The World Cup 2022 groups are set, and the kick-off date is scheduled for Sunday, 20 November. The date has been pushed one day in advance to allow Qatar to open the tournament as the host. After the group stage. The finals are scheduled to be played on Sunday, 18 December.
Continue reading to find out more about the World Cup 2022 groups and fixtures for the upcoming tournament.
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What Are the Groups for 2022 World Cup 2022?
The World Cup 2022 groups bring together 32 teams, divided into eight groups, fighting to reach the main stage. After the group stage, half of the teams will be sent home. Take a look at the World Cup 2022 groups below, as we analyse each group individually.
Group A
What is good luck for one team is bad luck for another, as Group A brings together Qatar, Senegal, Netherlands, and Ecuador together. With only two spots, it seems Qatar were the unlucky ones, as the odds put the Netherlands at the top, and Senegal and Ecuador fighting for second place.
The group looks like an easy beginning for The Flying Dutchmen with players such as Memphis Depay, Virgin van Dijk, and Frankie de Jong. The Clockwork Orange finished as group winners in the qualifier with only one lost game. The World Cup 2022 fixtures seem to be in their favour, meaning viewers can probably expect the same outcome.
The latest odds are divided between Senegal and Ecuador for the second place, although ever so slightly favouring Senegal. Qatar qualified as the host nation, and compared to other teams in the competition, they seem out of place.
Group B
In Group B, England, Iran, the USA and Wales fight for two spots in the main stage of the World Cup. According to the latest odds, the World Cup 2022 fixtures are an easy task for England.
The Three Lions are looking sharp and ready to go all the way this time. After finishing the qualifier without a lost game, it is obvious why they are one of the contenders to go all the way. On a long list of extraordinary players, it was Harry Kane who was the most efficient player, with 12 goals and two assists in the qualifier.
The odds put the USA in second place and thus estimate they will be the ones to advance. However, neither Wales nor Iran are teams that should be easily left out. Wales seems a bit underestimated by the odds, so England will have to tread carefully.
Group C
Another interesting group, Group C, gives fans a chance to watch Argentina, Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia go up against each other. Obviously, Argentina are not only favoured to win the group but also possibly take the championship.
Messi’s team finished second in the qualifier behind Brazil, but they have not lost a single game. La Albiceleste are expected to win the group easily, but they can’t let their guard down.
The bookies give Mexico and Poland an equal chance of taking the second spot. Thus, we can certainly expect to watch great games in this group. Saudi Arabia are considered to be the weakest, but after their performance in the qualifier, others can’t underestimate them.
Group D
One of the more interesting groups is Group D. Football fans are thrilled to watch a clash between France, Denmark, Tunisia, and Australia.
Odds understandable put France, the last World Cup champions, as the favourites to win the group. Players such as Mbappe, Benzema, Griezmann, Rabiot, and many others, their chances of winning it again are great.
Second place, according to the odds, should go to Denmark. Tunisia and Australia have low chances of advancing going up against Les Bleus or the Red and Whites. However, things are not set in stone, and it would be best not to discard either of the two so soon.
Group E
The World Cup 2022 fixtures have placed Spain, Japan, Germany, and Costa Rica together in Group E. The bookies are having a tough time deciding on the group winner favourites, but easily estimate that Spain and Germany will advance.
Slightly more favoured by the odds are Spain. However, it is indeed difficult to give an estimate as both teams have had a lot of success in larger competitions, and both are stacked to the teeth with superstars.
Japan are in third place according to the odds, and Costa Rica last. Although their chances are very slim, they are not zero. If either of the two favourites makes the mistake of underestimating them, they will leave a lot of room for, probably, Samurai Blue.
Group F
Canada, Morocco, Croatia, and Belgium make up the Group F. The bookies are having a really hard time with this one, but place Belgium as the favourites. Closely behind are Croatia.
As this is Belgium’s golden generation, they are one of the contenders for the championship. Stacked with superstar names such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thorgen Hazard and others, this seems to be their greatest chance so far.
Similarly, Croatia, finalists of the previous World Cup, were never a bad team. There are great expectations for them, but how they fare remains to be seen. Furthermore, Canada and Morocco are here for a reason, and that is that they have shown their quality. While chances of advancing are slim, don’t forget that football is an unpredictable game.
Group G
Group G is one of the most entertaining and difficult groups in the World Cup 2022 calendar. Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia, and Cameroon are fighting for the two places in the main stage, and we are having a tough time deciding on the favourites.
Brazil are indeed one of the top contenders for the championship, but after the performance of other teams in the qualifier, it gets more complicated. The odds put Brazil and Switzerland as the favourites, but we can’t overlook Serbia, who managed to beat Portugal to qualify, who are, on paper, a stronger team than Switzerland.
One thing is certain, this group is by far one of the most entertaining groups, and is definitely worth the watch.
Group H
Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea make up Group H. Once again, one on the list of World Cup 2022 groups and fixtures that are hard to predict. Following the odds, fans can expect Portugal and Uruguay to advance.
Portugal, however, just barely managed to pass the qualifier, and they had to go through a knockout stage. Nonetheless, Ronaldo’s team have the needed quality, but will have to step up if they are planning on advancing.
Uruguay are the second favourites to go past the group, but Ghana are the ones looking to exact revenge on them after the 2010 scandalous match between the two. South Korea are just waiting for their chance, and they will take it if an opportunity arises.
Read more about World Cup 2022 free bets, offers, odds and predictions.
WORLD CUP 2022 CALENDAR:
GROUP A
21. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | SENEGAL VS NETHERLANDS |
21. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | QATAR VS ECUADOR |
25. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | QATAR VS SENEGAL |
25. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | NETHERLANDS VS ECUADOR |
29. NOVEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | ECUADOR VS SENEGAL |
29. NOVEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | NETHERLANDS VS QATAR |
GROUP B
21. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | ENGLAND VS IRAN |
21. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | USA VS WALES |
25. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | WALES VS IRAN |
25. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | ENGLAND VS USA |
29. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | WALES VS ENGLAND |
29. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | IRAN VS USA |
GROUP C
22. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | ARGENTINA VS SAUDI ARABIA |
22. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | MEXICO VS POLAND |
26. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | POLAND VS SAUDI ARABIA |
26. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | ARGENTINA VS MEXICO |
30. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | POLAND VS ARGENTINA |
30. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | SAUDI ARABIA VS MEXICO |
GROUP D
22. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | DENMARK VS TUNISIA |
22. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | FRANCE VS AUSTRALIA |
26. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | TUNISIA VS AUSTRALIA |
26. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | FRANCE VS DENMARK |
30. NOVEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | AUSTRALIA VS DENMARK |
30. NOVEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | TUNISIA VS FRANCE |
GROUP E
23. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | GERMANY VS JAPAN |
23. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | SPAIN VS COSTA RICA |
27. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | JAPAN VS COSTA RICA |
27. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | SPAIN VS GERMANY |
1. DECEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | JAPAN VS SPAIN |
1. DECEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | COSTA RICA VS GERMANY |
GROUP F
23. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | MOROCCO VS CROATIA |
23. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | BELGIUM VS CANADA |
27. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | BELGIUM VS MOROCCO |
27. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | CROATIA VS CANADA |
1. DECEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | CROATIA VS BELGIUM |
1. DECEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | CANADA VS MOROCCO |
GROUP G
24. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | SWITZERLAND VS CAMEROON |
24. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | BRAZIL VS SERBIA |
28. NOVEMBER 2022 | 10.00 (UK TIME) | CAMEROON VS SERBIA |
28. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | BRAZIL VS SWITZERLAND |
2. DECEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | SERBIA VS SWITZERLAND |
2. DECEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | CAMEROON VS BRAZIL |
GROUP H
24. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | URUGUAY VS SOUTH KOREA |
24. NOVEMBER 2022 | 16.00 (UK TIME) | PORTUGAL VS GHANA |
28. NOVEMBER 2022 | 13.00 (UK TIME) | SOUTH KOREA VS GHANA |
28. NOVEMBER 2022 | 19.00 (UK TIME) | PORTUGAL VS URUGUAY |
2. DECEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | GHANA VS URUGUAY |
2. DECEMBER 2022 | 15.00 (UK TIME) | SOUTH KOREA VS PORTUGAL |
World Cup 2022: Fixtures
Readers can find the World Cup 2022 calendar in the following section, as well as the World Cup 2022 groups and fixtures. The first match has been moved one day in advance to allow Qatar, the hosts, to open the World Cup.
Group Stage
20 November (Sunday)
- Qatar – Ecuador (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
21 November (Monday)
- England – Iran (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- Senegal – Netherlands (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 4 pm)
- USA – Wales (Al Rayyan: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
22 November (Tuesday)
- Argentina – Saudi Arabia (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 10 am)
- Denmark – Tunisia (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- Mexico – Poland (Doha: Stadium 974; starts at 4 pm)
- France – Australia (Al Wakrah: Al Janoub Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
23 November (Wednesday)
- Morocco – Croatia (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 10 am)
- Germany – Japan (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- Spain – Costa Rica (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 4 pm)
- Belgium – Canada (Al Rayyan: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
24 November (Thursday)
- Switzerland – Cameroon (Al Wakrah: Al Janoub Stadium; starts at 10 am)
- Uruguay – South Korea (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- Portugal – Ghana (Doha: Stadium 974; starts at 4 pm)
- Brazil – Serbia (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
25 November (Friday)
- Wales – Iran (Al Rayyan: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium; starts at 10 am)
- Qatar – Senegal (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- Netherlands – Ecuador (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 4 pm)
- England – USA (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
26 November (Saturday)
- Tunisia – Australia (Al Wakrah: Al Janoub Stadium; starts at 10 am)
- Poland – Saudi Arabia (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- France – Denmark (Doha: Stadium 974; starts at 4 pm)
- Argentina – Mexico (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
27 November (Sunday)
- Japan – Costa Rica (Al Rayyan: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium; starts at 10 am)
- Belgium – Morocco (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- Croatia – Canada (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 4 pm)
- Spain – Germany (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
28 November (Monday)
- Cameroon – Serbia (Al Wakrah: Al Janoub Stadium; starts at 10 am)
- South Korea – Ghana (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 1 pm)
- Brazil – Switzerland (Doha: Stadium 974; starts at 4 pm)
- Portugal – Uruguay (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
29 November (Tuesday)
- Netherlands – Qatar (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Ecuador – Senegal (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Wales – England (Al Rayyan: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
- Iran – USA (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
30 November (Wednesday)
- Australia – Denmark (Al Wakrah: Al Janoub Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Tunisia – France (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Poland – Argentina (Doha: Stadium 974; starts at 7 pm)
- Saudi Arabia – Mexico (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
1 December (Thursday)
- Croatia – Belgium (Al Rayyan: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Canada – Morocco (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Costa Rica – Germany (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
- Japan – Spain (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
2 December (Friday)
- South Korea – Portugal (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Ghana – Uruguay (Al Wakrah: Al Janoub Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Serbia – Switzerland (Doha: Stadium 974; starts at 7 pm)
- Cameroon – Brazil (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
Knockout Phase
3 December (Saturday)
- Winners of Group A – Runners-up of Group B (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Winners of Group C – Runners-up of Group D (Al Rayyan: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
4 December (Sunday)
- Winners of Group D – Runners-up of Group C (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Winners of Group B – Runners-up of Group A (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
5 December (Monday)
- Winners of Group E – Runners-up of Group F (Al Wakrah: Al Janoub Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Winners of Group G – Runners-up of Group H (Doha: Stadium 974; starts at 7 pm)
6 December (Tuesday)
- Winners of Group F – Runners-up of Group E (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Winners of Group H – Runners-up of Group G (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
Quarter-Finals
9 December (Friday)
- Quarter-finals match (Doha: Education City Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Quarter-finals match (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; 3 pm)
10 December (Saturday)
- Quarter-finals match (Doha: Al Thumama Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
- Quarter-finals match (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
Semi-finals
13 December (Tuesday)
- Semi-finals match (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
14 December (Wednesday)
- Semi-finals match (Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium; starts at 7 pm)
Third Place Match
17 December (Saturday)
- Third place play-off (Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
Finals
18 December (Sunday)
- The World Cup final (Lusail: Lusail Iconic Stadium; starts at 3 pm)
World Cup 2022 Groups: Who Are the Favourites?
Some of the top contenders to take the championship this year are Brazil, England, France, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Belgium, etc. It is very difficult to predict who the winner will be. Based on the odds, the teams that are estimated to finish as group winners are the Netherlands, England, Argentina, France, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, and Portugal.
The bookies also estimate that the teams that will advance by taking second place are Senegal, USA, Poland, Denmark, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland, and Uruguay. Of course, some teams to look out for are Serbia, Ghana, Wales, Mexico, etc.
Check the following table for the latest odds. However, please note that the odds are subject to change.
FAQs About World Cup 2022 Groups
In the following section, readers can find answers to some of the most asked questions about the World Cup 2022 groups and fixtures, as well as any questions about the World Cup 2022 calendar.
The World Cup 2022 is set to start on the 20th of November. The date has been pushed to a later period as a means to fight the extreme weather conditions in Qatar. For more information on the set time frames and matches, check out our World Cup 2022 calendar.
There are 32 qualified teams in the World Cup 2022. The teams are Netherlands, Ecuador, Senegal Qatar, Iran, USA, England, Wales, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Mexico, France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia, Japan, Costa Rica, Spain, Germany, Croatia, Canada, Morocco, Belgium, Serbia, Brazil, Cameroon, Switzerland, Ghana, South Korea, Uruguay, and Portugal.
The World Cup 2022 has eight venues where a total of 65 matches are going to be played. The venues are the following:
Lusail Stadium – Lusail City
Al Bayt Stadium – Al Khor
Al Janoub Stadium – Al Wakrah
Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium – Al Rayyan
Khalifa International Stadium – Al Rayyan
Education City Stadium – Doha
Stadium 974 –Doha
Al Thumama Stadium – Doha
The World Cup 2022 final is scheduled to take place on 18 December. The final is going to be played at the Lusail Stadium. The day before that, on 17 December, football fans can watch the battle for third place.