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The World Cup is HERE… All you need to know about Qatar 2022 including groups, England and Wales kick-off times, stadium info and EVERY fixture taking place

The 2022 World Cup is finally underway in Qatar!

England and Wales will come up against USA, Iran and each other in the group stage, while Spain and Germany will face off with a number of mouth-watering ties awaiting this winter.

The 2022 World Cup kicks off on Sunday and Qatar is primed and ready
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The 2022 World Cup kicks off on Sunday and Qatar is primed and readyCredit: GETTY

It is the first World Cup held during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and there has been just a week's break from the European season stopping short and the tournament beginning.

Qatar, in the Middle East, is about the size of Yorkshire and has a population of 2.8million. It is three hours ahead of the UK.

There are eight stadiums hosting the tournament, which is the fewest ever, and all are in a 35-mile radius of the capital city, Doha.

Out of the 32 countries taking part, only eight have previously won the World Cup. Brazil have won it the most times [5], while reigning champions France will be hoping to defend their crown.

As is tradition, the tournament kicked off with the host country in action but Qatar slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador to become the first hosts EVER to lose their opening World Cup game.

Key dates:

  • November 20: World Cup starts up
  • December 3/6: Round of 16
  • December 9/10: Quarter-finals
  • December 13/14: Semi-finals
  • December 18: World Cup final

talkSPORT World Cup 2022 Coverage

talkSPORT will be offering wall-to-wall coverage of the 2022 World Cup

We'll be broadcasting all 64 games in the tournament live, with over 600 hours of coverage across our network.

You can tune in to talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com.

talkSPORT is widely available across the UK via DAB digital radio and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

You can also download the talkSPORT app, or ask your smart speaker to play talkSPORT.

World Cup 2022: The groups

Senegal v Netherlands was set to be the opening clash of the 2022 World Cup but FIFA changed it to Qatar v Ecuador in mid-August after a request from the host nation.

England and Wales are in Group B along with USA and Iran and they will all be in action on day two, Monday, November 21.

England v Iran will be the second game of the tournament before AFCON champions Senegal take on the Netherlands and USA face Wales.

England will then face USA before a first-ever 'Battle of Britain' with Wales at a World Cup finals.

If they get through their group, England and Wales would face one of hosts Qatar, Netherlands, Ecuador or Senegal in the last 16.

Elsewhere, Lionel Messi’s Argentina are in Group C with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

Reigning champions France take on Denmark, Tunisia and Australia in Group D.

Group E has pitted former world champions Spain and Germany against each other.

Canada, managed by Englishman John Herdman, have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 36 years and are in Group F, alongside Belgium and 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia.

Ghana and Uruguay meet in Group H in what could be the biggest grudge game of the tournament - after the famous Luis Suarez handball incident in the 2010 quarter-finals.

The group stage will run until Friday, December 2 with four games being held each day after the opening two days.

The first of the knockout games will then start the following day on Saturday, December 3.

The final will be held at the 80,000-seater Lusail Iconic Stadium on Sunday, December 18.

  • 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
The Lusail Iconic Stadium will host the final
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The Lusail Iconic Stadium will host the finalCredit: GETTY

England and Wales fixtures

Here are the confirmed dates and times of England's group games and potential knockout stage fixtures...

Group Stages

  • England 6-2 Iran 
  • Wales 1-1 USA
  • England v USA – 10pm local/7pm UK – Fri 25/11
  • Wales vs Iran - 1pm local/10am UK - Fri 25/11
  • Wales v England – 10pm local/7pm UK – Tue 29/11

If England or Wales finish 1st

  • Round of 16 – 10pm local/7pm UK – Sun 4/12 (potentially Ecuador or Senegal)
  • Quarter final – 10pm local/7pm UK – Sat 10/12 (potentially France or Argentina)
  • Semi final – 10pm local/7pm UK – Wed 14/12 (potentially Belgium, Germany, Portugal or Spain)

If England or Wales finish 2nd

  • Round of 16 – 6pm local/3pm UK – Sat 3/12 (potentially Netherlands)
  • Quarter final – 10pm local/7pm UK – Fri 9/12 (potentially Argentina or Denmark)
  • Semi final – 10pm local/7pm UK – Tue 13/12 (potentially Spain or Croatia)

Final

  • 3rd place play off – 6pm local/3pm UK – Sat 17/12
  • Final – 6pm local/3pm UK – Sun 18/12
Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup and is well set for another strong tournament with England
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Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup and is well set for another strong tournament with EnglandCredit: Getty
Gareth Bale is a man for the big occasions and will be Wales' key man once again
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Gareth Bale is a man for the big occasions and will be Wales' key man once againCredit: GETTY

World Cup 2022: What about the climate?

The weather has been a hot topic ever since the World Cup was controversially awarded to the Gulf nation of Qatar.

Qatar is a peninsular Arab country which is located in the Persian Gulf. It borders Saudi Arabia and is near neighbours to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

In the summer months between May and August, the average temperature is around 37C, which is why FIFA decided to move the World Cup to winter.

However, it is still pretty hot in the winter months. In November, the average temperature is between 22C and 30C while in December it is between 17C and 25C.

To combat the heat and protect the players, all of the eight stadiums will have fully functioning pitchside air-conditioning.

Where Qatar is in the world as football's best get ready to head to the Middle East
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Where Qatar is in the world as football's best get ready to head to the Middle East
The stadium map for the 2022 Qatar World Cup
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The stadium map for the 2022 Qatar World Cup

World Cup 2022: How the tournament works

There will be 32 countries competing in the World Cup including holders Qatar who will be making their debut in the showpiece tournament.

Unlike at Euro 2020, the group stage will only see the top two teams progress from the eight groups.

The group winners and runners-up will enter the round of 16 and the tournament will progress through the knockout stage before a champion is crowned in the final.

There will be a third-place play-off match which will be held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan on Saturday, December 17.

World Cup 2022: The venues

The tournament will be held solely in Qatar with the majority of games being played in the capital city of Doha.

Only eight stadiums are being used — the lowest number of stadiums used for a World Cup since Argentina in 1978.

The four stadia in the Doha area include the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, the Al Thumama Stadium, the Education City Stadium and the Khalifa International Stadium.

Four more venues will be used at the tournament with the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail and the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor being the largest.

The Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah will also be used.

The grounds will not be far apart from one another with the longest distance being around 65km from the Al Bayt Stadium to the Al Janoub Stadium.

World Cup 2022: The venues

Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail – 80,000

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor – 60,000

Stadium 974, Doha – 40,000

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha – 40,000

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan – 45,000

Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan – 44,740

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan – 40,000

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah – 40,000

The Education City Stadium is very impressive
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The Education City Stadium is very impressive
Stadium 974 is made out of old shipping containers
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Stadium 974 is made out of old shipping containersCredit: GETTY

World Cup 2022: The squads

All 32 participating nations had to submit their final 26-man squads to FIFA on Monday, November 14 by 7pm Qatar time (4pm in the UK).

A full rundown of every team is here.

However, Gareth Southgate named his final England squad on Thursday, November 10 – before the final round of Premier League fixtures.

James Maddison’s fine form at Leicester has earned him a spot, while Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, Arsenal defender Ben White and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford are all in.

England World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton) Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Everton, on-loan from Wolves), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City) Ben White (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea).

Forwards: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), James Maddison (Leicester City)

World Cup 2022: How it will affect the 2022/23 Premier League season

The new Premier League season got under way on August 6 and will hold its final day of May 28, 2023.

The Premier League halted after the weekend of November 12/13 and will resume fixtures again on Boxing Day.

Players will have a week of preparations with their national teams before heading out to the tournament in the Middle East.

They will then have only eight days to recover in time for the league’s resumption should they reach the final on December 18.

There is set to be only six weekends without Premier League games.

Will the EFL also take a break for the World Cup?

The Championship will be paused for almost a month like the Premier League but games in League One and League Two will continue.

The Championship will run until matchday 21 on Saturday, November 12 and be restarted on Saturday, December 10 with a full round of fixtures.

Despite the different winter schedules, all three divisions are set to conclude on May 6, 2023, with the full play-off dates not yet confirmed.

And what about the beer?

The consumption of alcohol in Qatar has been a hot topic.

There is zero tolerance for drinking in public and being drunk in public is a crime.

Supporters will, however, be able to consume alcohol in designated fan zones and originally beer was set to be sold in stadiums.

But just two days before the tournament was due to begin, Qatar forced FIFA into a U-turn.

Now no one attending matches will be able to consume alcohol within the stadium perimeter, with the exception of corporate spectators.

For a full explainer on rules for beer, then click here.

World Cup 2022: Full schedule list

All times are GMT

Group stage

Sunday, November 20:

Group A - Qatar v Ecuador, 4pm

Monday, November 21:

Group B - England v Iran, 1pm

Group A - Senegal v Netherlands, 4pm

Group B - USA v Wales, 7pm

Tuesday, November 22:

Group C - Argentina v Saudi Arabia, 10am

Group D - Denmark v Tunisia, 1pm

Group C - Mexico v Poland, 4pm

Group D - France v Australia, 7pm

Wednesday, November 23:

Group F - Morocco v Croatia, 10am

Group E - Germany v Japan, 1pm

Group E - Spain v Costa Rica, 4pm

Group F - Belgium v Canada, 7pm

Thursday, November 24:

Group G - Switzerland v Cameroon, 10am

Group H - Uruguay v South Korea, 1pm

Group H - Portugal v Ghana, 4pm

Group G - Brazil v Serbia, 7pm

Friday, November 25:

Group B - Iran v Wales, 10am

Group A - Qatar v Senegal, 1pm

Group A - Netherlands v Ecuador, 4pm

Group B - England v USA, 7pm

Saturday, November 26:

Group D - Tunisia v Australia, 10am

Group C - Poland v Saudi Arabia, 1pm

Group D - France v Denmark, 4pm

Group C - Argentina v Mexico, 7pm

Sunday, November 27:

Group E - Japan v Costa Rica, 10am

Group F - Belgium v Morocco, 1pm

Group F - Croatia v Canada, 4pm

Group E - Spain v Germany, 7pm

Monday, November 28:

Group G - Cameroon v Serbia, 10am

Group H - South Korea v Ghana, 1pm

Group G - Brazil v Switzerland, 4pm

Group H - Portugal v Uruguay, 7pm

Tuesday, November 29:

Group A - Netherlands v Qatar, 3pm

Group A - Ecuador v Senegal, 3pm

Group B - Wales v England, 7pm

Group B - Iran v USA, 7pm

Wednesday, November 30:

Group D - Tunisia v France, 3pm

Group D - Australia v Denmark, 3pm

Group C - Poland v Argentina, 7pm

Group C - Saudi Arabia v Mexico, 7pm

Thursday, December 1

Group F - Croatia v Belgium, 3pm

Group F - Canada v Morocco, 3pm

Group E - Japan v Spain, 7pm

Group E - Costa Rica v Germany, 7pm

Friday, December 2:

Group H - South Korea v Portugal, 3pm

Group H - Ghana v Uruguay, 3pm

Group G - Cameroon v Brazil, 7pm

Group G - Serbia v Switzerland, 7pm

Round-of-16

Saturday, December 3:

Match 49 - 1A v 2B - Khalifa International Stadium, 3pm

Match 50 - 1C v 2D - Al Rayyan Stadium, 7pm

Sunday, December 4:

Match 52 - 1D v 2C - Al Thumama Stadium, 3pm

Match 51 - 1B v 2A - Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm

Monday, December 5:

Match 53 - 1E v 2F - Al Janoub Stadium, 3pm

Match 54 - 1G v 2H - Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, 7pm

Tuesday, December 6:

Match 55 - 1F v 2E - Education City Stadium, 3pm

Match 56 - 1H v 2G - Lusail Stadium, 7pm

Quarter-finals

Friday, December 9:

Match 57 - Winner of Match 49 v Winner Match 50 - Lusail Stadium, 7pm

Match 58 - Winner of Match 53 v Winner Match 54 - Education City Stadium, 3pm

Saturday, December 10:

Match 59 - Winner Match 51 v Winner Match 52 - Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm

Match 60 - Winner Match 55 v Winner Match 56 - Al Thumama Stadium, 3pm

Semi-finals

Tuesday, December 13:

Match 61 - Winner Match 57 v Winner Match 58 - Lusail Stadium, 7pm

Wednesday, December 14:

Match 62 - Winner Match 59 v Winner Match 60 - Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm

Third-place play-off:

Saturday, December 17:

Match 63 - Khalifa International Stadium, 3pm

Final

Read More on talkSPORT

Sunday, December 18:

Match 64 - Lusail Stadium, 3pm

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