The tournament begins on Monday, November 21 at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor, with a match pitting the hosts versus Ecuador.

England will play Iran on the first day of the tournament. On Friday, November 25, Gareth Southgate’s side will face the United States, followed by games against Scotland, Wales, or Ukraine on Tuesday, November 29.

On Saturday, December 3, the knockout stage begins.

The final will take place a week before Christmas on Sunday, December 18 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium.

What is the format and timetable for the World Cup?

The World Cup in 2022 will feature 32 teams divided into eight four-team groups.

During the group stage, four matches will be played each day over the course of 12 days, with the winners and runners-up progressing to the round of 16.

After the finals draw, matches will only be assigned to specific venues so that organizers may determine the best kick-off times for television audiences in different countries as well as supporters in Qatar.

On December 17, unlike Euro 2020, a third-place play-off game will be held.

Group stage

Monday, November 21

Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador (Al-Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 10 am)
Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands
Group B: England vs Iran
Group B: USA vs Scotland/Wales/Ukraine

Tuesday, November 22

Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Group C: Mexico vs Poland
Group D: France vs UAE/Australia/Peru
Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia

Wednesday, November 23

Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica/New Zealand
Group E: Germany vs Japan
Group F: Belgium vs Canada
Group F: Morocco vs Croatia

Thursday, November 24

Group G: Brazil vs Serbia
Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon
Group H: Portugal vs Ghana
Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea

Friday, November 25

Group A: Qatar vs Senegal
Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador
Group B: England vs USA
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs Iran

Saturday, November 26

Group C: Argentina vs Mexico
Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia
Group D: France vs Denmark
Group D: Tunisia vs UAE/Australia/Peru

Sunday, November 27

Group E: Spain vs Germany
Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica/New Zealand
Group F: Belgium vs Morocco
Group F: Croatia vs Canada

Monday, November 28

Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland
Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia
Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay
Group H: South Korea vs Ghana

Tuesday, November 29

Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar
Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs England
Group B: Iran vs USA

Wednesday, November 30

Group C: Poland vs Argentina
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
Group D: Tunisia vs France
Group D: UAE/Australia/Peru vs Denmark

Thursday, December 1

Group E: Japan vs Spain
Group E: Costa Rica/New Zealand vs Germany
Group F: Croatia vs Belgium
Group F: Canada vs Morocco

Friday, December 2

Group G: Cameroon vs Brazil
Group G: Serbia vs Switzerland
Group H: South Korea vs Portugal
Group H: Ghana vs Uruguay

Round of 16

Saturday, December 3
49 – Winners of Group A vs. Runners-up of Group B (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3 pm)
50 – Winners of Group C vs. Runners-up of Group D (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7 pm)

Sunday, December 4
52 – Winners of Group D vs. Runners-up of Group C (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
51 – Winners of Group B vs. Runners-up of Group A (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7 pm)

Monday, December 5
53 – Winners of Group E vs. Runners-up of Group F (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3 pm)
54 – Winners of Group G vs. Runners-up of Group H (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7 pm)

Tuesday, December 6
55 – Winners of Group F vs. Runners-up of Group E (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3 pm)
56 – Winners of Group H vs. Runners-up of Group G (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7 pm)

Quarter-finals

Friday, December 9
58 – Winners of 53 vs. Winners of 54 (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3 pm)
57 – Winners of 49 vs. Winners of 50 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 3 pm)

Saturday, December 10
60 – Winners of 55 vs. Winners of 56 (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3 pm)
59 – Winners of 51 vs. Winners of 52 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7 pm)

Semi-finals

Tuesday, December 13
61 – Winners of 57 vs. Winners of 58 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7 pm)

Wednesday, December 14
62 – Winners of 59 vs. Winners of 60 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7 pm)

Third-place play-off

Saturday, December 17
63 – Losers of 61 vs. Losers of 62 (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3 pm)

Final

Sunday, December 18
64 – Winners of 61 vs. Winners of 62 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7 pm)