The 2022 World Cup in Qatar began on 20 November as 32 teams aim to reach the final and become world champions on 18 December.
The tournament is the first to be held in the Arab world and only the second to take place in Asia, after Japan and South Korea joint-hosted the event in 2002. This edition will be the last to feature just 32 teams, with the tournament being expanded from 2026 onwards in order to feature 48 nations.
Reigning champions France are among the favourites, though no team has successfully defended the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, alongside fellow European sides England, Spain, and the Netherlands. Brazil and Argentina will likely feature in the knockout stages, while Senegal could represent Africa’s biggest hopes of winning for the first time.
England meet play-off winners Wales in Group B with USA and Iran. Spain and Germany have been drawn in a tough-looking Group E with Japan and Costa Rica, while Portugal meet Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in a well-balanced Group H.
Hosts Qatar started their tournament against Ecuador, before taking on Senegal and Netherlands – the latter duo were set to be the first match of the 2022 World Cup before organisers moved Qatar’s match to be a day earlier. Because of excessive summer temperatures in the Gulf state, the Qatar World Cup will be the first to be staged in winter rather than summer.
Check out the full World Cup fixtures and schedule below.
Who is playing at the World Cup?
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands.
Group B: England, Iran, USA, 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: 20 November to 2 December
Round of 16: 3-6 December
Quarter-finals: 9-10 December
Semi-finals: 13-14 December
Final: 18 December
Who is playing today, and which UK and US channels will air the games?
Croatia vs Belgium
UK: 3pm GMT - BBC One and BBC iPlayer
US: 10am ET, 7am PT - Fox and Fox Sports 1
Canada vs Morocco
UK: 3pm GMT - BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
US: 10am ET, 7am PT - Fox and Fox Sports 1
Japan vs Spain
UK: 7pm GMT - ITV4 and ITVX
US: 2pm ET, 11am PT - Fox and Fox Sports 1
Costa Rica vs Germany
UK: 7pm GMT - ITV and ITVX
US: 2pm ET, 11am PT - Fox and Fox Sports 1
