The 2022 World Cup: Dates, Draw, Schedule, Kick-off Times, and Final for the Qatar Tournament

• The 2022 World Cup is being held in Qatar during the winter instead of the typical summer months because of the extreme heat.
• On Monday, November 21, the tournament begins at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor as Qatar hosts Ecuador.

This year's tournament schedule includes important dates and kick-off times.

When and where is the 2022 World Cup?

The 2022 World Cup is being held in Qatar during the winter instead of the typical summer months because of the extreme heat.

On Monday November 21, the tournament begins at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor as hosts Qatar face off against Ecuador.

On the first day, England will face Iran in a Group B match, which will take place eight days after the Premier League ends.

The final match of the World Cup will be held at the Lusail Stadium in Doha on Sunday December 18, a week before Christmas.

Who has qualified so far?

We highlight the top goals scored by England during their World Cup qualifying campaign, including goals from Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.

Thirty-two nations are set to participate in the tournament, and twenty-nine of them have been identified.

As hosts, Qatar received automatic qualification to next year's tournament.

Germany, four-time World Cup champions, secured a spot in Europe's qualification process as the first team, while Brazil, the most successful national team in World Cup history with five trophies, qualified swiftly as one of the top four teams in South America's groups.

England secured their place in November by topping their qualifying group.

Canada qualified for the World Cup finals for the second time, defeating Jamaica 4-0 to secure their spot in Qatar and put an end to 36 years of disappointment and suffering.

Senegal qualified for the World Cup by defeating Egypt 3-1 on penalties, with Sadio Mane scoring the winning kick and Mo Salah among the Egyptian players who missed their spot-kicks. Mexico and the United States also qualified for the tournament in their final qualifier.

In Europe, Portugal and Poland advanced to the finals by defeating North Macedonia and Sweden in their respective play-off finals. The final European play-off, featuring Wales against Scotland or Ukraine, has been postponed until June.

Who will be the final three countries to qualify?

The World Cup will feature Wales, Scotland, or Ukraine as play-off winners.

The intercontinental play-offs will be held in Qatar from 13-14 June, with Australia, UAE, Peru, and Costa Rica competing for the two remaining spots.

UEFA and Intercontinental play-offs:

• Wales vs Scotland or Ukraine
• Australia or United Arab Emirates vs Peru
• Costa Rica vs New Zealand

If Scotland advances past Ukraine in their delayed play-off semi-final, Scotland and Wales will face off for a spot in the World Cup next year since they are on the same path.

What is the World Cup group draw?

• Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
• Group B: England, Iran, USA, European play-off*
• Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
• Group D: France, Intercontinental play-off 1*, Denmark, Tunisia
• Group E: Spain, Intercontinental play-off 2*, Germany, Japan
• Group F: Belgium, Ghana, Morocco, Croatia
• Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
• Group H: Portugal, Canada, Uruguay, South Korea

What is the World Cup format and schedule?

Image:France players celebrate winning the World Cup in Moscow in 2018

The 2022 World Cup will feature 32 teams in eight groups of four.

During the group stage, which lasts 12 days, four matches will be played daily, with the winners and runners-up advancing to the round of 16.

Organisers will decide the matches' venues after the finals draw to optimize kick-off times for television audiences worldwide and Qatar supporters.

Unlike Euro 2020, a third-place play-off game will be held on December 17.

The group stage of the tournament will take place from November 21 to December 2, followed by the round of 16 from December 3 to 6, the quarter-finals on December 9/10, the semi-finals on December 13/14, and finally, the final on December 18.

When will the matches kick off?

The first two rounds of FIFA matches will commence at 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm local time (10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm in the UK).

The final round of group games and knock-out round matches will have kick-off times of 6pm and 10pm local time (3pm and 7pm UK time).

The local time kickoff for the final is at 6pm.

What are the venues?

The eight stadiums where group games will be held are Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Education City Stadium, and Al Janoub Stadium.

What will happen with the Premier League?

The 2022/23 Premier League campaign has been confirmed with key dates, including the World Cup that will take place in the middle of the domestic calendar.

The football season will begin a week earlier than usual on August 6, 2022, with 16 matches taking place until the weekend of November 12/13, before the tournament commences on November 21.

The Premier League will start again on Boxing Day, after the World Cup match on December 18.

The 2022/23 season's final match will take place on May 28, 2023.

Key World Cup, Premier League, Scottish Premiership dates

April - World Cup draw.

The Scottish Premiership, EFL Championship, League One, and League Two all begin on July 30.

August 6 - Premier League season starts.

The final round of Premier League, Championship, and Scottish Premiership matches will take place on November 12-13, prior to the World Cup.

November 21 - World Cup starts.

December 2 - Final set of group stage matches.

December 3-6 - The round of 16 starts.

December 9-10 - The quarter-finals.

December 10 - The Championship resumes.

December 13-14 - World Cup semi-finals.

December 17 - The Scottish Premiership resumes.

December 18 - World Cup final.

December 26 - The Premier League resumes.