World Cup 2022: Start date, schedule, teams, kick-off times

• Group stage: November 20- December 2
• Round of 16: December 3-6
• Quarter-finals: December 9-10
• Semi-finals: December 13-14
• Final: December 18

What’s the time difference?

Qatar is three hours ahead of the UK in November, with matches kicking off at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm UK time during the group stage and 3pm and 7pm in the knockout stage.

How to get tickets for the World Cup

More than 800,000 tickets were sold when they first went on sale.

Two more ticket window opportunities have already been and gone, meaning that fans still wishing to watch the action live in Qatar face a difficult task in getting hold of tickets.

However, FIFA’s ‘Last Minute Sales Phase’ will open in advance of the competition starting, meaning that tickets could still become available for World Cup matches.

Another official resale window will also open ahead of the tournament.

For more information, visit the FIFA website.

Which teams have qualified?

The 32 teams contesting the World Cup have now been confirmed, and the group stages have already been drawn.

What is happening to the Premier League and Champions League during the World Cup?

The Premier League will stop for six weeks on November 13, with the first World Cup match taking place on November 20.

This is just one of a number of impacts the Qatar tournament will have on the Premier League.

The Premier League will return to action on Boxing Day just eight days after the final.

Meanwhile, the Champions League group stage will finish on November 2, and has been condensed into an eight week window instead of the usual 12.

The season started earlier (August 6, 2022) and will finish slightly later (May 28, 2023) than normal.

Why is the World Cup being played in winter?

The tournament is being held in winter to avoid the extremely high temperatures in Qatar during the summer months.

Temperatures in June and July – when the World Cup is typically played – average around 37C, which is deemed too hot for players.

What will be the temperature in Qatar during the World Cup?

The temperature in November and December in Qatar is likely to be perfectly fine for playing football, unlike if it was played in June and July.

WeatherAndClimate.com reports that the maximum temperature in November in Doha is 30°C, with a minimum of 20°C, with these falling to a max of 25°C and minimum of 16°C in December.

The stadiums will feature sophisticated air conditioning units to keep the temperature cool at pitch level.

When is the England squad announced?

Gareth Southgate has chosen his provisional England squad of between 35-55 players for the World Cup.

However, Southgate did not publicly reveal the names on his provisional list – nor was he required to.

Southgate will then whittle the group down to the final 26 players who will join him on the plane to Qatar on Thursday, November 10, according to Talksport.

Southgate will be hoping that his key players remain free from injury in the build-up to the tournament.

When are England’s fixtures at the World Cup?

England have been drawn in Group B alongside USA, Iran and Wales.

Have the World Cup kits been released yet?

England have released their new home and away kits for the competition, with their new designs a striking resemblance to some of their popular retro kits.

Wales have also released their new stylish shirts as they gear up for their first World Cup since 1958.

Many of the other nations taking part in the World Cup have released their new home and away kits.

What stadiums will be used?

There are eight stadiums being used in Qatar, with the opening match staged at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor and the final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail.

FIFA have confirmed that semi-automated offside technology will be used in stadiums to help improve the accuracy and speed of offside decisions.

Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail: Capacity: 80,000
5x Group Matches
1x Round of 16
1x Quarter-Final
1x Semi-Final
Final

The Lusail Stadium will play host to the FIFA World Cup final

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor: Capacity: 60,000

• 5x Group Matches
• 1x Round of 16
• 1x Quarter-Final
• 1x Semi-Final

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah: Capacity: 40,000

• 5x Group Matches
• 1x Round of 16

Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan: Capacity: 40,000

• 5x Group Matches
• 1x Round of 16

Khalifa International Stadium, Doha: Capacity: 40,000

• 5x Group Matches
• 1x Round of 16
• Match for Third Place

Education City Stadium, Doha: Capacity: 40,000

• 5x Group Matches
• 1x Round of 16
• 1x Quarter-Final

Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud: Capacity: 40,000

• 5x Group Matches
• 1x Round of 16

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha: Capacity: 40,000

• 5x Group Matches
• 1x Round of 16
• 1x Quarter-Final