Qatar 2022 World Cup: Calendar, full match schedule, groups, teams and kick-off times in the US

The 22nd edition of the World Cup kicks-off in Qatar on 20 November as the host nation face Ecuador in the first of 64 games with the final set for 18 December.

The Qatar 2022 World Cup will be a tournament like no other. For the first time in the 22 editions, this is the first time the FIFA organised competition will be staged in the winter months as a measure to avoid playing in the stifling summer Gulf heat when the temperature can reach the low 50′s (C) or excessive of 120 degrees fahrenheit.

The size of Qatar is also another peculiarity with the distance from the stadium in the most northern tip of the country (the spectacular Al Bayt stadium to the Al Janoub stadium in Al-Wakrah) is just over 70km. The Gulf state has also been no stranger to controversy too following the 2010 winning bid with the nation’s record involving foreign workers and LGBTQ un-frienldy laws also coming under heavy scrutiny.

Despite the ongoing polemic surrounding the Qatar World Cup, then action on the pitch gets underway on Sunday 20 November as the host nation face Ecuador. Here’s a user-friendly guide of how you too can follow the action from the Gulf with group details, participating teams and the all important kick-off times for fans in the US.

2022 Qatar World Cup: schedule

Group A

20 November: Al Bayt Stadium: Qatar-Ecuador 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

21 November: Al Thumama Stadium: Senegal-Netherlands 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

25 November: Al Thumama Stadium: Qatar-Senegal 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT

25 November: Khalifa International Stadium: Netherlands-Ecuador 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

29 November: Khalifa International Stadium: Ecuador-Senegal 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

29 November: Al Bayt Stadium: Netherlands-Qatar 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

Group B

21 November: Khalifa International Stadium: England-Iran 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT

21 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: USA-Wales 02:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

25 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Wales-Iran 05:00 am ET / 02:00 am PT

25 November: Al Bayt Stadium: England-USA 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

29 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Wales-England 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

29 November: Al Thumama Stadium: Iran-USA 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

Group C

22 November: Lusail Stadium: Argentina-Saudi Arabia 08:00 am ET /05:00 am PT

22 November: Stadium 974: Mexico-Poland 02:00 pm ET /11:00 am PT

26 November: Education City Stadium: Poland-Saudi Arabia 05:00 am ET /02:00 am PT

26 November: Lusail Stadium: Argentina-Mexico 2:00 pm ET /11:00 am PT

30 November: Stadium 974: Poland-Argentina 2:00 pm ET /11:00 am PT

30 November: Lusail: Saudi Arabia-Mexico 2:00 pm ET /11:00 am PT

Group D

22 November: Education City Stadium: Denmark-Tunisia 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT

22 November: Al Janoub Stadium: France-Australia 02:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

26 November: Al Janoub Stadium: Tunisia-Australia 05:00 am ET / 02:00 am PT

26 November: Stadium 974: France-Denmark 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

30 November: Al Janoub Stadium: Australia-Denmark 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

30 November: Education City: Tunisia-France 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

Group E

23 November: Khalifa International Stadium: Germany-Japan 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT

23 November: Al Thumama: Spain-Costa Rica 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

27 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Japan-Costa Rica 05:00 am ET / 02:00 am PT

27 November: Al Bayt Stadium: Spain-Germany 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

1 December: Khalifa International Stadium: Japan-Spain 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

1 December: Al Thumama Stadium: Iran-USA 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

Group F

23 November: Al Bayt Stadium: Morocco-Croatia 05:00 am ET / 02:00 am PT

23 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Belgium-Canada 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

27 November: Al Thumama Stadium: Belgium-Morocco 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT

27 November: Khalifa International Stadium: Croatia-Canada 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

1 December: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Croatia-Belgium 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

1 December: Al Thumama Stadium: Canada-Morocco 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

Group G

24 November: Al Janoub Stadium: Switzerland-Cameroon 05:00 am ET / 02:00 am PT

24 November: Lusail Stadium: Brazil-Serbia 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

28 November: Al Janoub Stadium: Cameroon-Serbia 05:00 am ET / 02:00 am PT

28 November: Stadium 974: Brazil-Switzerland 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

2 December: Stadium 974: Serbia-Switzerland 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

2 December: Lusail Stadium: Cameroon-Brazil 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

Group H

24 November: Education City Stadium: Uruguay-South Korea 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT

24 November: Stadium 974: Portugal-Ghana 11:00 am ET / 08:00 am PT

28 November: Education City Stadium: South Korea-Ghana 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT

28 November: Lusail Stadium: Portugal-Uruguay 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT

2 December: Al Janoub Stadium: Ghana-Uruguay 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

2 December: Education City Stadium: South Korea-Portugal 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

Round of 16

3 December: Khalifa International Stadium: Winner A-Runner up B 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (1)

3 December: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Winner C-Runner up D 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (2)

4 December: Al Thumama Stadium: Winner D-Runner up C 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (3)

4 December: Al Bayt Stadium: Winner B-Runner up A 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (4)

5 December: Al Janoub Stadium: Winner E-Runner up F 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (5)

5 December: Stadium 974: Winner G-Runner up H 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (6)

6 December: Education City Stadium: Winner G-Runner up H 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (7)

6 December: Lusail Stadium: Winner H-Runner up G 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (8)

Quarter-finals

9 December: Education City Stadium: Winner 5-Winner 6 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (1)

9 December: Lusail Stadium: Winner 1-Winner 2 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (2)

10 December: Al Thumama Stadium: Winner 7-Winner 8 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (3)

10 December: Al Bayt Stadium: Winner 4-Winner 3 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (4)

Semi-finals

13 December: Lusail Stadium: Winner QF 2-Winner QF1 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (1)

14 December: Al Bayt Stadium: Winner QF4-Winner QF3 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (2)

Third Place play-off

17 December: Khalifa International: Loser SF1-Loser SF2 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

Final

18 December: Lusail Stadium: Winner SF1-Winner SF2 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT