The 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicked off on November 20 with 32 teams bidding to reach the final and become world champions on December 18.
The tournament is the first to be held in the Arab world and only the second in Asia, after Japan and South Korea co-hosted the event in 2002. This edition will be the last to feature just 32 teams, with the tournament will expand from 2026 to include 48 countries.
Reigning champions France are among the favourites, although no team has successfully defended the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, along with other European teams England, Spain and the Netherlands. Brazil and Argentina are both in the round of 16, while Senegal could represent Africa’s best hopes of winning for the first time.
England met play-off winners Wales in Group B with the USA advancing alongside them. Germany were eliminated after being drawn into a difficult-looking Group E with Spain, Japan and Costa Rica, while Portugal and South Korea emerged from Group H ahead of Ghana and Uruguay.
The host, Qatar, began their tournament against Ecuador, before facing Senegal and the Netherlands; the latter duo was to be the first match of the 2022 World Cup before organizers moved Qatar’s match to be a day earlier. Due to excessive summer temperatures in the Gulf state, the World Cup in Qatar will be the first to be held in winter instead of summer.
Check out the full World Cup matches and schedule below.
Who is playing in the World Cup?
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, the Netherlands.
Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales.
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland.
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia.
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan.
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia.
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon.
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea.
Key dates
Group stage: November 20 to December 2
round of 16: December 3-6
Quarter finals: December 9-10
semifinals: December 13 and 14
Final: December 18 th
Who’s playing today and which UK and US channels will be showing the games?
For the first time in the tournament there are no games on Wednesday, December 7 or Thursday, December 8.
The next matches are on Friday, December 10 with Brazil vs. Croatia and the Netherlands vs. Argentina starting the quarterfinals.
