2022 FIFA World Cup group stage draw: Spain vs Germany, Portugal vs Uruguay

The tournament's opening game will see hosts Qatar face Ecuador in Al Khor on November 21. Click here to predict the Champion of the World

Holders France - who could meet England in the quarter-finals, providing both sides win their groups - were drawn in Group D alongside Denmark and Tunisia, and begin their defence against the winners of Intercontinental play-off 1 - United Arab Emirates, Australia or Peru.

Meanwhile, 2010 winners Spain and 2014 winners Germany were paired against each other in Group E alongside Japan and one of Costa Rica and New Zealand - who will compete in the second Intercontinental play-off later this year.

Four-time winners Brazil have been grouped with Switzerland and Serbia, both of whom who they faced at the same stage in 2018, and Cameroon. The Selecao's rivals Argentina were matched with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

Louis van Gaal, who has spoken out against the decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar, will face the hosts with his Netherlands side in Group A, which also features Ecuador and Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will face Uruguay, Canada and South Korea, while Belgium - ranked second in the world - will take on Ghana, Morocco and Croatia.

Draw result:

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands

Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales/Scotland/Ukraine

Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland

Group D: France, Peru/Australia/UAE, Denmark, Tunisia

Group E: Spain, Costa Rica/New Zealand, Germany, Japan

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia

Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

When and where is the 2022 World Cup?

The 2022 World Cup is taking place in Qatar in the winter months rather than the usual summer ones, due to the heat.

The tournament kicks off on Monday, November 21 at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor with a match that will feature the host country.

The final will be played at the Lusail Stadium in Doha a week before Christmas on Sunday, December 18.

What is the World Cup format and schedule?

The 2022 World Cup will feature 32 teams in eight groups of four.

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.

Matches will only be assigned to particular venues after the finals draw, so organisers can choose optimal kick-off times to suit television audiences in different countries, as well as supporters out in Qatar.

Unlike at Euro 2020, there will be a third-place play-off game on December 17.

Group stage: November 21 - December 2

Round of 16: December 3-6

Quarter-finals: December 9/10

Semi-finals: December 13/14

Final: December 18

When will the matches kick off?

FIFA has confirmed 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 in the final round of group games and knockout-round matches will be at 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 and Al Janoub Stadium.