The World Cup is less than six months away and the excitement is palpable for one of the most unique editions of the global showpiece in modern history.
Fans, experts and various football figures have already started making predictions about how the event will go. The tickets are already sold out and there are still thousands of fans in the queue.
In anticipation of the upcoming showpiece, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the complete schedule and some fun facts about the schedule.
2022 FIFA World Cup schedule, match and PDF download
| Date | Country | Group | Venues | A time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 21st | Senegal vs Holland | Group A | Al Thumama Stadium, Doha | 5:00 |
| November 21st | England vs Iran | Group B | Khalifa International Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 21st | Qatar vs Ecuador | Group A | Al Bayt Stadium | 11:00 |
| November 21st | USA vs. Wales | Group B | Al Rayyan Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 22nd | Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia | Group C | Lusail Stadium | 5:00 |
| November 22nd | Denmark v Tunisia | Group D | Education City Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 22nd | Mexico vs. Poland | Group C | Stadium 974 | 11:00 |
| November 22nd | France vs. TBD | Group D | 14:00 | |
| November 23 | Morocco v Croatia | Group F | Al Bayt Stadium | 5:00 |
| November 23 | Germany vs Japan | Group E | Khalifa International Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 23 | Spain vs. TBD | 11:00 | ||
| November 23 | Belgium v Canada | Group F | Al Rayyan Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 24 | Switzerland vs. Cameroon | Group G | Al Wakrah Sports Complex | 5:00 |
| November 24 | Uruguay vs. South Korea | Group H | Education City Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 24 | Portugal and Ghana | Group H | Stadium 974 | 11:00 |
| November 24 | Brazil vs. Serbia | Group G | Lusail Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 25 | Wales vs. Iran | Group B | Al Rayyan Stadium | 5:00 |
| November 25 | Qatar vs. Senegal | Group A | Al Thumama Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 25 | Holland vs. Ecuador | Group A | Khalifa International Stadium | 11:00 |
| November 25 | England v USA | Group B | Al Bayt Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 26 | Tunisia vs. TBD | 5:00 | ||
| November 26 | Poland vs. Saudi Arabia | Group C | Education City Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 26 | France against Denmark | Group D | Stadium 974 | 11:00 |
| November 26 | Argentina vs. Mexico | Group C | Lusail Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 27 | Japan vs. TBD | 5:00 | ||
| November 27 | Belgium v Morocco | Group F | Al Thumama Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 27 | Croatia v Canada | Group F | Khalifa International Stadium | 11:00 |
| November 27 | Spain v Germany | Group E | Al Bayt Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 28 | Cameroon vs. Serbia | Group G | Al Wakrah Sports Complex | 5:00 |
| November 28 | South Korea against Ghana | Group H | Education City Stadium | 08:00 |
| November 28 | Brazil vs. Switzerland | Group G | Stadium 974 | 11:00 |
| November 28 | Portugal v Uruguay | Group H | Lusail Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 29 | Holland vs. Qatar | Group A | Al Bayt Stadium | 10:00 |
| November 29 | Ecuador vs. Senegal | Group A | Khalifa International Stadium | 10:00 |
| November 29 | Wales vs. England | Group B | Al Rayyan Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 29 | Iran vs. USA | Group B | Al Thumama Stadium | 14:00 |
| November 30th | Tunisia v France | Group D | Education City Stadium | 10:00 |
| November 30th | TBD vs. Denmark | 10:00 | ||
| November 30th | Poland v Argentina | Group C | Stadium 974 | 14:00 |
| November 30th | Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico | Group C | Lusail Stadium | 14:00 |
| December 1st | Croatia v Belgium | Group F | Al Rayyan Stadium | 10:00 |
| December 1st | Canada v Morocco | Group F | Al Thumama Stadium | 10:00 |
| December 1st | Japan v Spain | Group E | Khalifa International Stadium | 14:00 |
| December 1st | TBD vs. Germany | 14:00 | ||
| 2nd of December | South Korea against Portugal | Group H | Education City Stadium | 10:00 |
| 2nd of December | Ghana against Uruguay | Group H | Al Wakrah Sports Complex | 10:00 |
| 2nd of December | Cameroon vs Brazil | Group G | Lusail Stadium | 14:00 |
| 2nd of December | Serbia vs. Switzerland | Group G | Stadium 974 | 14:00 |
Download the WC 2022 plan in PDF
Interesting facts about the World Cup 2022 plan
The host nation, Qatar, won the rights at the FIFA Congress, which took place on December 2, 2010. It is the last World Cup with 32 participating teams, because FIFA has planned to expand the global showpiece to 48 teams in the World Cup in 2026 which will host for Canada, Mexico and the United States in the CONCACAF region.
Here are some more interesting facts about the schedule.
- Matches were not announced until the draw was completed for the first time in the history of the World Cup.
- A stadium will host at least three groups.
- The opening match is reminiscent of the 2002 World Cup, the last to host an Asian nation. In that tournament, Senegal and France played the first match, while the hosts South Korea / Japan played later. In this tournament, Senegal and the Netherlands will open the tournament, while hosts Qatar will face Ecuador later.
- The opening ceremony will be held just before Qatar’s first match.
When was the World Cup plan completed?
The schedule for Qatar 2022 was decided on July 15, 2020, the second anniversary of France’s triumph at the 2018 tournament.
The times for the matches as decided by FIFA that day are as follows:
- Group phases: 13.00 (13.00), 16.00 (16.00), 19.00 (19.00) and 22.00 (22.00).
- At the same time last round of the group game: 18:00 (18:00) and 22:00 (22:00).
- Knockout matches: 6pm (6pm) and 10pm (10pm).
- Third place and final: 18:00 (18:00).
All times mentioned are local Arabia Standard Time (AST).
How many matches will there be at the World Cup 2022?
Fans will be treated to 65 exciting matches to decide the 22nd winner of the World Cup.
The first match will be held on November 21, 2022, and the final will be held on Qatar National Day, December 18, 2022.
The tournament starts as usual with 32 teams, which after three match rounds are cut down to 16. The 16 teams will then play in knockout rounds until the semifinals, where the losing teams must meet each other for third place, and the winning teams must meet each other to determine the master.
As usual, games in the knockout rounds that end in a draw will have 30 minutes of extended playing time and will go to penalties if the match still ends in a draw.
Where do the fights take place?
The group game starts on the opening day of the tournament, November 21, and runs until December 2. The 16th quarterfinals begin from December 3rd to 6th. The quarterfinals run from December 9 to 10 and the semifinals from December 13 to 14.
The semi-finalists will then meet each other for third place on 17 December, and the winner will be chosen at the final on 18 December.
That World Cup in Qatar 2022 is unique for a number of reasons, including its compact nature. There is no need for flights to venues for both fans and teams, as all the stadiums are close to each other.
There are eight stadiums that will host the World Cup: Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium.
The stadiums host the following matches:
- Al Bayt Stadium – Group A, Group B, Group E, Group F, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals
- Khalifa International Stadium – Group A, Group B, Group E, Group F, Round of 16, third place playoff.
- Al Thumama Stadium – Group A, Group B, Group E, Group F, Round of 16, Quarterfinals
- Ahmad bin Ali Stadium – Group B, Group E, Group G, Round of 16
- Lusail Iconic Stadium – Group C, Group G, Group H, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals
- Stadium 974 – Group C, Group D, Group G, Group H, Round of 16
- Education City Stadium – Group C, Group D, Group H, Round of 16, Quarterfinals
- Al Janoub Stadium – Group D, Group G, Group H, Round of 16
Wales and Ukraine qualification
Wales have already qualified for the tournament after beating Ukraine by a lone goal on Sunday 5 June 2022.
Ukraine struggled to return to the field after a forced hiatus on football – and life in general – in the country due to the Russian invasion of their country.
Ukraine showed reluctance to send Scotland 3-1 and made a match with Wales for a chance for their first World Cup appearance since 2006. Wales, who had not been to the World Cup since 1964, wanted it more and sealed a famous and emotional victory over Ukraine.
Following Wales’ qualification, here are the groups for the upcoming showpiece.
- Group A: Qatar (hosts), Ecuador, Netherlands, Senegal
- Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Group D and E will be decided when Australia (Asia) takes on Peru (South America) and Costa Rica (North America) meets New Zealand (Oceania) in the last two league finals on 14 June.
About FIFA World Cup 2022
2022 FIFA World Cup is the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup. FIFA World Cup is the international men’s football tournament. FIFA WC 2022 will be held in Qatar. This is the second time that the FIFA World Cup will be held in Asia and it is the first time that will be held in Muslim majority country. This will be the subsequent World Cup held altogether in Asia after the 2002 competition in South Korea and Japan.