The highly anticipated FIFA World Cup is all set to kick off this year from November 21 in Qatar as the schedule has been announced which will see teams slugging out with the coveted title up for grabs.
Lionel Messi possibly facing Robert Lewandowski, Spain definitely playing Germany, and Luis Suárez handed a rematch against old foe Ghana.
The draw on Friday for the World Cup group stage set up some intriguing prospects, with host Qatar playing Ecuador on the November 21 opening day but not in the first game.
England will play the United States, and both must face Iran and potentially Ukraine which resumes in the playoffs in June. Ukraine was unable to field a team last week during the invasion by Russia.
A total of 37 teams were involved on Friday because three entries in the 32-team lineup are not yet known. Like Ukraine's playoff bracket, two intercontinental playoffs delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic finish in June.
The top two teams in the standings of each group advance to the round of 16 in the knockout bracket paths which are set through to the final on December 18 — National Day in Qatar.
Here is the 2022 World Cup match schedule after the draw was released. The start times have been converted to Eastern Time.
Group Stage:
Monday, November 21:
Group A: Qatar vs. Ecuador - (11:00 a.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Group A: Senegal vs. Netherlands - (5:00 a.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Group B: England vs. Iran - (8:00 a.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Group B: United States vs. Scotland/Wales/Ukraine (European Playoff) - (2:00 p.m. EST, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
Tuesday, November 22:
Group C: Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia (5:00 a.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Group C: Mexico vs. Poland - (11:00 a.m. EST, Stadium 974)
Group D: France vs. Australia/Peru/United Arab Emirates (International Playoff One) - (2:00 p.m. EST, Al Janoub Stadium)
Group D: Denmark vs. Tunisia (8:00 a.m. EST, Education City Stadium)
Wednesday, November 23:
Group E: Spain vs. New Zealand/Costa Rica (International Playoff Two) (11:00 a.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Group E: Germany vs. Japan (8:00 a.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Group F: Belgium vs. Canada (2:00 p.m. EST, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
Group F: Morocco vs. Croatia (5:00 a.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Thursday, November 24:
Group G: Brazil vs. Serbia (2:00 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Group G: Switzerland vs. Cameroon (5:00 a.m. EST, Al Janoub Stadium)
Group H: Portugal vs. Ghana (11:00 a.m. EST, Stadium 974)
Group H: Uruguay vs. South Korea (8:00 a.m. EST, Education City Stadium)
Friday, November 25
Group A: Qatar vs. Senegal (8:00 a.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Group A: Netherlands vs. Ecuador (11:00 a.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Group B: England vs. United States (2:00 p.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs. Iran (5:00 a.m. EST, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
Saturday, November 26
Group C: Argentina vs. Mexico (2:00 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Group C: Poland vs. Saudi Arabia (8:00 a.m. EST, Education City Stadium)
Group D: France vs. Denmark (11:00 a.m. EST, Stadium 974)
Group D: Tunisia vs. Australia/Peru/United Arab Emirates (5:00 a.m. EST, Al Janoub Stadium)
Sunday, November 27
Group E: Spain vs. Germany (2:00 p.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Group E: Japan vs. New Zealand/Costa Rica (5:00 a.m. EST, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
Group F: Belgium vs. Morocco (8:00 a.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Group F: Croatia vs. Canada (11:00 a.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Monday, November 28
Group G: Brazil vs. Switzerland (11:00 a.m. EST, Stadium 974)
Group G: Cameroon vs. Serbia (5:00 a.m. EST, Al Janoub Stadium)
Group H: Portugal vs. Uruguay (2:00 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Group H: South Korea vs. Ghana (8:00 a.m. EST, Education City Stadium)
Tuesday, November 29
Group A: Netherlands vs. Qatar (10:00 a.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Group A: Ecuador vs. Senegal (10:00 a.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs. England (2:00 p.m. EST, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
Group B: Iran vs. United States (2:00 p.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Wednesday, November 30
Group C: Poland vs. Argentina (2:00 p.m. EST, Stadium 974)
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico (2:00 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Group D: Tunisia vs. France (10:00 a.m. EST, Education City Stadium)
Group D: Australia/Peru/United Arab Emirates vs. Denmark (10:00 a.m. EST, Al Janoub Stadium)
Thursday, December 1
Group E: Japan vs. Spain (2:00 p.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Group E: New Zealand/Costa Rica vs. Germany (2:00 p.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Group F: Croatia vs. Belgium (10:00 a.m. EST, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
Group F: Canada vs. Morocco (10:00 a.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Friday, December 2
Group G: Cameroon vs. Brazil (2:00 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Group G: Serbia vs. Switzerland (2:00 p.m. EST, Stadium 974)
Group H: South Korea vs. Portugal (10:00 a.m. EST, Education City Stadium)
Group H: Ghana vs. Uruguay (10:00 a.m. EST Al Janoub Stadium)
Round of 16:
Saturday, December 3
Match 49: Winners of Group A vs. Runners-up of Group B (10 a.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Match 50: Winners of Group C vs. Runners-up of Group D (2 p.m. EST, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
Sunday, December 4
Match 51: Winners of Group D vs. Runners-up of Group C (10 a.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Match 52: Winners of Group B vs. Runners-up of Group A (2:00 p.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Monday, December 5
Match 53: Winners of Group E vs. Runners-up of Group F (10 a.m. EST, Al Janoub Stadium)
Match 54: Winners of Group G vs. Runners-up of Group H (2 p.m. EST, Stadium 974)
Tuesday, December 6
Match 55: Winners of Group F vs. Runners-up of Group E (10 a.m. EST Education City Stadium)
Match 56: Winners of Group H vs. Runners-up of Group G (2 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Quarterfinals
Friday, December 9
Match 58: Winners of Match 53 vs. Winners of Match 54 (10 a.m. EST, Education City Stadium)
Match 57: Winners of Match 49 vs. Winners of Match 50 (2 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Saturday, December 10
Match 60: Winners of Match 55 vs. Winners of Match 56 (10 a.m. EST, Al Thumama Stadium)
Match 59: Winners of Match 51 vs. Winners of Match 52 (2 p.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Semifinals
Tuesday, December 13
Match 61: Winners of Match 57 vs. Winners of Match 58 (2 p.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
Wednesday, December 14
Match 62: Winners of Match 59 vs. Winners of Match 60 (2 p.m. EST, Al Bayt Stadium)
Third Place Match
Saturday, December 17
Third Place Match: Losers of Match 61 vs. Losers of Match 62 (10 a.m. EST, Khalifa International Stadium)
Final
Sunday, Dec. 18
Final: Winners of Match 61 vs. Winners of Match 62 (10 a.m. EST, Lusail Stadium)
