The 2022 World Cup is finally here, and it will be like no other.
For one thing, it is being held in November and December to avoid the scorching summer heat of Qatar. So, in addition to the NFL, NBA, NHL and college football and basketball, you will be able to spend the next month watching the best 32 soccer teams in the world.
When you wake up in the morning, matches will already be on TV. Group-stage games will be broadcast at 5 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Fox, FS1 and Telemundo. An estimated audience of 5 billion people are expected to tune in around the world.
The tournament is loaded with compelling storylines: Will Argentine legend Lionel Messi finally win a World Cup trophy? Will Brazil win its sixth World Cup? Can France repeat as champion? Is the young, inexperienced USA squad good enough to advance to the knockout stage? Will a stacked England team win it all?
We are about to find out.
This also is the first World Cup being held in the Middle East, and in a conservative Muslim country, which has presented challenges for an event that thrives on its rowdy party atmosphere and alcohol consumption.
To get you prepared, here is the 2022 WORLD CUP ULTIMATE FAN GUIDE, which includes the full TV schedule, Groups, Star Players, and local Watch Parties.
— When: Nov. 20-Dec. 18
— Where: Doha, Qatar
— Opening game: Qatar vs. Ecuador, Sun. Nov. 20, 11 a.m. (FS1, Telemundo)
— No. of Teams: 32
— Past five champions:
2018: France (runner-up Croatia)
2014: Germany (runner-up Argentina)
2010: Spain (runner-up Netherlands)
2006: Italy (runner-up France)
2002: Brazil (runner-up Germany)
— TV: Fox Sports, FS1, Telemundo (Full Day-By-Day Schedule below)
GROUPS
A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
FAVORITES
— Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Germany, Spain
OTHER DANGEROUS TEAMS
—Denmark, Uruguay, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal (though loss of injured Sadio Mane is massive).
STAR PLAYERS
— Lionel Messi (Argentina); Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal); Neymar (Brazil); (Eden Hazard (Belgium); Luis Suarez (Uruguay); Edinson Cavani (Uruguay); Harry Kane (England); Kylian Mbappe (France); Christian Pulisic (USA); Robert Lewandowski (Poland); Luka Modric (Croatia); Romelu Lukaku (Belgium); Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands).
YOUNG GUNS
— Pedri and Gavi (Spain); Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden (England); Jamal Musiala (Germany); Eduardo Camavinga (France).
FULL TV SCHEDULE
Sunday, Nov. 20
Qatar vs. Ecuador, 11 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Monday, Nov. 21
England vs. Iran, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Senegal vs. Netherlands, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
United States vs. Wales, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Tuesday, Nov. 22
Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia, 5 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Denmark vs. Tunisia, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Mexico vs. Poland, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
France vs. Australia, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Wednesday, Nov. 23
Morocco vs. Croatia, 5 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Germany vs. Japan, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Spain vs. Costa Rica, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
Belgium vs. Canada, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Thursday, Nov. 24
Switzerland vs. Cameroon, 5 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Uruguay vs. South Korea, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Portugal vs. Ghana, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
Brazil vs. Serbia, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Friday, Nov. 25
Wales vs. Iran, 5 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Qatar vs. Senegal, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Netherlands vs. Ecuador, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
England vs. United States, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Saturday, Nov. 26
Tunisia vs. Australia, 5 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Poland vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
France vs. Denmark, 11 a.m. ET on FS1
Argentina vs. Mexico, 2 p.m. ET on FS1
Sunday, Nov. 27
Japan vs. Costa Rica, 5 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Belgium vs. Morocco, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Croatia vs. Canada, 11 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Spain vs. Germany, 2 p.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Monday, Nov. 28
Cameroon vs. Serbia, 5 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
South Korea vs. Ghana, 8 a.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Brazil vs. Switzerland, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
Portugal vs. Uruguay, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Tuesday, Nov. 29
Netherlands vs. Qatar, 10 a.m. ET on *FOX
Ecuador vs. Senegal, 10 a.m. ET on *FS1, Telemundo
Wales vs. England, 2 p.m. ET on FS1, Telemundo
Iran vs. United States, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Tunisia vs. France, 10 a.m. ET on *FOX
Australia vs. Denmark, 10 a.m. ET on *FS1, Telemundo
Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico, 2 p.m. ET on *FS1, Telemundo
Poland vs. Argentina, 2 p.m. ET on *FOX
Thursday, Dec. 1
Croatia vs. Belgium, 10 a.m. ET on *FOX
Canada vs. Morocco, 10 a.m. ET on *FS1, Telemundo
Japan vs. Spain, 2 p.m. ET on *FOX
Costa Rica vs. Germany, 2 p.m. ET on *FS1, Telemundo
Friday, Dec. 2
South Korea vs. Portugal, 10 a.m. ET on *FOX
Ghana vs. Uruguay, 10 a.m. ET on *FS1, Telemundo
Serbia vs. Switzerland, 2 p.m. ET on *FS1, Telemundo
Cameroon vs. Brazil, 2 p.m. ET on *FOX
ROUND OF 16
Saturday, Dec. 3
1A vs. 2B, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
1C vs. 2D, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Sunday, Dec. 4
1D vs. 2C, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
1B vs. 2A, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Monday, Dec. 5
1E vs. 2F, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
1G vs. 2H, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Tuesday, Dec. 6
1F vs. 2E, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
1H vs. 2G, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
QUARTERFINALS
Friday, Dec. 9
W53 vs. W54, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
W49 vs. W50, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Saturday, Dec. 10
W55 vs. W56, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
W51 vs. W52, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, Dec. 13
W57 vs. W58, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Wednesday, Dec. 14
W59 vs. W60, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
THIRD-PLACE MATCH
Saturday, Dec. 17
RU61 vs. RU62, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
FINAL
Sunday, Dec. 18
W61 vs. W62, 10 a.m. ET on FOX
