cut
• 2 gherkins finely chopped (to serve)

Method

• Place a large pan on medium heat.
• Half the garlic and rub it all over the inside of a pan really well.
• In a bowl, mix the corn flour with a bit of white wine until it forms a loose paste.
• Pur the paste and the rest of the wine into the pan and stir well.
• Stir in the grated cheese and keep stirring until it melts to a smooth consistency. It's okay if steam comes out, just do not let it boil. 
• Take it off the stove and serve it hot alongside the baguette pieces and gherkins. You can even try it with some boiled or roasted baby potatoes!

Bread & Chimichurri — Argentina

Argentina has been in the FIFA World Cup final five times, landing in second place for three of the matches while winning the other two and football analysts seem to be expecting them to go into their sixth final this year.

Seeing that it holds the same amount of wins as France it's only fair to show you a similar dish where bread is dipped in yummy goodness. Chimichurri is a national Argentinian sauce made with a mouthwateringly aromatic list of spices which goes perfectly with some warm, crispy garlic bread.

Ingredients

• 120ml olive oil
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 30g fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 loaf ciabatta or baguette

Method

• Pour a bit of olive oil into a pan on medium heat.
• Add the onion and stir to cook until transparent. Then turn the heat to low and once it gets brown put it aside to cool.
• In a food processor add the onions, garlic, parsley, cilantro, oregano, vinegar, lemon juice, cumin, pepper and the rest of the oil (just save some to grill the bread with!). Blend until finely chopped and pasty.
• Slice the bread in half and brush it with oil.
• Place the bread oil side down on a pan or grill on medium heat until toasted.
• Serve bread alongside the chimichurri mixture and enjoy!

Marmite Sandwiches — England

Probably one of the favourite teams locally, rivalling only Italy who defeated them during the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship — remember that ruckus? Sheesh! However, they didn't let this loss affect their performance as while Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022, England came rushing into the top charts with the hopes of adding a second long-awaited win to their legacy.

As for the snack, this is a super easy yet controversial one as Marmite is quite the acquired taste. 

No ingredient list or methodology is needed here really. Just grab your preferred brand of sliced bread, spread some creamy butter, add some Marmite on top, cut it into bite-sized pieces and that's it! You can make it a bit fancier and gooier by turning it into a grilled cheese sandwich, or a bit more English by replacing the bread with English muffins. 

But if Marmite doesn't quite suit your palete, there's nothing simpler and yummier than some ready-made tiny sausage rolls as an alternative English football-viewing snack!

Chicharrón — Spain

Spain also has just one first-place win like England, but they have consistently shown their capabilities, having not missed a single FIFA World Cup qualification in the past twelve editions.

While their players might not look it, they are probably huge fans of the greasy, heart-stopping national favourite Chicharrón which is basically fried pork belly. This will take some preparation the day before making but we promise it's worth it!

Ingredients 

• 500g pork belly with the skin on
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp sugar
• 125ml water
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Method

• Combine the baking soda and salt and rub it evenly all over the surface of the skin of the pork.
• Set it on a rack and refrigerate it overnight or at least an hour before.
• Rinse the pork belly in cold water, pat dry and cut it into 1-inch cubes.
• Place the cubes in a wide pan or wok and add just enough water to cover them.
• Leave it to simmer on low heat for 2 to 4 hours, turning the cubes every half an hour. This will slowly render the fat as the water cooks off.
• Once the water's evaporated and only the fat remains, turn the heat to high and deep fry the cubes in the fat for about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the cubes onto paper towels and once the extra fat has been absorbed, toss them in a bowl together with the cayenne, paprika and sugar. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• They are best enjoyed plain but you can dip them in the condiment of your liking as well!

And there you have it, these are our recommendations for your upcoming FIFA World Cup viewing parties. We're sure they will impress you and your guests and make this month that much more exciting!

For more articles like this visit our Food & Drink Tips section.