World Cup 2022 draw: The eight groups in Qatar
The group stage for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is set after the April 1 draw in Qatar. It’s rich with storylines, starting with the USA facing England in Group B, Mexico drawing Argentina and Spain meeting Germany.
The 32 finalists now know what their pathway is through the group stage. And with seven months left to project and predict, many will be looking ahead at the potential knockout round pairings.
Only the top two teams in each group will advance to the Round of 16. Host nation Qatar will have its work cut out for it to be one of those two given the likes of Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A. Lionel Messi will go head-to-head with Robert Lewandowski in Group C and Brazil faces stiff European competition in Group G.
World Cup 2022 draw
Group A
Qatar
Ecuador
Senegal
Netherlands
Group B
England
Iran
USA
European playoff
Group C
Argentina
Saudi Arabia
Mexico
Poland
Group D
France
Intercontinental playoff 1
Denmark
Tunisia
Group E
Spain
Intercontinental playoff 2
Germany
Japan
Group F
Belgium
Canada
Croatia
Morocco
Group G
Brazil
Serbia
Switzerland
Cameroon
Group H
Portugal
Ghana
Uruguay
South Korea
Ronaldo and Messi set for historic fifth World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could make history by becoming part of a select group of players who have managed to participate in as many as five World Cup competitions. Both Argentina and Portugal have clinched qualification to the 2022 World Cup, and the two stars are expected to feature in the competition if they stay healthy.
Which players will miss out on the World Cup?
The likes of Italy, Colombia, Austria, Algeria, Egypt, Sweden and Norway have all missed out on qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, so that means Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and some of football’s biggest stars will have to watch on as some of their club teammates take part. L’Equipe have put together this XI of the best players that will not be in Qatar in November.
Qatar world cup 2022 song
The song ‘Hayya Hayya (Better Together)’ is the first to be released from the multi-song World Cup official soundtrack.
World Cup 2022 schedule
Monday November 21
Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador (Al-Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick off 10am BST)
Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands
Group B: England vs Iran
Group B: USA vs Scotland/Wales/Ukraine
Tuesday November 22
Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Group C: Mexico vs Poland
Group D: France vs UAE/Australia/Peru
Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia
Wednesday November 23
Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica/New Zealand
Group E: Germany vs Japan
Group F: Belgium vs Canada
Group F: Morocco vs Croatia
Thursday November 24
Group G: Brazil vs Serbia
Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon
Group H: Portugal vs Ghana
Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea
Friday November 25
Group A: Qatar vs Senegal
Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador
Group B: England vs USA
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs Iran
Saturday November 26
Group C: Argentina vs Mexico
Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia
Group D: France vs Denmark
Group D: Tunisia vs UAE/Australia/Peru
Sunday November 27
Group E: Spain vs Germany
Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica/New Zealand
Group F: Belgium vs Morocco
Group F: Croatia vs Canada
Monday November 28
Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland
Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia
Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay
Group H: South Korea vs Ghana
Tuesday November 29
Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar
Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs England
Group B: Iran vs USA
Wednesday November 30
Group C: Poland vs Argentina
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
Group D: Tunisia vs France
Group D: UAE/Australia/Peru vs Denmark
Thursday December 1
Group E: Japan vs Spain
Group E: Costa Rica/New Zealand vs Germany
Group F: Croatia vs Belgium
Group F: Canada vs Morocco
Friday, December 2
Group G: Cameroon vs Brazil
Group G: Serbia vs Switzerland
Group H: South Korea vs Portugal
Group H: Ghana vs Uruguay
Round of 16
Saturday December 3
Winners of Group A vs. Runners-up of Group B (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm BST)
Winners of Group C vs. Runners-up of Group D (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
Sunday December 4
Winners of Group D vs. Runners-up of Group C (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
Winners of Group B vs. Runners-up of Group A (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Monday December 5
Winners of Group E vs. Runners-up of Group F (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
Winners of Group G vs. Runners-up of Group H (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
Tuesday December 6
Winners of Group F vs. Runners-up of Group E (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Winners of Group H vs. Runners-up of Group G (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Quarter-finals
Friday December 9
Winners of 53 vs. Winners of 54 (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Winners of 49 vs. Winners of 50 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 3pm)
Saturday December 10
Winners of 55 vs. Winners of 56 (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
Winners of 51 vs. Winners of 52 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Semi-finals
Tuesday December 13
Winners of 57 vs. Winners of 58 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday December 14
Winners of 59 vs. Winners of 60 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Third-place play-off
Saturday December 17
Losers of 61 vs. Losers of 62 (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Final
Sunday December 18
Winners of 61 vs. Winners of 62 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Who are favorites for 2022 World Cup?
2022 FIFA World Cup: Alexi Lalas’ favorites for Qatar
Alexi Lalas and the FOX Soccer crew give their favorites for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, featuring France, Germany, Brazil and Argentina. Belgium are bona-fide title favorites. Croatia were the runners-up four years ago.
Where is the World Cup 2022 draw?
Qatar FIFA World Cup draw: A total of 32 teams will fight for the ultimate trophy in Qatar later this year. FIFA World Cup draw: The highly anticipated Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Qatar on the 1st of April 2022.
Why is the 2022 World Cup in November?
The 2022 World Cup is taking place in Qatar in the winter months rather than the usual summer ones, due to the heat. The tournament kicks off on Monday November 21 at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor when hosts Qatar take on Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium.
How will the World Cup in Qatar work?
The 2022 World Cup will feature 32 teams in eight groups of four. Four matches will be played each day during the group stage, which will run over a 12-day period and see winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16.