(Reuters) – The 2022 World Cup in Qatar — the first edition to be held in the Middle East and second in Asia after Japan and South Korea hosted the 2002 tournament — begins on Nov. 20 with the home side taking on Ecuador.
Brazil are the favourites as they look to capture a record-extending sixth title and first since 2002, with the likes of Argentina and defending champions France also fancied.
Here is a look at the groups and the full schedule for the 32-team tournament which will crown its champions on Dec. 18.
GROUP A: Qatar (hosts), Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands.
GROUP B: England, Iran, United States, 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.
SCHEDULE (all times GMT)
DATE GROUP FIXTURE TIME VENUE
Nov. 20 A Qatar v Ecuador 1600 Al Bayt Stadium
Nov. 21 B England v Iran 1300 Khalifa
International
Stadium
Nov. 21 A Senegal v Netherlands 1600 Al Thumama
Stadium
Nov. 21 B United States v Wales 1900 Ahmad bin Ali
Stadium
Nov. 22 C Argentina v Saudi 1000 Lusail Iconic
Arabia Stadium
Nov. 22 D Denmark v Tunisia 1300 Education City
Stadium
Nov. 22 C Mexico v Poland 1600 Stadium 974
Nov. 22 D France v Australia 1900 Al Janoub
Stadium
Nov. 23 F Morocco v Croatia 1000 Al Bayt Stadium
Nov. 23 E Germany v Japan 1300 Khalifa
International
Stadium
Nov. 23 E Spain v Costa Rica 1600 Al Thumama
Stadium
Nov. 23 F Belgium v Canada 1900 Ahmad bin Ali
Stadium
Nov. 24 G Switzerland v 1000 Al Janoub
Cameroon Stadium
Nov. 24 H Uruguay v South Korea 1300 Education City
Stadium
Nov. 24 H Portugal v Ghana 1600 Stadium 974
Nov. 24 G Brazil v Serbia 1900 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
Nov. 25 B Wales v Iran 1000 Ahmad bin Ali
Stadium
Nov. 25 A Qatar v Senegal 1300 Al Thumama
Stadium
Nov. 25 A Netherlands v Ecuador 1600 Khalifa
International
Stadium
Nov. 25 B England v United 1900 Al Bayt Stadium
States
Nov. 26 D Tunisia v Australia 1000 Al Janoub
Stadium
Nov. 26 C Poland v Saudi Arabia 1300 Education City
Stadium
Nov. 26 D France v Denmark 1600 Stadium 974
Nov. 26 C Argentina v Mexico 1900 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
Nov. 27 E Japan v Costa Rica 1000 Ahmad bin Ali
Stadium
Nov. 27 F Belgium v Morocco 1300 Al Thumama
Stadium
Nov. 27 F Croatia v Canada 1600 Khalifa
International
Stadium
Nov. 27 E Spain v Germany 1900 Al Bayt Stadium
Nov. 28 G Cameroon v Serbia 1000 Al Janoub
Stadium
Nov. 28 H South Korea v Ghana 1300 Education City
Stadium
Nov. 28 G Brazil v Switzerland 1600 Stadium 974
Nov. 28 H Portugal v Uruguay 1900 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
Nov. 29 A Netherlands v Qatar 1500 Al Bayt Stadium
Nov. 29 A Ecuador v Senegal 1500 Khalifa
International
Stadium
Nov. 29 B Iran v United States 1900 Al Thumama
Stadium
Nov. 29 B Wales v England 1900 Ahmad Bin Ali
Stadium
Nov. 30 D Tunisia v France 1500 Education City
Stadium
Nov. 30 D Australia v Denmark 1500 Al Janoub
Stadium
Nov. 30 C Saudi Arabia v Mexico 1900 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
Nov. 30 C Poland v Argentina 1900 Stadium 974
Dec. 1 F Canada v Morocco 1500 Al Thumama
Stadium
Dec. 1 F Croatia v Belgium 1500 Ahmad bin Ali
Stadium
Dec. 1 E Costa Rica v Germany 1900 Al Bayt Stadium
Dec. 1 E Japan v Spain 1900 Khalifa
International
Stadium
Dec. 2 H South Korea v 1500 Education City
Portugal Stadium
Dec. 2 H Ghana v Uruguay 1500 Al Janoub
Stadium
Dec. 2 G Cameroon v Brazil 1900 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
Dec. 2 G Serbia v Switzerland 1900 Stadium 974
Dec. 3 – Group A winner v 1500 Khalifa
Group B runner-up International
Stadium
Dec. 3 – Group C winner v 1900 Ahmad bin Ali
Group D runner-up Stadium
Dec. 4 – Group D winner v 1500 Al Thumama
Group C runner-up Stadium
Dec. 4 – Group B winner v 1900 Al Bayt Stadium
Group A runner-up
Dec. 5 – Group E winner v 1500 Al Janoub
Group F runner-up Stadium
Dec. 5 – Group G winner v 1900 Stadium 974
Group H runner-up
Dec. 6 – Group F winner v 1500 Education City
Group E runner-up Stadium
Dec. 6 – Group H winner v 1900 Lusail Iconic
Group G runner-up Stadium
Dec. 9 – Quarter-final 1 1900 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
Dec. 9 – Quarter-final 2 1500 Education City
Stadium
Dec. 10 – Quarter-final 3 1900 Al Bayt Stadium
Dec. 10 – Quarter-final 4 1500 Al Thumama
Stadium
Dec. 13 – Semi-final 1 1900 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
Dec. 14 – Semi-final 2 1900 Al Bayt Stadium
Dec. 17 – Third place playoff 1500 Khalifa
International
Stadium
Dec. 18 – Final 1500 Lusail Iconic
Stadium
(Compiled by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
