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.
Chelsea battled to a resilient 1–1 draw against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge despite playing more than 50 minutes with ten men.
Moisés Caicedo was shown a straight red card in the 38th minute for a reckless challenge on Mikel Merino, a decision upheld after a VAR review.
The Blues responded impressively after the break, taking the lead in the 47th minute when Trevoh Chalobah powered in a header from Reece James’s corner.
But Arsenal hit back quicklyMerino, involved in the red-card incident, nodded in Bukayo Saka’s pinpoint cross to level the score.
Missing their first choice center-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, Arsenal pushed hard for a late winner but were repeatedly denied by Chelsea’s disciplined defensive shape.
The draw keeps Arsenal at the top of the table, while Chelsea walk away with a hard-earned point in a tense and emotionally charged derby.
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Pep Guardiola’s bold squad rotation backfired spectacularly on Tuesday night as an under-strength Manchester City suffered a shock 2–0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.
The City boss opted to rest several key players — including Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Gianluigi Donnarumma — but the decision proved costly as Leverkusen punished a lacklustre City display. The result ends City’s 24-game unbeaten home run in the Champions League group stage, a record dating back to 2018.
Leverkusen Strike in Both Halves
Leverkusen took the lead in the 23rd minute. After City failed to clear their lines, Malik Tillman and Christian Kofane combined to set up Alex Grimaldo, who drilled a precise low shot past James Trafford.
Despite dominating possession, City lacked cutting edge in the final third. Oscar Bobb nearly forced an equaliser with a deflected cross, and Tijjani Reijnders squandered a golden chance just before half-time when he fired straight at Mark Flekken.
City’s defensive instability was punished again in the 54th minute when Ibrahim Maza delivered a teasing cross that Patrik Schick headed home, overpowering Nathan Ake to secure Leverkusen’s second.
Guardiola’s Changes Fail to Rescue City
Guardiola introduced Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly at the break, and later Haaland, but none could alter the momentum. O’Reilly tested Flekken from distance, while Haaland — still searching for rhythm after missing big chances at Newcastle — failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity.
City have now suffered back-to-back defeats following Saturday’s 2–1 loss to Newcastle and have already lost four Premier League matches this season, leaving them seven points off leaders Arsenal.
The loss, Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match in charge of City, raises concerns over squad depth as they enter a packed December schedule that includes a trip to Real Madrid.
Guardiola recently admitted feeling “embarrassed and ashamed” after a heated post-match incident at Newcastle; following this subdued performance, his players may share some of that sentiment.
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Arsenal delivered a statement performance in the North London derby on Sunday, sweeping aside Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 at the Emirates Stadium, with Eberechi Eze stealing the spotlight after scoring the first-ever Premier League hat-trick in the historic rivalry.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on, setting the tone before Eze struck his first in the 41st minute. The Arsenal star returned from halftime in explosive fashion, scoring again just 38 seconds into the second half to extend the lead. He completed his treble in the 76th minute, cementing his name in derby history.
Tottenham briefly sparked hope when Richarlison produced a stunning 40-yard lob, but it wasn’t enough to derail Arsenal’s dominance.
The victory pushes the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with 29 points from 13 games. Eze signed for £60 million from Crystal Palace after Tottenham had shown interest said the moment felt “perfect” and described Arsenal fans as “family,” praising the atmosphere that fueled his career-defining performance.
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Al-Nassr secured their ninth consecutive win of the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season with a commanding 4–1 victory over Al-Khaleej at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Sunday, capped by a spectacular 96th-minute bicycle kick from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The home side took control in the 39th minute when João Félix opened the scoring, before Wesley and Sadio Mané added their names to the scoresheet to extend Al-Nassr’s dominance. Ronaldo’s acrobatic late strike ignited the stadium, reaffirming his status as one of the league’s biggest attractions.
Beyond the goals, a lighthearted post-match moment between Félix and an enthusiastic fan went viral, underscoring the close bond between Al-Nassr players and their supporters a connection that continues to define Saudi football culture as the league grows in global visibility.
Al-Nassr’s latest win further solidifies their strong title push, with the team displaying both form and flair as the season intensifies.
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Liverpool’s turbulent season descended further into disarray on Saturday as Nottingham Forest stunned the champions with a comprehensive 3–0 victory at Anfield, intensifying pressure on manager Arne Slot.
The defeat Liverpool’s sixth in seven Premier League matches leaves them 11th on the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and in the midst of their worst league run in decades.
Forest Strike First Amid VAR Frustration
Murillo broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, drilling home after Liverpool failed to clear Elliot Anderson’s corner.
Slot protested that Forest forward Dan Ndoye impeded goalkeeper Alisson Becker an infringement similar to the one that saw Virgil van Dijk’s equaliser ruled out in their 3–0 loss to Manchester City before the international break.
Defensive Meltdown Continues
Forest doubled their advantage barely a minute into the second half when Nicolo Savona converted Neco Williams’ cut-back.
Liverpool’s collapse deepened in the 78th minute as Morgan Gibbs-White pounced on a rebound after Omari Hutchinson’s shot was saved.
The back-to-back three-goal defeats mark the first time since 1965 that Liverpool have suffered consecutive league losses by such a margin.
Reds in Freefall
Forest’s win was their second straight victory at Anfield, while Liverpool have now lost eight of their past 11 games in all competitions, despite a summer transfer spend of more than £400 million.
Slot recently admitted the squad is still reeling from the tragic July death of Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain.
On Saturday, the team again looked drained and directionless.
Record signing Alexander Isak was withdrawn in the second half after another ineffective outing. The Sweden striker remains without a Premier League goal for Liverpool.
The Reds now face mounting pressure to arrest a slump that is rapidly turning their title defence into a crisis.
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