The 2022 FIFA World Cup feels that much closer with the draw now officially out of the way. The group stage matchups are set and we can begin to project who might be in best position to advance from the knockouts.
The tournament kicks off on Monday, Nov. 21 and will be wrapped up in less than a month with the final tabbed for Sunday, Dec. 18. Brazil enter as the No. 1 team in the world and have a manageable group, while defending champions France should finish top in their group with a chance to build a head of steam in the tournament.
Which teams could surprise? African champions Senegal are one of the stronger teams in Group A, which also features hosts Qatar. In their first participation in 37 years, Canada landed in Group F, where it will like its chances to battle Morocco and Croatia for second place behind Belgium.
GROUP B England Iran USA Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine
GROUP C Argentina Saudi Arabia Mexico Poland
GROUP D France Peru vs Australia/UAE Denmark Tunisia
GROUP E Spain Costa Rica vs New Zealand Germany Japan
GROUP F Belgium Canada Morocco Croatia
GROUP G Brazil Serbia Switzerland Cameroon
GROUP H Portugal Ghana Uruguay Korea
The 2022 World Cup tournament will follow along the lines of past editions with a 32-team group stage which whittles the field down to 16 teams — only the top two teams from each group will advance.
Those 16 survivors will then begin a single-game knockout competition. The winner moves on, the loser goes home. There must be a winner on the day and extra time and penalty kicks will be used, if necessary.
Group stage:Nov. 21-Dec. 2
Round of 16: Dec. 3-6
Quarterfinals: Dec. 9-10
Semifinals: Dec. 13-14
Third-place match: Dec. 17
Final: Dec. 18
World Cup 2022 kickoff times
Stage(s)
Local (Qatar)
USA & Canada (ET)
UK (GMT)
Australia (AEDT)
India (IST)
Group stage only
1 p.m.
5 a.m.
10 a.m.
9 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
Group stage only
4 p.m.
8 a.m.
1 p.m.
12 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
Knockouts only
6 p.m.
10 a.m.
3 p.m.
2 a.m.
8:30 p.m.
Group stage only
7 p.m.
11 a.m.
4 p.m.
3 a.m.
9:30 p.m.
Group/Knockouts
10 p.m.
2 p.m.
7 p.m.
6 a.m.
12:30 a.m.
Complete World Cup 2022 match schedule
World Cup Group A table & fixtures
Team
PTS
GP
W
L
D
GF
GA
GD
A1: Qatar
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
A2: Ecuador
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
A3: Senegal
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
A4: Netherlands
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Group A match schedule
Date
Match
Time (ET)
Stadium
Mon, Nov. 21
Senegal vs. Netherlands
5 a.m.
Al Thumama
Mon, Nov. 21
Qatar vs. Ecuador
11 a.m.
Al Bayt
Fri, Nov. 25
Qatar vs. Senegal
8 a.m.
Al Thumama
Fri, Nov. 25
Netherlands vs. Ecuador
11 a.m.
Khalifa Int’l
Tues, Nov. 29
Netherlands vs. Qatar
10 a.m.
Al Bayt
Tues, Nov. 29
Ecuador vs. Senegal
10 a.m.
Khalifa Int’l
World Cup Group B table & fixtures
Team
PTS
GP
W
L
D
GF
GA
GD
B1: England
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
B2: Iran
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
B3: USA
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
B4: WAL/UKR/SCO*
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
* = Winner of European playoff (Wales vs. Ukraine/Scotland)
Group B match schedule
Date
Match
Time (ET)
Stadium
Mon, Nov. 21
England vs. Iran
8 a.m.
Khalifa Int’l
Mon, Nov. 21
USA vs. WAL/UKR/SCO
2 p.m.
Ahmad Bin Ali
Fri, Nov. 25
WAL/UKR/SCO vs. Iran
5 a.m.
Ahmad Bin Ali
Fri, Nov. 25
England vs. USA
2 p.m.
Al Bayt
Tues, Nov. 29
WAL/UKR/SCO vs. England
2 p.m.
Ahmad Bin Ali
Tues, Nov. 29
Iran vs. USA
2 p.m.
Al Thumama
World Cup Group C table & fixtures
Team
PTS
GP
W
L
D
GF
GA
GD
C1: Argentina
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
C2: Saudi Arabia
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
C3: Mexico
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
C4: Poland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Group C match schedule
Date
Match
Time (ET)
Stadium
Tues, Nov. 22
Argentina vs. S. Arabia
5 a.m.
Lusail
Tues, Nov. 22
Mexico vs. Poland
11 a.m.
Stadium 974
Sat, Nov. 26
Poland vs. S. Arabia
8 a.m.
Education City
Sat, Nov. 26
Argentina vs. Mexico
2 p.m.
Lusail
Wed, Nov. 30
Poland vs. Argentina
2 p.m.
Stadium 974
Wed, Nov. 30
S. Arabia vs. Mexico
2 p.m.
Lusail
World Cup Group D table & fixtures
Team
PTS
GP
W
L
D
GF
GA
GD
D1: France
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
D2: AUS/UAE/PER*
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
D3: Denmark
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
D4: Tunisia
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
* = Winner of Intercontinental Playoff (Peru vs. Australia/United Arab Emirates)
Group D match schedule
Date
Match
Time (ET)
Stadium
Tue, Nov. 22
Denmark vs. Tunisia
8 a.m.
Education City
Tue, Nov. 22
France vs. AUS/UAE/PER
2 p.m.
Al Janoub
Sat, Nov. 26
Tunisia vs. AUS/UAE/PER
5 a.m.
Al Janoub
Sat, Nov. 26
France vs. Denmark
11 a.m.
Stadium 974
Wed, Nov. 30
Tunisia vs. France
10 a.m.
Education City
Wed, Nov. 30
AUS/UAE/PER vs. Denmark
10 a.m.
Al Janoub
World Cup Group E table & fixtures
Team
PTS
GP
W
L
D
GF
GA
GD
E1: Spain
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
E2: CRC/NZ*
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
E3: Germany
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
E4: Japan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
* = Winner of Intercontinental Playoff (Costa Rica vs. New Zealand)
