World Cup 2022 fixtures: Schedule, groups, dates, kick-off times, stadiums & host cities
The 2022/23 season has started and the countdown is on until the World Cup starts in November. Qatar awaits for the elite in world football but who is playing, when and where?
We still have to wait a little while for the opening game — with this being the first World Cup taking place in the winter months, given the scorching temperatures of the Qatar summer — but we know which nations will play each other in the group stage and the potential routes to the final.
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England have been handed a very interesting group featuring United States, Iran and Wales. Those sides will be in Group B, leaving a potential round of 16 tie against Netherlands.
- World Cup odds: Who are the favourites to win Qatar 2022?
- England World Cup 2022 team preview
- Portugal World Cup 2022 team preview
Elsewhere, Spain and Germany have both been drawn into Group E, whilst Ghana and Uruguay will reignite their rivalry in Group H. Holders, France will face Denmark in what should be a fantastic encounter.
The full draw and fixtures are all below.
World Cup 2022 group stage schedule:
| World Cup Group A |
|---|
| Qatar |
| Ecuador |
| Senegal |
| Netherlands |
20 November 2022
Qatar vs Ecuador (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
21 November 2022
Senegal vs Netherlands (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
25 November 2022
Qatar vs Senegal (13:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
Netherlands vs Ecuador (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Khalifa International Stadium
29 November 2022
Netherlands vs Qatar (13:00 GMT) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Ecuador vs Senegal (13:00 GMT) – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Why the first day of the 2022 World Cup has been moved
When the fixture list and schedule for the 2022 World Cup was first released, hosts Qatar were set to kick off their campaign at 4pm (GMT) on the opening day of the tournament, 21 November.
While the hosts are usually part of the opening game, that wasn’t to be the case this year, with Qatar’s game against Ecuador picked for the prime spot local time. Instead, it was going to be the third game of the opening day, after Senegal vs Netherlands and England vs Iran, scheduled for 10am (GMT) and 1pm (GMT) respectively. Nevertheless, Qatar vs Ecuador was still going to include the opening ceremony and celebrations, which has become a bigger part of World Cups since 2006.
However, the match has now been moved, extending the tournament to 29 days, starting on a Sunday, with a proposed kick-off time of 4pm (GMT). Qatar vs Ecuador would be the only game played that day, with Senegal vs Netherlands replacing it in the 4pm (GMT) slot on November 21 – in between England vs Iran and USA vs Wales.
A statement from FIFA said: “The FIFA World Cup 2022 will kick off with an even greater celebration for local and international fans as host country Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday 20 November at 19:00 (local time) as part of a stand-alone event.
“The opening match and ceremony of this year’s tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been brought forward one day following a unanimous decision taken by the Bureau of the FIFA Council today. Consequently, the encounter between Senegal and the Netherlands has been rescheduled from 13:00 to 19:00 (local time) on Monday 21 November.
“The change ensures the continuity of a long-standing tradition of marking the start of the FIFA World Cup with an opening ceremony on the occasion of the first match featuring either the hosts or the defending champions. The decision followed an assessment of the competition and operational implications, as well as a thorough consultation process and an agreement with key stakeholders and the host country.”
| World Cup Group B |
|---|
| England |
| Iran |
| United States |
| Wales |
21 November 2022
England vs Iran (13:00 GMT) on BBC – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
United States vs Wales (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
25 November 2022
England vs United States (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Wales vs Iran (10:00 GMT on BBC) – Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
29 November 2022
Wales vs England (19:00 GMT) – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
Iran vs United States (19:00 GMT) – Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
| World Cup Group C |
|---|
| Argentina |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Mexico |
| Poland |
22 November 2022
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (10:00 GMT on ITV) – Lusail Stadium, Lusail
Mexico vs Poland (16:00 GMT on BBC) – Stadium 974, Doha
26 November 2022
Argentina vs Mexico (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Lusail Stadium, Lusail
Poland vs Saudi Arabia (13:00 GMT on ITV) – Education City Stadium, Aly Rayyan
30 November 2022
Poland vs Argentina (19:00 GMT on BBC) – Stadium 974, Doha
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (19:00 GMT on BBC) – Lusail Stadium, Lusail
| World Cup Group D |
|---|
| France |
| Australia |
| Denmark |
| Tunisia |
22 November 2022
France vs Australia (19:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Denmark vs Tunisia (13:00 GMT on ITV) – Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
26 November 2022
France vs Denmark (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Stadium 974, Doha
Tunisia vs Australia (10:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
30 November 2022
Tunisia vs France (15:00 GMT on BBC) – Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Australia vs Denmark (15:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
| World Cup Group E |
|---|
| Spain |
| Costa Rica |
| Germany |
| Japan |
23 November 2022
Germany vs Japan (13:00 GMT on ITV) – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Spain vs Costa Rica (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
27 November 2022
Spain vs Germany (19:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Japan vs Costa Rica (10:00 GMT on ITV) – Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Rayyan
1 December 2022
Japan vs Spain (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Costa Rica vs Germany (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
| World Cup Group F |
|---|
| Belgium |
| Canada |
| Morocco |
| Croatia |
23 November 2022
Morocco vs Croatia (10:00 GMT on ITV) – Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Rayyan
Belgium vs Canada (19:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
27 November 2022
Belgium vs Morocco (13:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
Croatia vs Canada (16:00 GMT on BBC) – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
1 December 2022
Croatia vs Belgium (16:00 GMT on BBC) – Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Rayyan
Canada vs Morocco (16:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
| World Cup Group G |
|---|
| Brazil |
| Serbia |
| Switzerland |
| Cameroon |
24 November 2022
Brazil vs Serbia (19:00 GMT on BBC) – Lusail Stadium, Lusail
Switzerland vs Cameroon (10:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
28 November 2022
Brazil vs Switzerland (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Stadium 974, Doha
Cameroon vs Serbia (10:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
2 December 2022
Cameroon vs Brazil (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Lusail Stadium, Lusail
Serbia vs Switzerland (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Stadium 974, Doha
| World Cup Group H |
|---|
| Portugal |
| Ghana |
| Uruguay |
| South Korea |
24 November 2022
Portugal vs Ghana (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Stadium 974, Doha
Uruguay vs South Korea (13:00 GMT on BBC) – Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
28 November 2022
Portugal vs Uruguay (19:00 GMT on ITV) – Lusail Stadium, Lusail
South Korea vs Ghana (13:00 GMT on BBC) – Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
2 December 2022
South Korea vs Portugal (16:00 GMT on BBC) – Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Ghana vs Uruguay (16:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
What are the knockout stage fixtures?
Round of 16
3 December 2022
Match 49 -Winners Group A vs Runners Up Group B (15:00 GMT) – Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Match 50 – Winners Group C vs Runners Up Group D (19:00 GMT)- Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
4 December 2022
Match 51 – Winners Group B vs Runners Up Group A (15:00 GMT)- Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Match 52 – Winners Group D vs Runners Up Group C (19:00 GMT) – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
5 December 2022
Match 53 -Winners Group E vs Runners Up Group F (15:00 GMT) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Match 54 – Winners Group G vs Runners Up Group H (19:00 GMT) – Stadium 974, Doha
6 December 2022
Match 55 – Winners Group F vs Runners Up Group E (15:00 GMT) – Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Match 56 – Winners Group H vs Runners Up Group G (19:00 GMT) – Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
Quarter-final
9 December 2022
Match 57 – Winners Match 49 vs Winners Match 50 (19:00 GMT) – Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
Match 58 – Winners Match 53 vs Winners Match 54 (15:00 GMT) – Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
10 December 2022
Match 59 – Winners Match 51 vs Winners Match 52 (19:00 GMT) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Match 60 – Winners Match 55 vs Winners Match 56 (15:00 GMT) – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
Semi-final
13 December 2022
Match 61 – Winners Match 57 vs Winners Match 58 (19:00 GMT) – Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
14 December 2022
Match 62 – Winners Match 59 vs Winners Match 60 (19:00 GMT) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Third-place play-off
17 December 2022
Match 63 – Losers Match 61 vs Losers Match 62 (15:00 GMT) – Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Final
18 December 2022
Match 64 – Winners Match 61 vs Winners Match 62 (15:00 GMT) – Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
