The FIFA World Cup in Qatar is scheduled to take place from Monday, 21 November through to the final on Sunday, 18 December 2022 at the the Lusail Stadium in Doha. Kick off for the final will be at 18.00 local time (+3 GMT / +2 CET).
Unlike previous tournaments there will be four matches on the opening day, 21 November, and four matches each day until 2 December. Then there will be two matches each day between 3 December and 6 December (the round of 16) and on the 9 and 10 December (Quarter Finals). Semi-finals are 13 and 14 December; 3rd place play off on 17 December with the final on 18 December.
During the entire period of the cup, from 21 November to 18 December, the only rest days with no games will be 7, 8, 11, 12, 15 and 16 December.
Kick-off times for the first two rounds of group stage matches will be 13.00, 16.00, 19.00 and 22.00 local time (so 10.00, 13.00, 16.00 and 19.00 in the United Kingdom).
In the final round of group games and the round of 16 and quarter finals the kick-off will be at 18.00 and 22.00 local time (15.00 and 19.00 UK time). The semi-finals will kick of at 22.00 and the final at 18.00 (19.00 and 15.00 UK time).
32 teams will play at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Teams qualified – and how they performed in 2018 in Russia (and 2014 in Brazil) are:
- Argentina – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Finalist – Runner-up in Brazil)
- Australia – Knocked out at the group stage. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- Belgium – Semi finalist – 3rd place. (Quarter finalist in Brazil)
- Brazil – Quarter finalist. (Semi finalist- 4th place in Brazil)
- Cameroon – Failed to qualify for Russia (and Brazil)
- Canada – Failed to qualify for Russia (and Brazil)
- Costa Rica – Knocked out at the group stage. (Quarter finalist in Brazil)
- Croatia – Finalist – Runner up (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- Denmark – Knocked out in the round of 16. (previously played in the World Cup Finals in 2010)
- Ecuador – Failed to qualify for Russia.(Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- England – Semi Finalist – 4th place. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- France – Finalist – 2018 World Champions (Quarter finalist in Brazil)
- Germany – Knocked out at the group stage. (Finalist – 2014 World Champions in Brazil)
- Ghana – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2010)
- Iran – Knocked out at the group stage. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- Japan – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- Korea Republic – Failed to qualify for Russia. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- Mexico – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)
- Morocco – Knocked out at the group stage. (Failed to qualify for Brazil)
- Netherlands – Failed to qualify for Russia (Semi-finalist – 3rd place in Brazil)
- Poland – Knocked out at the group stage. (Failed to qualify for Brazil).
- Portugal – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- Qatar- Never previously qualified for the World Cup Finals
- Saudia Arabia – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2006)
- Serbia – Knocked out at the group stage. (previously played in the World Cup Finals in 2010)
- Senegal – Knocked out at the group stage. (Failed to qualify for Brazil)
- Spain – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
- Switzerland – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)
- Tunisia – Knocked out at the group stage. (Failed to qualify for Brazil)
- United States of America – Failed to qualify for Russia. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)
- Uruguay – Quarter finalist. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)
- Wales – Failed to qualify for Russia (and Brazil)
World Cup: The Guide 