The tournament will be the first to be held in the Arab world and only the second to take place in Asia, as Japan and South Korea co-hosted the tournament in 2002. This edition will be the last with just 32 teams, with The tournament extends from 2026 onwards, in order for 48 nations to participate. The current champions France will be among the favorites, although no team has successfully defended the 1962 World Cup from Brazil, along with other European teams England, Spain and Belgium. Brazil and Argentina are also likely to appear in the knockouts, while Senegal could represent Africa’s biggest hopes of winning for the first time. England will face either Wales or Scotland if one of its neighbors in the UK leaves the play-offs, in Group B with the US and Iran. Spain and Germany have been drawn in a tough Group E with Japan and either Costa Rica or New Zealand, while Portugal meet Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in a well-balanced Group H. The host Qatar starts their tournament against Ecuador, before facing Senegal and the Netherlands – the last duo will be the first match of the 2022 World Cup. Due to the extreme summer temperatures in the Gulf country, the Qatar World Cup will be the first to be held in winter and not summer.
Basic dates
Group stage: November 21 to December 2 Round 16: 3-6 December Quarterfinals: December 9-10 Semifinals: December 13-14 Final: December 18
Starting hours
The first two rounds of the Games will start at 13:00, 16:00, 19:00 and 22:00 in Qatar (10 am, 13:00, 4 pm and 7 pm in the United Kingdom). The final round of group matches and all knockout matches will be at 18:00 and 22:00 in Qatar (15:00 and 19:00). The final is set for 18:00 locally (15:00).
Complete race schedule
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands. 21 November 2022, 13:00, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. Qatar-Ecuador November 21, 2022 Senegal Netherlands November 25, 2022 Qatar – Senegal November 25, 2022 Netherlands – Ecuador November 29, 2022 Netherlands – Qatar November 29, 2022 Ecuador – Senegal Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales / Scotland / Ukraine. November 21, 2022 England vs. Iran November 21, 2022 United States vs. UEFA Path A winners November 25, 2022 England – United States November 25, 2022 Winners of UEFA Path A against Iran November 29, 2022 Winners of UEFA Path A against England November 29, 2022 Iran v. United States Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland. November 22, 2022 Argentina – Saudi Arabia November 22, 2022 Mexico – Poland November 26, 2022 Argentina – Mexico November 26, 2022 Poland – Saudi Arabia November 30, 2022 Poland – Argentina November 30, 2022 Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico Group D: France, Peru / Australia / UAE, Denmark, Tunisia. November 22, 2022 Winners of France – AFC – CONMEBOL November 22, 2022 Denmark – Tunisia November 26, 2022 France in Denmark November 26, 2022 Tunisia Winners – AFC – CONMEBOL November 30, 2022 Tunisia vs. France November 30, 2022 AFC – CONMEBOL winners against Denmark Group E: Spain, Costa Rica / New Zealand, Germany, Japan. November 23, 2022 Winners of Spain – CONCACAF – OFC November 23, 2022 Germany vs. Japan November 27, 2022 Spain – Germany November 27, 2022 Winners of Japan – CONCACAF – OFC December 1, 2022 Japan – Spain December 1, 2022 Winners CONCACAF – OFC against Germany Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia. November 23, 2022 Belgium vs. Canada November 23, 2022 Morocco – Croatia November 27, 2022 Belgium – Morocco November 27, 2022 Croatia – Canada December 1, 2022 Croatia – Belgium December 1, 2022 Canada – Morocco Group Z: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon. November 24, 2022 Brazil – Serbia November 24, 2022 Switzerland – Cameroon November 28, 2022 Brazil – Switzerland November 28, 2022 Cameroon – Serbia December 2, 2022 Cameroon – Brazil December 2, 2022 Serbia – Switzerland Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea November 24, 2022 Portugal – Ghana November 24, 2022 Uruguay – South Korea November 28, 2022 Portugal – Uruguay November 28, 2022 South Korea – Ghana December 2, 2022 South Korea – Portugal December 2, 2022 Ghana – Uruguay
