When does World Cup 2022 start? England football fixtures for FIFA’s Qatar event, final date, schedule, groups

The World Cup 2022 in Qatar is edging closer and closer with a new start date in the mix if FIFA can agree.

It is highly likely the 2022 tournament will begin one day sooner if FIFA’s ruling elite can agree to hold the opening ceremony and host the nation’s first match on Sunday 20 November, instead of the proposed Monday 21 November.

The original plan was for the opening ceremony to take place ahead of Qatar’s game on 21 November against Ecuador which would have meant two matches were being held before the ceremony.

However, now the plan is to host the ceremony the day before and push Qatar’s first match one day forward also allowing for the Senegal-Netherlands match, currently scheduled for 1pm local time on the Monday, to kick off later in the day.

Sources close to the proposal have said the switch could be confirmed: “There will be an assurance from organisers that any additional costs for fans to change travel bookings or accommodation won’t be borne by them and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

When does World Cup 2022 start?

Qatar 2022 will be the first World Cup to be held through the winter due to the scorching hot weather experienced in the summer months.

The first game of the 2022 World Cup will kick off on Monday 21 November, if the original plan is kept, with four group stage fixtures scheduled each day until Friday 2 December.

The round of 16 will start on Saturday 3 December, with two matches planned per day over four days, to Tuesday 6 December.

Quarter-finals are planned for Friday 9 December and Saturday 10 December before the two semi-final games on Tuesday 13 December and Wednesday 14 December.

The third place play-off will take place on Saturday 17 December and the final will kick off on Sunday 18 December to decide the winner of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The dates will interrupt the domestic 2022/23 club seasons across Europe, including the Premier League, if the leagues continue in the usual August to May format.

What are the 2022 World Cup stadiums?

The 2022 World Cup will take place over three host cities in Qatar - Doha, Al Dhakira and Al Wakrah. The stadiums are as follows:

• Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium - Capacity: 40,000. Opened: 18 December 2020.
• Al Bayt Stadium - Capacity: 60,000. Opened: TBD.
• Al Janoub Stadium - Capacity: 40,000. Opened: 2019.
• Al Thumama Stadium - Capacity: 40,000. Opened: TBD.
• Education City Stadium - Capacity: 40,000. Completed: 2020.
• Khalifa International Stadium - Capacity: 45,416. Opened: 1976 (renovated in 2017)
• Lusail Stadium - Capacity: 80,000. Opened: TBD.
• Ras Abu Aboud Stadium - Capacity: 40,000. Opened: TBD.

The final of the 2022 World Cup will take place at Lusail Stadium.

World Cup 2022 World Cup groups

• Group A : Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
• Group B: England, Iran, USA, Scotland / Ukraine / Wales
• Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
• Group D: France, Australia / United Arab Emirates / Peru, Denmark, Tunisia
• Group E: Spain, Costa Rica / New Zealand, Germany, Japan
• Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia

What is the time difference in Qatar?

Currently it is just two hours time difference between Qatar and the UK. However, come October 31 when daylight saving time comes in, there will be a three hour time difference.

Qatar is in Arabian Standard Time which is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Full fixtures list:

All times are UK times (GMT)

Monday 21 November:

• Senegal v Netherlands, 10am
• England v Iran, 1pm
• Qatar v Ecuador, 4pm
• USA v Wales, 7pm

Tuesday 22 November:

• Argentina v Saudi Arabia, 10am
• Denmark v Tunisia, 1pm
• Mexico v Poland, 4pm
• France v Australia, 7pm

Wednesday 23 November:

• Morocco v Croatia, 10am
• Germany v Japan, 1pm
• Spain v Costa Rica, 4pm
• Belgium v Canada 7pm

Thursday 24 November:

• Switzerland v Cameroon, 10am
• Uruguay v Korea Republic, 1pm
• Portugal v Ghana, 4pm
• Brazil v Serbia, 7pm

Friday 25 November:

• Wales v Iran, 10am
• Qatar v Senegal, 1pm
• Netherlands v Ecuador, 4pm
• England v USA, 7pm

Saturday 26 November:

• Tunisia v Australia, 10am
• Poland v Saudi Arabia, 1pm
• France v Denmark, 4pm
• Argentina v Mexico, 7pm

Sunday 27 November:

• Japan v Costa Rica, 10am
• Belgium v Morocco, 1pm
• Croatia v Canada, 4pm
• Spain v Germany, 7pm

Monday 28 November:

• Cameroon v Serbia, 10am
• Korea Republic v Ghana, 1pm
• Brazil v Switzerland, 4pm
• Portugal v Uruguay, 7pm

Tuesday 29 November:

• Ecuador v Senegal, 3pm
• Netherlands v Qatar, 3pm
• Iran v USA, 7pm
• Wales v England, 7pm

Wednesday 30 November:

• Australia v Denmark, 3pm
• Tunisia v France, 3pm
• Poland v Argentina, 7pm
• Saudi Arabia v Mexico, 7pm

Thursday 1 December:

• Canada v Morocco, 3pm
• Croatia v Belgium, 3pm
• Costa Rica v Germany, 7pm
• Japan v Spain, 7pm

Friday 2 December:

• Ghana v Uruguay, 3pm
• Korea Republic v Portugal, 3pm
• Cameroon v Brazil, 7pm
• Serbia v Switzerland, 7pm

Saturday 3 December:

• Group A Winner v Group B Second Place, 3pm
• Group C Winner v Group D Second Place, 7pm

Sunday 4 December:

• Group D Winner v Group C Second Place, 3pm
• Group B Winner v Group A Second Place, 7pm

Monday 5 December:

• Group E Winner v Group F Second Place, 3pm
• Group G Winner v Group H second place, 7pm

Tuesday 6 December:

• Group F winner v Group E second place, 3pm
• Group H winner v Group G second place, 7pm

Friday 9 December:

• Round of 16 5 winner v Round of 16 6 winner, 3pm
• Round of 16 1 v Round of 16 2 winner, 7pm

Saturday 10 December:

• Round of 16 7 winner v Round of 16 8 winner, 3pm
• Round of 16 3 winner v Round of 16 4 winner, 7pm

Tuesday 13 December:

• Quarter-final 1 winner v quarter-final 2 winner, 7pm

Wednesday 14 December:

• Quarter-final 3 winner v quarter-final 4 winner, 7pm

Saturday 17 December:

• Third place play-off match, 3pm

Sunday 18 December:

• FINAL, 3pm