When is FIFA World cup 2022?
With the Fifa World Cup 2022 draw now out, football fans worldwide are counting the days for the biggest extravaganza in world football. World Cup Qatar 2022 is scheduled to start on November 21, 2022, with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium. The FIFA World Cup Qatar final is scheduled to be held on December 18, 2022, Sunday, at the Lusail Stadium.
Four teams have been divided into 10 groups with the 2022 World Cup finals kicking off with 32 teams fighting it out for the coveted trophy. There will be 45 group stage matches in total, before the round of 16 starts on December 3. It will be followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the grand finale.
Fifa world cup 2022: Schedule, Venues and Match Timings (IST)
All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
| Match Number | Date | Fixtures | Time (IST) | Venue |
| 1 | November 21 | Qatar vs Ecuador | 3.30 pm | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 3 | November 21 | Senegal vs Netherlands | 9:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 2 | November 21 | England vs Iran | 6:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| 4 | November 22 | USA vs Wales/Scotland/Ukraine | 00:30 am | Al Rayyan Stadium |
| 8 | November 23 | Argentina vs Saudi Arabia | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 7 | November 22 | Mexico vs Poland | 9:30 pm | Ras Abu Aboud Stadium |
| 6 | November 22 | France vs UAE/Australia/Peru | 6:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| 5 | November 22 | Denmark vs Tunisia | 3:30 pm | Al Janoub Stadium |
| 12 | November 23 | Spain vs Costa Rica/New Zealand | 3.30 pm | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 11 | November 23 | Germany vs Japan | 9:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 10 | November 23 | Belgium vs Canada | 6:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| 9 | November 24 | Morocco vs Croatia | 00:30 am | Al Rayyan Stadium |
| 16 | November 25 | Brazil vs Serbia | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 15 | November 24 | Switzerland vs Cameroon | 9:30 pm | Ras Abu Aboud Stadium |
| 14 | November 24 | Portugal vs Ghana | 6:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| 13 | November 24 | Uruguay vs South Korea | 3.30 pm | Al Janoub Stadium |
| 20 | November 25 | England vs USA | 3.30 pm | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 19 | November 25 | Wales/Scotland/Ukraine vs Iran | 9:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 18 | November 25 | Qatar vs Senegal | 6:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| 17 | November 26 | Netherlands vs Ecuador | 00:30 am | Al Rayyan Stadium |
| 24 | November 27 | France vs Denmark | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 23 | November 26 | Tunisia vs UAE/Australia/Peru | 9:30 pm | Ras Abu Aboud Stadium |
| 22 | November 26 | Argentina vs Mexico | 6:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| 21 | November 26 | Poland vs Saudi Arabia | 3.30 pm | Al Janoub Stadium |
| 28 | November 27 | Belgium vs Morocco | 3.30 pm | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 27 | November 27 | Croatia vs Canada | 9:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 26 | November 27 | Spain vs Germany | 6:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| 25 | November 28 | Japan vs Costa Rica/New Zealand | 00:30 am | Al Rayyan Stadium |
| 32 | November 29 | Portugal vs Uruguay | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 31 | November 28 | South Korea vs Ghana | 9:30 pm | Ras Abu Aboud Stadium |
| 30 | November 28 | Brazil vs Switzerland | 6:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| 29 | November 28 | Cameroon vs Serbia | 3.30 pm | Al Janoub Stadium |
| 36 | November 29 | Netherlands vs Qatar | 3.30 pm | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 35 | November 29 | Ecuador vs Senegal | 9:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 34 | November 29 | Wales/Scotland/Ukraine vs England | 6:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| 33 | November 30 | Iran vs USA | 00:30 am | Al Rayyan Stadium |
| 40 | December 1 | Poland vs Argentina | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 39 | November 30 | Saudi Arabia vs Mexico | 9:30 pm | Ras Abu Aboud Stadium |
| 38 | November 30 | Tunisia vs France | 6:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| 37 | November 30 | UAE/Australia/Peru vs Denmark | 3.30 pm | Al Janoub Stadium |
| 44 | December 1 | Japan vs Spain | 3.30 pm | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 43 | December 1 | Costa Rica/New Zealand vs Germany | 9:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 42 | December 1 | Croatia vs Belgium | 6:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| 41 | December 2 | Canada vs Morocco | 00:30 am | Al Rayyan Stadium |
| 48 | December 3 | Cameroon vs Brazil | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 47 | December 2 | Serbia vs Switzerland | 9:30 pm | Ras Abu Aboud Stadium |
| 46 | December 2 | South Korea vs Portugal | 6:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| 45 | December 2 | Ghana vs Uruguay | 3.30 pm | Al Janoub Stadium |
| ROUND-OF-16 | ||||
| 49 | December 3 | 1A vs 2B | 8:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| 50 | December 4 | 1C vs 2D | 00:30 am | Al Rayyan Stadium |
| 51 | December 5 | 1B vs 2A | 00:30 am | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 52 | December 4 | 1D vs 2C | 8:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| 54 | December 6 | 1G vs 2H | 00:30 am | Ras Abu Aboud Stadium |
| 53 | December 5 | 1E vs 2F | 8:30 pm | Al Janoub Stadium |
| 56 | December 7 | 1H vs 2G | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 55 | December 6 | 1F vs 2E | 8:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| QUARTERFINALS | ||||
| 57 | December 10 | W49 vs W50 | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 58 | December 9 | W53 vs W54 | 8:30 pm | Education City Stadium |
| 59 | December 11 | W51 vs W52 | 00:30 am | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 60 | December 10 | W55 vs W56 | 8:30 pm | Al Thumama Stadium |
| SEMIFINALS | ||||
| 61 | December 14 | W57 vs W58 | 00:30 am | Lusail Stadium |
| 62 | December 15 | W59 vs W60 | 00:30 am | Al Bayt Stadium |
| THIRD PLACE MATCH | ||||
| 63 | December 17 | L61 vs L62 | 8:30 pm | Khalifa International Stadium |
| FINAL | ||||
| 64 | December 18 | W61 vs W62 | 8:30 pm | Lusail Stadium |
FIFA World Cup 2022 Groups
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Being the hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar enter Group A as the top seed despite being ranked 51st in world football. Spanish coach Felix Sanchez will be managing the Asian nation in their first World Cup in football.
After failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Netherlands will be desperate to make an impact in Qatar this time with coach Louis van Gaal looking to create history. Liverpool star Sadio Mane will lead Senegal this World Cup, hoping to emulate their title-winning performance at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Final European play-off winner
Former FIFA World Cup winners England are pitted against Iran and USA, while the Group B teams await their final opponent, who could be either Wales, Scotland or Ukraine.
A star-studded English team are the early favourites to advance into the knockout stages after their brilliant performance in the Euro 2020, where they reached the final before losing to Italy on penalties. Though Iran, who won their qualifying group, may find familiar playing conditions in Qatar, and a promising USA squad have turned heads with their brand of football, Harry Kane and Co. are expected to pass comprehensively.
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Copa America winners Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, have been pitted into Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland. One of Copa America’s top scorers, this is definitely Lionel Messi’s last World Cup and he would be eyeing easy progress from the group.
Mexico and Poland remain tricky opponents for Argentina in the group. While Poland, led by Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski, make their first appearance in the World Cup since 1986, South American giants Mexico will look to go further after losing in the first knockout round in their last seven attempts.
Group D: France, Play-off winner, Denmark, Tunisia
Defending world champions, France have been drawn against Denmark and Tunisia in Group D as they await either Peru or Australia from the playoff match. However, this World Cup group isn’t as easy as it seems for the Les Bleus.
The biggest challenger in this group will be Denmark, who had turned heads by reaching the semi-finals in Euro 2020. The two teams were drawn into the same group in the 1998 FIFA World Cup when the Danes had gone on to lift the title while France were eliminated from the group stage. No team has retained the World Cup title since Brazil’s feat in 2002 and France will be well aware of this fact. Tunisia might not be the powerhouse here, but they have enough talents to cause upsets.
Group E: Spain, Play-off winner, Germany, Japan
The probable group of death this World Cup, Group E features two former World Cup winners Germany and Spain along with Japan. The three teams will be joined by the winner of the playoff clash between Costa Rica and New Zealand.
Both Germany and Spain are scheduled to play two group stage games before they face each other on November 27, 2022, a clash that could prove to be definitive in their aim to top the table. Asian giants Japan had won the 2011 Asia Cup in Qatar and coach Hajime Moriyasu will hope to have similar success this time around as well.
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
A group of two dark horses, Belgium and Croatia are the favourites to advance from Group F. And while Morocco and Canada aren’t as established in world football as the European giants, they boast of talents that can put up great fights against the best of the teams.
The Belgian team was the no.1 team in world football until recently and had impressed one and all with a third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup. Croatia, on the other hand, went toe to toe against some of the world’s best in the previous World Cup to end as the runners-up. From Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne to Croatia’s Luka Modric, to Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Canada’s Alphonso Davies, this group is expected to be a star-studded affair from the first day.
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
The current no.1 team in world football, Brazil have been drawn against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G. Incidentally, the Brazilian national side was grouped with Serbia and Switzerland in the 2018 World Cup as well, when they had easily advanced to the knockout stages.
The other team apart from Brazil, who are expected to qualify for the knockout stages is Switzerland. After the nation eliminated France from the Euro 2020, the European side will be hoping to go far in the World Cup as well. Cameroon needed a very dramatic finish against Alegria ro qualify for the finals, but they aren’t expected t go further than this.
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Euro Cup top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Portugal has been served a tough group where they will face Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea. And while Portugal are still the favourites to progress from Group H, they will be well aware of their opponents.
It is safe to assume that a 38-year-old Ronaldo and 35-year-old Luis Suarez will be playing their last World Cup this time, with Portugal eyeing redemption after Uruguay had knocked them out in the 2018 World Cup. South Korea and Ghana are expected to struggle against the two continental giants, but they have individual talents who are capable of turning games on their heads.
FAQs
What is the Fifa World Cup 2022 draw?
The Fifa World Cup 2022 final draw was held on April 1, 2022, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, where 32 teams were divided into eight groups. They are mentioned above.
Which country will host Fifa World Cup 2022?
Qatar will host Fifa World Cup 2022 from November November 21, 2022 to December 18, 2022.
Which country won the 2018 FIFA World Cup?
The France national football team won the 2018 FIFA World Cup after they defeated Croatia 4-2.
Who won the 2010 FIFA World Cup?
The Spain national team had won the 2010 FIFA World Cup after beating the Netherlands 1-0.
