After a decade of anticipation, all eyes are now on Qatar as the World Cup 2022 begins today.
Some of the best football players will be in action at the FIFA World Cup 2022, which will be held across 8 stadiums in Qatar from November 20 to December 18.
The Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 will see 32 teams from five confederations compete for the biggest prize in football. The teams have been divided into eight groups of four (A to H) and only the top two teams will advance to the knockout stages.
As many as 64 matches will be played during the course of 29 days, also making it the shortest 32-team FIFA World Cup in history.
Except for the first two days, four matches will be played each day during the group stages. Each of the 32 teams will play three matches in the group stages before the knockouts begin with the round of 16 (pre-quarterfinals) on December 3.
Hosts Qatar will kick off the 2022 World Cup against Ecuador in Group A at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on November 20.
Defending champions France will play their first match against Australia at 12:30 AM IST on November 23 while five-time champions Brazil will start against Serbia at 12:30 AM IST on November 25. India is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of Qatar.
The semi-finals will be played on December 14 and 15, both at 12:30 AM IST, while the final will take place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on December 18.
This will be the first time that a country from the Middle East will host the FIFA World Cup and consequently, the first edition being held outside the typical June-July window earmarked for the quadrennial showpiece.
Group stages
Sunday, November 20
- Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador – 9:30 PM IST
Monday, November 21
- Group B: England vs Iran – 6:30 PM IST
- Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands – 9:30 PM IST
Tuesday, November 22
- Group B: United States vs Wales – 12:30 AM IST
- Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia – 6:30 PM IST
- Group C: Mexico vs Poland – 9:30 PM IST
Wednesday, November 23
- Group D: France vs Australia – 12:30 AM IST
- Group F: Morocco vs Croatia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group E: Germany vs Japan – 6:30 PM IST
- Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica – 9:30 PM IST
Thursday, November 24
- Group F: Belgium vs Canada – 12:30 AM IST
- Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon – 3:30 PM IST
- Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea – 6:30 PM IST
- Group H: Portugal vs Ghana – 9:30 PM IST
Friday, November 25
- Group G: Brazil vs Serbia – 12:30 AM IST
- Group B: Wales vs IR Iran – 3:30 PM IST
- Group A: Qatar vs Senegal – 6:30 PM IST
- Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador – 9:30 PM IST
Saturday, November 26
- Group B: England vs United States – 12:30 AM IST
- Group D: Tunisia vs Australia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia – 6:30 PM IST
- Group D: France vs Denmark – 9:30 PM IST
Sunday, November 27
- Group C: Argentina vs Mexico – 12:30 AM IST
- Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica – 3:30 PM IST
- Group F: Belgium vs Morocco – 6:30 PM IST
- Group F: Croatia vs Canada – 9:30 PM IST
Monday, November 28
- Group E: Spain vs Germany – 12:30 AM IST
- Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia – 3:30 PM IST
- Group H: South Korea vs Ghana – 6:30 PM IST
- Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland – 9:30 PM IST
Tuesday, November 29
- Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay – 12:30 AM IST
- Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar – 8:30 PM IST
- Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal – 8:30 PM IST
Wednesday, November 30
- Group B: Wales vs England – 12:30 AM IST
- Group B: IR Iran vs United States – 12:30 AM IST
- Group D: Tunisia vs France – 8:30 PM IST
- Group D: Australia vs Denmark – 8:30 PM IST
Thursday, December 1
- Group C: Poland vs Argentina – 12:30 AM IST
- Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico – 12:30 AM IST
- Group F: Croatia vs Belgium – 8:30 PM IST
- Group F: Canada vs Morocco – 8:30 PM IST
Friday, December 2
- Group E: Japan vs Spain – 12:30 AM IST
- Group E: Costa Rica vs Germany – 12:30 AM IST
- Group H: South Korea vs Portugal – 8:30 PM IST
- Group H: Ghana vs Uruguay – 8:30 PM IST
Saturday, December 3
- Group G: Cameroon vs Brazil – 12:30 AM IST
- Group G: Serbia vs Switzerland – 12:30 AM IST
Round of 16
Saturday, December 3
- Group A winner vs Group B runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Sunday, December 4
- Group C winner vs Group D runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
- Group D winner vs Group C runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Monday, December 5
- Group B winner vs Group A runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
- Group E winner vs Group F runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Tuesday, December 6
- Group G winner vs Group H runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
- Group F winner vs Group E runners-up – 8.30 PM IST
Wednesday, December 7
- Group H winner vs Group G runners-up – 12.30 AM IST
Friday, December 9
- Quarter-final 1 – 8.30 PM IST
Saturday, December 10
- Quarter-final 2 – 12.30 AM IST
- Quarter-final 3 – 8.30 PM IST
Sunday, December 11
- Quarter-final 4 – 12.30 AM IST
Wednesday, December 14
Semi-finals 1 – 12.30 AM IST
Thursday, December 15
Semi-final 2 – 12.30 AM IST
Saturday, December 17
Third place match – 8.30 PM IST
Sunday, December 18
Final – 8.30 PM IST