QATAR WORLD CUP 2022
Want to know everything there is to know about the upcoming soccerl World Cup in Qatar? You’re in the right place. With the first World Cup Finals ever to be played in the Middle East – and the first ever to be played in the traditional winter months of November and December – you won’t want to miss a single goal.
And you don’t have to!
We’ve got everything right here: Qatar World Cup 2022 tournament dates, groups and venues to whet your appetite for the big event that’s only months away.
The first action gets underway on 21st November 2022, when Senegal take on the Netherlands in what is going to be a landmark tournament. Catch all the best players in the world (with a couple of exceptions, Erling Haaland being one of them) in one place as each nation faces potential soccer immortality should they win.
The tournament takes place over 28 days and is the last Finals that will see 32 teams competing for the trophy – with that number rising to 48 for the 2026 World Cup.
World Cup 2022 Background
The Gulf nation of Qatar in the Middle East won the rights to host the 2022 World Cup way back in 2010, but it’s been a far from easy ride to get to where we are today.
Allegations of sportswashing, concerns over human rights and many wondering whether the nation – and its stadiums – would be ready to host the tournament in time, Qatar has come through everything thrown at it and is set for the centre stage come November.
Qatar is also only the second ever nation to host the World Cup without ever appearing at the World Cup Finals before, making their debut in the competition when they face Ecuador on matchday 1 on 21st November.
World Cup 2022 dates
The World Cup takes place between the 21st of November and the 18th of December, with the final played at the 80,000-seater new Lusail Stadium.
Qatar are breaking another tradition as well as the months in which the tournament is played, as the host nation usually competes in the curtain-raising fixture. This year that won’t be the case, as Senegal will face the Netherlands in the opening match and England play against Iran in the second game before Qatar finally takes centre stage when they face Ecuador in the third. Reports suggest this is because of when and how the opening ceremony is going to take place in the country.
This year there will be a slightly different format for the matches, with 4 games being played each day in the group stages – with each match having its own kick-off time. While an unusual move, it’s sure to be popular with fans because you’ll no longer have to decide between which game to watch – so you literally can’t miss a single goal!
Kick-off times in Australia are not the most social, with the first match of each day being played at 9 pm, before further games at 12 am, 3 am and 6 am.
The third-placed playoff, between the 2 losing semi-final teams, will take place on the 18th of December at the Khalifa International Stadium before the final takes place a day after – kicking off at 2 am on Monday 19th December (Australian Time).
Who has qualified for the World Cup 2022?
The 32 teams which have qualified for the World Cup in Qatar have been drawn into their respective groups of 4, as listed below:
- Group A – Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, The Netherlands
- Group B – England, Iran, USA, 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, Korea Republic
WORLD CUP 2022 TICKETS
The ticketing phase is still open for the World Cup in Qatar, meaning soccer fans around the world can still grab a seat to one of sport’s most-watched events.
Tickets must be applied for via FIFA’s official website once you’ve created an account, and once you’re accepted you can proceed to purchase your chosen tickets, when you’re also given a Fan ID.
The second phase of ticket sales began on the 5th of July and ends on the 16th of August 2022, at midday (Doha time).
The tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and are processed as a real-time transaction, subject to availability.
How much are tickets for the 2022 World Cup?
While they’re likely to sell out extremely quickly due to demand, international fans can grab tickets from $69 for Category III seats – but these prices are subject to change. Qatari residents can purchase tickets for as little as $11, and Category I tickets could cost over $1,000.
Who is the favourite to win the World Cup 2022?
While there are always a host of nations looking good heading into a World Cup, there are some countries that are always on the tip of people’s tongues. 5-time winners Brazil, led by marvel striker Neymar and supported by the likes of Raphinha, Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho, cannot be discounted – but neither can Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal or, indeed, England. They all face the tough task of taking the trophy from the 2018 winners, France.
Have Australia qualified for the World Cup 2022?
Yes – Australia qualified through the inter-continental playoff when they defeated Peru on penalties after the game finished 0-0 on penalties. Australia had to qualify through the playoffs due to finishing third in Group B of the AFC and had to first beat the third-placed team from AFC’s Group A, United Arab Emirates, before taking on Peru. They are in a World Cup group with France, Denmark and Tunisia.