All You Need to Know About 2022 Qatar World Cup: Groups, schedule, dates, TV and kick-off times

Olaoluwa Akinade

2022 Qatar World Cup: All You Need to Know

When and where is the 2022 Qatar world cup being held?

The 2022 Qatar World Cup runs from November 20 to December 18 at eight different stadiums, marking the first time the competition has been staged in both the Middle East.

On November 20, Qatar played Ecuador in the first game at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, and on December 18, the final game will be played in Lusail Stadium in Lusail.

How many teams take part and what is the format of 2022 Qatar World Cup ?

The format is the same as for World Cup 2018, with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.

The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 16, when the champion is determined after four single-leg knockout rounds.

Which teams have qualified for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and FIFA World Cup 2022 grouping

After a protracted qualifying period, all 32 spots were filled.

For their inaugural World Cup, hosts Qatar received automatic qualification.

However, a number of elite nations were left out, including Italy, the Euro 2020 champions, which was unable to travel after falling to North Macedonia in the opening round of the UEFA play-offs.

Colombia and Chile were excluded from CONMEBOL.

Iran may be the most unexpected qualifier from the AFC sector, while Canada competed for the first time since 1986.

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
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

Who has won the World Cup previously?

With five different World Cup victories, Brazil has more titles than any other team.

They are the only country that has participated in every tournament iteration.

Their closest competitors in the rankings are Germany and Italy (both with four victories), who are followed by a quartet of two-time champions: Argentina, host nation France, and Uruguay, which won the first World Cup in 1930.

England, who were famously crowned champions at Wembley in 1966, and Spain make up the list with one title each.

5 – Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
4 – Germany (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) | Italy (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
2 – Argentina (1978, 1986) | France (1998, 2018) | Uruguay (1930, 1950)
1 – England (1966) | Spain (2010)

When are the 2022 Qatar World Cup matches and what are the kick-off times?

Sunday November 20

Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador

Monday November 21

Group B: England vs Iran
Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands
Group B: USA vs Wales

Tuesday November 22

Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia
Group C: Mexico vs Poland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group D: France vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 7pm)

Wednesday November 23

Group F: Morocco vs Croatia (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 10am)
Group E: Germany vs Japan (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 4pm)
Group F: Belgium vs Canada (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)

Thursday November 24

Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group H: Portugal vs Ghana (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group G: Brazil vs Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)

Friday November 25

Group B: Wales vs Iran (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 10am)
Group A: Qatar vs Senegal (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 1pm)
Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 4pm)
Group B: England vs USA (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)

Saturday November 26

Group C: Tunisia vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group D: France vs Denmark (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group C: Argentina vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)

Sunday November 27

Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 10am)
Group F: Belgium vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 1pm)
Group F: Croatia vs Canada (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 4pm)
Group E: Spain vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)

Monday November 28

Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
Group G: South Korea vs Ghana (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group H: Brazil vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)

Tuesday November 29

Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 3pm)
Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group B: Wales vs England (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
Group B: Iran vs USA (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)

Wednesday November 30

Group D: Australia vs Denmark (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
Group D: Tunisia vs France (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group C: Poland vs Argentina (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)

Thursday December 1

Group F: Croatia vs Belgium (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group F: Canada vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 3pm)
Group E: Costa Rica vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Group E: Japan vs Spain (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)

Friday, December 2

Group G: South Korea vs Portugal (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group G: Ghana vs Uruguay (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
Group H: Serbia vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
Group H: Cameroon vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)

Round of 16

Saturday December 3
49 – Winners of Group A vs Runners-up of Group B (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
50 – Winners of Group C vs Runners-up of Group D (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)

Sunday December 4
52 – Winners of Group D vs Runners-up of Group C (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
51 – Winners of Group B vs Runners-up of Group A (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)

Monday December 5
53 – Winners of Group E vs Runners-up of Group F (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
54 – Winners of Group G vs Runners-up of Group H (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)

Tuesday December 6
55 – Winners of Group F vs Runners-up of Group E (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
56 – Winners of Group H vs Runners-up of Group G (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)

Quarter-finals

Friday December 9
58 – Winners of 53 vs Winners of 54 (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
57 – Winners of 49 vs Winners of 50 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 7pm)

Saturday December 10
60 – Winners of 55 vs Winners of 56 (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
59 – Winners of 51 vs Winners of 52 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)

Semi-finals

Tuesday December 13
61 – Winners of 57 vs Winners of 58 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)

Wednesday December 14
62 – Winners of 59 vs Winners of 60 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)

Saturday December 17
63 – Third place play-off (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3 pm)

Final

Sunday December 18
64 – The World Cup final (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 3 pm)

When will the matches kick-off?

The first two rounds of matches in the 2022 Qatar World Cup will kick off at 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm and 10 pm local time (10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm in the United Kingdom).

Kick-off times for the final round of group games and knockout-round matches will be 6 pm and 10 pm local time (3 pm and 7 pm UK time).

The final is scheduled to kick off at 6 pm local time (3 pm UK time)

Who are the World Cup host cities and how big are the stadiums?

The tiny state of Qatar has eight host stadiums spread across five cities; for comparison, its area is between 11,437 and 11,897 km2.

But Qatar’s population of 1.69 million lives in a far smaller area, with the majority of the country’s land being desert.

Within 35 miles of Doha, the capital city, are all of the stadiums.

Lusail

Stadium: Lusail Iconic Stadium
Capacity: 80,000

Al Khor

Stadium: Al Bayt Stadium
Capacity: 60,000

Doha

Stadium: Stadium 974
Capacity: 40,000

Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium
Capacity: 40,000

Stadium: Education City Stadium
Capacity: 45,350

Al Rayyan

Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium
Capacity: 40,000

Stadium: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Capacity: 44,740

Al Wakrah

Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium
Capacity: 40,000

How can I watch the 2022 Qatar World Cup?

TV coverage in the UK will be shared between the BBC and ITV.

It is believed the TV rights for the entire tournament netted FIFA a total of around $1.9bn.

Who are the favorites to win the World Cup Golden Boot?

The 2022 Qatar World Cup Golden Boot competition, which the top players in the world will compete for this winter, is all about personal glory.

Harry Kane, a striker for Tottenham Hotspur and the captain of England, is the market leader after winning the prize in Russia in 2018.

The 29-year-old has already scored 51 goals in 75 appearances for the Three Lions at the international level, and he has had a productive domestic season thus far.

Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot in England’s penultimate match before the World Cup.

For the title of top tournament scorer, Kane will encounter tough competition, though.

The odds favor French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time greatest scorer in international football, dividing the pair.

Ronaldo, 37, will undoubtedly want to increase his 117 goals for Portugal in what is likely his final opportunity to win the World Cup or the Golden Boot (191 caps).

The same may be said of Argentina legend Lionel Messi, who is a candidate for this honor and has been in excellent form for his club.

After assisting Argentina in winning the Copa America in 2021, Lionel Messi will want to add another accomplishment this winter.

2022 Qatar World Cup Golden Boot Award (odds via Sky Bet)

Harry Kane – 7/1
Kylian Mbappe – 8/1
Cristiano Ronaldo – 12/1
Karim Benzema – 14/1
Lionel Messi – 14/1
Romelu Lukaku – 16/1
Neymar – 18/1
Raheem Sterling – 20/1
25/1 bar

Also Read: Qatar World Cup Ticket

Who are the favourites to win the 2022 Qatar World Cup Golden Ball?

The Golden Ball award, which was first given out by FIFA in 1982, is given to the top player in each World Cup.

Before a winner is chosen by media representatives, the FIFA technical committee compiles a shortlist of the competition’s top players.

The Golden Ball candidates are fairly similar to the favorites for the Golden Boot, as you might expect.

However, there is precedence for an alternative name to be considered.

Following Croatia’s 4-2 loss to France in the championship game, Luka Modri received some emotional solace by winning the award in 2018.

Mbappe won the title of young player of the competition in Russia, and with another successful campaign for France, he may win the overall award.

Who are the favourites to win the 2022 Qatar World Cup?

Brazil have consistently been the bookmakers’ favourites to lift the 2022 Qatar World Cup trophy.

Despite losing the Copa America final to rivals Argentina last year, the five-time world champions enter the tournament with an excellent chance.

The bookies consider Brazil the favourites to win in Qatar

Holders France have been slotted in as second favourites with most bookies, seeking to become the third country in World Cup history to retain the crown.

Source