FIFA World Cup 2022 is going to be held in Qatar, the third Asian country to ever host the world cup after Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It’s also the first time that a country of the Arab World has got the right to host the tournament. World Cup Qatar is scheduled to run from November 20 to December 18. On November 20, Qatar will kick off the tournament appearing for the first match of the tournament against Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium. In the beginning, the tournament was originally decided to start from November 21 with Senegal’s game against the Netherlands at the Al Thumama Stadium but Qatar’s match was moved forward in order to let Qatar play the opening match of their home tournament.
On the second day of the tournament, England will face Iran in group B. England vs Iran and Wales vs USA matches are scheduled to be hosted on November 21 Monday. England’s match against Iran will be played at 1pm UK time. It’s a great time to take advantage of the opportunity as their match is eight days after the Premier League ends, leaving them prepared for the game. Talking about the Wales vs USA match, it’s going to be Wales’ first game after qualifying via the playoffs.
On November 20 Tuesday, Wales will play against England in Group B. On December 2, the group phase of the tournament will end and the knockout phase will kick off. On December 18, the finale of the tournament will take place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium which has the highest capacity among all of eight stadiums selected as venue for the FIFA World Cup Qatar.
There is a fun fact about the venues of FIFA World Cup Qatar that you will be shocked to know. All of the stadiums that are going to host 64 matches of the tournament have been built over the period of the past three years keeping the FIFA World Cup as a main objective in mind except for Khalifa International Stadium which was built in 1976.
When will the World Cup Squads be revealed?
If you have read our previous blogs, you must know that 32 teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar and all of them are asked to submit their 26-man squad (which used to be 23-man squad till now) to FIFA by November 14. Some of the countries have already revealed their squads for example Australia and two more. But these squads will not be able to play unless FIFA announces the final list of players for each team. This announcement will be made by FIFA on November 15, Tuesday.
Which Teams and Groups will play World Cup 2022?
Since 1998, six football World Cups have been played and the number of qualified teams has stayed 32. In 1998, the number of qualified teams was increased to 32 from 24 and from World Cup 2026, 48 teams will be qualifying for the tournament. All of the qualified teams come from different regions in the world to ensure equal representation for every region on the planet.
Teams that are going to play in the FIFA World Cup Qatar are following:
Denmark, Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands, Poland, England (originator of Soccer), Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Wales, Germany, Portugal and France from Europe.
Qatar, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia from Asia as a member of Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Cameroon from South Africa.
Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay from South America.
Canada, United States, Mexico and Costa Rica from North, Central America and Caribbean.
Groups qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar
Group A
Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands
Group B
England, Iran, the United States and Wales
Group C
Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland
Group D
France, Australia, Denmark and Tunisia
Group E
Spain, Costa Rica, Germany and Japan
Group F
Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia
Group G
Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon
Group H
Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea
FIFA World Cup Qatar Format and Structure
The FIFA World Cup is all set to be played as the format of game and Structure has been decided. Four matches will be played every day during the group phase running for a 12-day period. 2 December onwards, the knockout phase will begin but before we move to the next thing, let’s have a look at the scheduled matches according to UK time.
November 20
Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor (begins at 7pm)
November 21
Group B: England vs Iran at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan (begins at 1pm)
Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands at Al Thumama Stadium in Al Khor (begins at 4pm)
Group B: Wales vs USA at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan (begins at 7pm).
November 22
Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail.
Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.
Group C: Mexico vs Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha
Group D: France vs Australia at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah
November 23
Group F: Morocco vs Croatia at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Group E: Germany vs Japan at Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
Group F: Belgium vs Canada at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
November 24
Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea at Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group G: Brazil vs Serbia at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail
Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Group H: Portugal vs Ghana at Stadium 974, Doha
November 25
Group B: Wales vs Iran at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group A: Qatar vs Senegal at Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador at Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group B: England vs USA at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
November 26
Group D: Tunisia vs Australia at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia at Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group D: France vs Denmark at Stadium 974, Doha
Group C: Argentina vs Mexico at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
November 27
Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group F: Belgium vs Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
Group F: Croatia vs Canada at Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group E: Spain vs Germany at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
November 28
Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Group H: South Korea vs Ghana at Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland at Stadium 974, Doha
Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
November 29
Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group B: Wales vs England at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group B: Iran vs USA at Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
November 30
Group D: Australia vs Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Group D: Tunisia vs France at Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group C: Poland vs Argentina at Stadium 974, Doha
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
December 1
Group F: Croatia vs Belgium at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group F: Canada vs Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
Group E: Costa Rica vs Germany at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Group E: Japan vs Spain at Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
December 2
Group G: South Korea vs Portugal at Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group G: Ghana vs Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Group H: Serbia vs Switzerland at Stadium 974, Doha
Group H: Cameroon vs Brazil at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
Qatar World Cup Venue
The Qatar World Cup will not just be played in one City or one stadium. The World Cup is the biggest level football competition in which 64 matches are going to be played this time. These 64 matches will be played by 32 teams in a total of eight stadiums across five different cities of Qatar.
The designated Venues for the FIFA World Cup 2022 are following:
- Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail
- Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah
- Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor
- Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan
- Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan
- Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan
- Stadium 974 in Doha
- Al Thumama Stadium in Doha
FIFA and Qatar football federation made sure that all the venues of FIFA World Cup 2022 are located within a 55-km radius of the nation’s capital city of Doha. One of the most surprising facts about the Venues of FIFA World Cup Qatar is that apart from Khalifa International Stadium, which was constructed and has been in use since 1976, every other stadium of the World Cup has been constructed over the span of the past three years. And the one and only aim of their construction is the FIFA World Cup. The Khalifa International Stadium will host the third place playoff match.
