In case you hadn’t clocked it, Hublot is the official timekeeper for pretty much all of the football you’ll find on television – be it the Premier League and both the men’s and women’s Champions League plus, if you’re a Manchester United fan, the Europa League too. The biggest clue tends to be the giant Hublot on the fourth official’s board as they signal substitutions or injury time.
Like all football fans Hublot is gearing up for World Cup 2022, which will be the watchmaker’s fourth time looking after all-things time related at the biggest sporting tournament on the planet. When GQ spoke to CEO Ricardo Guadalupe about the World Cup back in March, he said “a new connected watch is coming, that’s more a lifestyle thing” – suggesting that it wasn’t a watch he saw competing with Apple. True to his word today, Hublot has unveiled the latest (full name) Big Bang E 44mm FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
It’s a limited edition piece that will be worn by all referees, linesmen and fourth officials in Qatar. The ‘E’ marks it as a connected watch, so it’s armed with GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi and NFC Payment. It comes in black ceramic, has an all-day battery life and takes two-hours to be fully juiced.
For football fans who love watches, every game the Big Bang is synced up to provides all the latest updates – everything from keeping time throughout the 90 minutes to how much additional time is allowed each half. When a goal is scored, a football pops up to alert you, and the same goes for yellow and red cards, as well as any penalties awarded.
Over the years, Hublot has enlisted an impressive array of footballing royalty to wear its watches – everyone from Pelé and Maradona to Jose Mourinho and current face of the brand, Kylian Mbappé. And this year, some of the top managers at the World Cup will also be rocking a new Hublot Big Bang E. We caught up with a couple of them to chat about their favourite World Cup memories and find out who they think will win this year.
Once the butt of all jokes after his infamous penalty miss in the semi-final of Euro '96, Gareth Southgate has gone on to become a cult hero in his own right after guiding England to two of their best ever showings at tournaments – the semi-final at Russia 2018 followed by the final of Euro 2020. On both occasions, Southgate’s leadership was praised and though England have since endured a few tricky moments in the build up to Qatar 2022 in recent months, they remain one of the favourites to win the World Cup. Waistcoats and short-sleeve Percival tops have previously trended thanks to Southgate so we’re all looking forward to seeing what he goes for in the heat in November.
Your favourite world cup memory of all time.
England v Colombia 2018 – England’s first tournament knockout win for 10 years and a penalty shoot-out win as well. A night of high emotion.
The biggest gift that football has given you in life…
I’ve been able to do something I love nearly every day for 35 years and fulfil many dreams I had as a boy.
The best world cup tournament of all time is…
Of course for England that would be 1966. For me, 1982 was the first tournament I truly remember and I used to run home from school to watch every England game, but also the Brazil of Zico, Eder, Socrates, Falcao.
The importance of football when it comes to bringing people together
Football has the ability to cross all barriers that might exist between people – race, religion, gender, for example and bringing people together for the carnival of a World Cup is very special for building relationships and understanding other cultures.
What is it about Qatar you are most looking forward to?
It will be my fourth World Cup as a player or manager. It’s a privilege to have that opportunity of leading my country again and I hope we can take our fans on another exciting journey as we did in 2018.
When the board goes up to signal injury time, as a player what used to go through your mind as a match neared its conclusion? And what about now as a manager?
When I was a player I knew I didn’t have too long to physically and mentally survive! As a manager, I’m still making decisions on what is needed to help the team through the remaining period of the match.
What watch will you be wearing during the World Cup?
I will wear the new Hublot Big Bang e dedicated to the FIFA World Cup. Hublot brings time-honoured quality and precision to the game with a modern, exciting approach to timepieces.
When Martinez took over the reins of Belgium’s national team, he inherited a golden generation of players all moving towards their prime. His attacking style of possession-based football certainly seemed to suit the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Kevin De Bruyne from the off as he led The Red Devils to No.1 in the FIFA World rankings. After losing to eventual winners France in the semi-finals, Belgium finished third in Russia 2018 – their best ever showing at a World Cup. Now blessed with the experience from that run in Russia, Martinez and his team will be hoping to go one better in Qatar and reach the final.
Your favourite world cup memory of all time.
I have followed every World Cup since 1978 in Argentina, but I will pick the first goal scored against Panama in our first game in Russia 2018. This started a new World Cup for us.
The most important World Cup moment in recent history.
Beating Brazil in 2018 was a key moment as this allowed us to win the bronze medal. It’s amazing to see that this momentum has inspiring repercussions in the country for the young generations to come.
Tips for who will win the golden boot this year.
Predictions are always subjective and come from your heart so for obvious reasons I would like our number 9 [Romelu Lukaku] to win it.
The team to beat.
The team to beat in a tournament that happens every four years is the team that has the biggest success over the years, and no other nation has won the World Cup as many times as Brazil.
What you are most looking forward to in Qatar.
Football is a unique platform that brings people together in a magical way. I can only imagine what it will be like to have all the energy of 32 nations in one big city. We must enjoy it as I don't think it will happen again in our lifetime.
What goes through your mind when the board goes up to signal injury time.
As a coach it is almost something that you are predicting depending on the number of substitutes made and stoppages in the game, it is more a way to focus on how to push others to finish the game as well as they can.
The watch you’ll be wearing during the World Cup.
I am looking forward to using the new Hublot Big Bang e. I found the Big Bang e from Russia 2018 useful and am still using it at work. I got very attached to it.
He’s the man who led Morocco back to the World Cup in 2018 for the first time in 20 years. He’s also the only manager to win two African Cup of Nations with two different countries – Zambia is 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015. This time around, the Frenchman led Saudi Arabia back onto the big stage. Up against Argentina, Mexico and Poland in Group C, the odds are stacked against them getting to the knockout stage but never say never.
Your favourite world cup memory of all time.
For sure it is World Cup 1998 when France became the world champions for the first time. A historic moment!
Predictions for the player to watch, and who will win the golden boot.
I’m a big fan of Kylian Mbappé. So you can guess who I will watch for.
The team to beat.
France, of course.
The best World Cup tournament of all time.
I believe that the 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place in South Africa was an amazing moment especially for African football.
What you are most looking forward to about Qatar 2022.
For the first time, the competition will be taking place in the same city with some amazing stadiums. Also seeing the country stand behind the Qatari national team will be great to watch.
Your watch of choice.
I wear the Hublot Square Bang Unico All Black and also the Usain Bolt Big Bang Unico green like the Saudi Arabia flag.