World Cup 2022 groups: Fixtures, dates, kick-off times, stadiums & host cities
The World Cup draw has been made and the countdown is on until the tournament starts in November. Qatar awaits for the elite in world football but who is playing, when and where?
We’ll have to wait a 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 now know which nations will play each other in the group stage following the 1 April draw.
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England have been handed a very interesting group featuring United States, Iran and the winner of the Uefa Path A playoff, which features Wales, Scotland and Ukraine. Those side will be in Group B, leaving a potential round of 16 tie against Netherlands.
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.
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The fill draw and fixtures are all below.
World Cup 2022 group stage fixtures:
| World Cup Group A |
|---|
| Qatar |
| Ecuador |
| Senegal |
| Netherlands |
21 November 2022
Senegal vs Netherlands (10:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
Qatar vs Ecuador (16:00 GMT on ITV) – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
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
| World Cup Group B |
|---|
| England |
| Iran |
| United States |
| Wales or Scotland/Ukraine* |
*Uefa Path A semi final between Scotland and Ukraine and subsequent final of Wales vs winner of Scotland/Ukraine will take place in June.
21 November 2022
England vs Iran (13:00 GMT) on BBC – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
United States vs Wales or Scotland/Ukraine (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 or Scotland/Ukraine vs Iran (10:00 GMT on BBC) – Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
29 November 2022
Wales or Scotland/Ukraine 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 |
| UAE/Australia* or Peru** |
| Denmark |
| Tunisia |
*AFC playoff between UAE and Australia will take place in June
**Inter-Confederation playoff between Peru and winner of UAE/Australia will take place in June
22 November 2022
France vs UAE/Australia or Peru (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 UAE/Australia or Peru (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
UAE/Australia or Peru vs Denmark (15:00 GMT on BBC) – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
| World Cup Group E |
|---|
| Spain |
| Costa Rica or New Zealand* |
| Germany |
| Japan |
*Inter-Confederation playoff between Costa Rica and New Zealand will take place in June
23 November 2022
Germany vs Japan (13:00 GMT on ITV) – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Spain vs Costa Rica or New Zealand (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 or New Zealand (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 or New Zealand 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
JWP is a “dead certainty” to go to the World Cup
James Ward-Prowse once against found the scoresheet via a free-kick at the weekend to take his deadball tally in the Premier League to 14, just four behind the current record holder David Beckham, and two former England internationals have now backed the Southampton skipper to make Qatar.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Micah Richards said: “In terms of England, he’s a dead certainty for me to go to the World Cup.
“He has to go because he is clever on the ball, he takes free-kicks, he’s dependable. A captain – he leads his team.
Most free-kicks scored in Premier League history:
◎ 18 – David Beckham
◉ 14 – James Ward-Prowse
◎ 13 – Cristiano RonaldoProwsey wants that record. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/qYtHrrjAM7
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 24, 2022
“Southampton at the start of the season a lot of people expected them to go down, and he’s marshalled them all the way through the season.
“Nine goals is just remarkable.”
Former Three Lion Jermaine Jenas followed up by suggesting: “He’s obviously used just missing out on the European championship squad as fuel for him this season and I think that’s exactly why he has gone into this season with the form he has gone into it.”
When probed on his thoughts about closing in on Beckham’s all-time free-kick record in the Premier League after Southampton’s 2-2 draw with Brighton — in which he netted both goals — Ward-Prowse spoke of his ambition to one day meet the ex-Manchester United midfielder.
Most free-kicks scored in Europe's top five leagues since the start of last season:
◉ 8 – James Ward-Prowse
◎ 4 – Lionel Messi
◎ 4 – Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
◎ 4 – Farid BoulayaJWP is the free-kick master. 🎯
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 24, 2022
“My main motivation is to meet my hero who I loved when I was growing up,” Ward-Prowse said. “If I do get that record, hopefully he’ll reach out – but there’s a long way to go just yet.”
The 27-year-old’s comments had a far-reaching effect, as Beckham himself took to social media to wax lyrical about his free-kick successor, writing on his Instagram story alongside an image of Ward-Prowse’s interview: “Looking forward to it mate. Another great one today, four more to go.”
