Sports
World Cup 2022: Dates, draw, schedule, kick-off times, final for Qatar tournament
World Cup 2022 takes place in Qatar from November 20 to December 18; 32 teams to compete in eight groups; England face Iran on the second day of the tournament while Wales face USA; Wales vs England on November 29.
From key dates to kick-off times, here’s all you need to know about this year’s tournament.
When and where is the 2022 World Cup?
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicks off on Sunday November 20 at the Al Bayt Stadium when the hosts take on Ecuador in Group A.
The tournament was originally set to begin a day later with Senegal’s game against the Netherlands at Al Thumama Stadium but Qatar’s match was moved forward to allow them to open their home tournament.
When will the World Cup squads be announced?
All 32 countries have until Monday November 14 to submit their 26-player squads with FIFA officially announcing those squads on Tuesday November 15.
England boss Gareth Southgate will publicly name his squad at 2pm on Thursday November 10 with Wales’ also expected to be named on Wednesday November 9.
What is the World Cup group draw?
The 2022 World Cup will begin with 32 teams in eight groups of four:
- 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
What is the World Cup format and schedule?
Four matches will be played each day during the group stage, which will run over a 12-day period and see winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16.
Unlike at Euro 2020, there will be a third-place play-off game on December 17.
Group stage – all kick-off times in UK
Sunday November 20
Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Monday November 21
Group B: England vs Iran (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 4pm)
Group B: USA vs Wales (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
Tuesday November 22
Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 10am)
Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group C: Mexico vs Poland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group D: France vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday November 23
Group F: Morocco vs Croatia (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 10am)
Group E: Germany vs Japan (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 4pm)
Group F: Belgium vs Canada (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
Thursday November 24
Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group H: Portugal vs Ghana (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group G: Brazil vs Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Friday November 25
Group B: Wales vs Iran (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 10am)
Group A: Qatar vs Senegal (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 1pm)
Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 4pm)
Group B: England vs USA (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Saturday November 26
Group D: Tunisia vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group D: France vs Denmark (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group C: Argentina vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Sunday November 27
Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 10am)
Group F: Belgium vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 1pm)
Group F: Croatia vs Canada (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 4pm)
Group E: Spain vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Monday November 28
Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
Group H: South Korea vs Ghana (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Tuesday November 29
Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 3pm)
Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group B: Wales vs England (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
Group B: Iran vs USA (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday November 30
Group D: Australia vs Denmark (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
Group D: Tunisia vs France (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group C: Poland vs Argentina (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Thursday December 1
Group F: Croatia vs Belgium (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group F: Canada vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 3pm)
Group E: Costa Rica vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Group E: Japan vs Spain (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
Friday, December 2
Group G: South Korea vs Portugal (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Group G: Ghana vs Uruguay (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
Group H: Serbia vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
Group H: Cameroon vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Round of 16
Saturday December 3
49 – Winners of Group A vs Runners-up of Group B (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
50 – Winners of Group C vs Runners-up of Group D (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
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 7pm)
Monday December 5
53 – Winners of Group E vs Runners-up of Group F (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
54 – Winners of Group G vs Runners-up of Group H (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
Tuesday December 6
55 – Winners of Group F vs Runners-up of Group E (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
56 – Winners of Group H vs Runners-up of Group G (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Quarter-finals
Friday December 9
58 – Winners of 53 vs Winners of 54 (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
57 – Winners of 49 vs Winners of 50 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 7pm)
Saturday December 10
60 – Winners of 55 vs Winners of 56 (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
59 – Winners of 51 vs Winners of 52 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Semi-finals
Tuesday December 13
61 – Winners of 57 vs Winners of 58 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday December 14
62 – Winners of 59 vs Winners of 60 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Saturday December 17
63 – Third place play-off (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Final
Sunday December 18
64 – The World Cup final (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 3pm)
What is England and Wales’ potential route to the final?*
If England/Wales win Group B….
Sunday December 4 – Last 16: England/Wales vs Ecuador (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Saturday December 10 – Quarter-final: England/Wales vs France (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday December 14 – Semi-final: England/Wales vs Belgium (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Sunday December 18 – Final: England/Wales vs Netherlands (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 3pm)
If England/Wales finish second in Group B…
Saturday December 3 – Last 16: Netherlands vs England/Wales (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Friday December 9 – Quarter-final: England/Wales vs Argentina (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 7pm)
Tuesday December 13 – Semi-final: England/Wales vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Sunday December 18 – Final: England/Wales vs France (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 3pm)
*Based on highest FIFA world ranking finishing top of respective groups and winning knock-out games
When will the matches kick off?
The first two rounds of matches will kick off at 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm local time (10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm in the United Kingdom).
Kick-off times for the final round of group games and knockout-round matches will be 6pm and 10pm local time (3pm and 7pm UK time).
The final is scheduled to kick off at 6pm local time (3pm UK time)
What are the venues?
The group games will take place across eight stadia: Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Education City Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium.
What will happen with the Premier League?
The Premier League’s final round before the World Cup will take place on the weekend of November 12/13.
The Premier League will then resume on Boxing Day.
The final match round of the 2022/23 season will be played on May 28 2023.
Key World Cup, Premier League, Scottish Premiership dates
July 30 – Scottish Premiership season starts along with the EFL Championship, League One and League Two.
August 6 – Premier League season starts.
November 12-13 – Final round of Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premiership matches before the World Cup.
November 20 – World Cup starts.
December 2 – Final set of group-stage matches.
December 3-6 – The round of 16 starts.
December 9-10 – The quarter-finals.
December 10 – The Championship resumes.
December 13-14 – World Cup semi-finals.
December 17 – The Scottish Premiership resumes.
December 18 – World Cup final.
December 26 – The Premier League resumes.
A Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game between Barau FC and Katsina United ended in violence on Saturday after a Barau FC player, Nana Abraham, was stabbed in the neck by a pitch invader at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.
Confirming the incident, Ahmad Gwale, Barau FC’s Director of Media Operations, said the shocking attack occurred shortly after the visitors equalised in the 69th minute of the match, which ended 1–1.
“One person from the Katsina United bench or one of their fans invaded the pitch and struck Abraham on the neck,” Gwale explained.
The game was temporarily halted following the assault but later resumed after the injured player was substituted. Abraham was immediately rushed for medical treatment, and the club says he is currently responding to care.
This incident adds to a growing concern over violence and poor security in Nigerian football. It comes just months after Plateau United striker, Vincent Temitope, was similarly stabbed in the neck by a fan during a league game at the Lafia City Stadium in Nasarawa.
Barau FC has called on NPFL authorities to investigate the attack and take urgent steps to ensure player safety in future fixtures.
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Super Eagles Head Coach Finidi Chelle has announced a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s crucial Africa 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Offs, with the team’s captain William Troost-Ekong leading a strong lineup.
The list, released early Saturday, features top stars including Victor Osimhen, Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Also returning to the fold are Maduka Okoye and Chidera Ejuke, while Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman maintain their places in the squad.
The Super Eagles will face Gabon in the first semi-final at the 22,000-capacity Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday, November 13, while Cameroon take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in the other semi-final at the El-Barid Stadium.
Defender Oluwasemilogo Ajayi will miss the Gabon tie due to suspension, having accumulated two yellow cards in the qualifiers.
Chelle’s men are expected to arrive in Rabat on November 10 from their various clubs across Europe and Africa.
Full List of Invited Super Eagles Players
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy).
Defenders:
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium).
Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium).
Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).
Match Information
- Fixture: Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs Gabon 🇬🇦
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup African Play-Offs
- Venue: Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat (Capacity: 22,000)
- Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has been named in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Best XI after a record-breaking season amid reports linking him with a potential four-month loan move to Turkish side Galatasaray during the 2026 World Cup break.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed a remarkable campaign, scoring a league-high 29 goals and providing 19 assists, becoming only the second player in MLS history to top both charts in a single season. His performances guided Inter Miami to one of their best-ever league finishes and earned him recognition as one of MLS’s standout players.
Messi was joined in attack by Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC and Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC, while Minnesota United’s Dayne St. Clair was named Goalkeeper of the Year and included in the Best XI alongside defenders Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), and Philadelphia Union’s Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner.
In midfield, Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), and Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) completed the elite lineup, with six players St. Clair, Blackmon, Freeman, Roldan, Berhalter, and Dreyer earning their first ever Best XI selections.
Meanwhile, reports from Turkish media suggest that Galatasaray are exploring a short-term loan deal for Messi during the MLS off-season, which coincides with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His representatives have reportedly proposed the arrangement, with Galatasaray said to be willing to cover his €10 million salary to bolster their UEFA Champions League campaign.
Neither Galatasaray, Inter Miami, nor Messi’s camp have issued official comments regarding the speculation. The Argentine star, who extended his Inter Miami contract through 2028, appears focused on maintaining top form as he continues to make history in American soccer.
Source: AFP / Turkish Media Reports
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Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by Qarabag in their UEFA Champions League Group Stage clash in Baku on Wednesday, as an early injury to Romeo Lavia overshadowed a spirited contest.
The Blues took the lead in the 16th minute through Estêvão, who continued his impressive European form. However, Camilo Durán equalized for the Azerbaijani side before Marko Janković converted a penalty to put Qarabag ahead.
Chelsea responded in the second half, with João Pedro netting a 72nd-minute equalizer following an assist from Alejandro Garnacho.
The result leaves Chelsea on seven points from four matches, maintaining their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage but raising concerns over Lavia’s fitness after he was forced off early in the game.
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Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for October, following a stellar run that saw him net four goals and provide two assists in five matches.
The 25-year-old, who joined United from Brentford during the summer transfer window, played a pivotal role in the Red Devils’ resurgence, including scoring the decisive goal in the 2-1 victory over Liverpool and bagging a brace in a 4-2 win against Brighton.
Mbeumo’s outstanding performances saw him edge out fellow nominees Bruno Guimarães and Mohamed Salah for the monthly accolade.
Reacting to the achievement, United manager Ruben Amorim praised Mbeumo’s work ethic and intelligence on the pitch, describing him as “a player who combines hunger with tactical maturity.”
The Cameroonian international also clinched Manchester United’s internal Player of the Month award, winning 67% of the fan votes.
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