The Qatar World Cup 2022 is almost here – and boy, are we excited.
This World Cup promises to be very different from FIFA's previous installments, so there's plenty of questions that fans need answering before it kicks off later this year.
Where will World Cup 2022 take place?
If you've somehow missed this – or just still can't quite believe it's happening – the World Cup 2022 is happening in the Middle East nation of Qatar.
The unusual hosts were announced by FIFA back in December 2010, on the same day that Russia was announced as the host country for the 2018 World Cup.
Qatar is not particularly known for its football history, and its warm climate made it a surprising choice for a tournament that normally takes place in the summer.
Dates and fixtures
What are the dates for the Qatar World Cup 2022?
Given the summer temperatures in Qatar – average highs in July are around 43C – mean that the World Cup 2022 has been moved to winter for the first time in its history.
World Cup 2022 fixtures on November 20, 2022 and will run until the final on December 18, 2022.
You can grab your World Cup wall chart here with all the dates on too.
How to watch
What channel is showing the World Cup 2022?
Here's how to watch the World Cup 2022:
• UK: All matches are split between the BBCand ITV, both non-subscription, free-to-air broadcasters that only require a UK TV license
• USA: Fox and FS1 will show the group stage games, while every knockout game is on Fox – without cable, you can get both channels on Sling Blue for $39.99 a month (with 50% off the first month), and Fubo TV, which is $69.99 after a seven-day free trial
• Canada: TSN is showing every game – you can subscribe from $19.99 a month, or $199.90 for a year
• Australia: SBS is showing every game – an SBS On Demand account is free
• New Zealand: Sky Sport– you can get a seven-day free trial with a $39.99 month pass, or a single week pass is $19.99
Can I watch the World Cup for free?
Both the UK and Australia will be showing the World Cup on free-to-air channels, with BBC and ITV having the rights in Britain, and SBS showing it in Australia.
However, American soccer fans can get a seven-day free trial on Fubo TV, while New Zealanders can get the same on Sky Sport.
Temperature
How hot will it be at the Qatar World Cup 2022?
The temperature in Qatar in November ranges from an average high of 29C in the daytime, to an average low of 19C at night.
Qualified countries
What countries have qualified for World Cup 2022?
Who has qualified for the World Cup 2022? All 32 teams heading to Qatar have been decided:
- Qatar (Hosts)
- Germany
- Denmark
- Brazil
- France
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Spain
- Serbia
- England
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- Argentina
- Iran
- South Korea
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- Ecuador
- Uruguay
- Canada
- Ghana
- Senegal
- Portugal
- Poland
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Cameroon
- United States
- Mexico
- Wales
- Australia
- Costa Rica
When will all qualified countries be confirmed for World Cup 2022?
All 32 qualified countries have now been confirmed for the Qatar World Cup.
The final teams to secure their place at the finals were Wales, who overcame Ukraine in a delayed European play-off on June 5, 2022; Australia, who beat Peru in an intercontinental play-off on June 13, and Costa Rica, who beat New Zealand in the other intercontinental play-off on June 14.
Squads
If you're looking for all the latest on the World Cup 2022 squads, we've got you covered.
When will the World Cup 2022 squads be announced?
We normally see tournament squads released around six weeks before the competition kicks off – but with domestic football seasons continuing right up to the wire, we expect the World Cup squads to be announced around two weeks before the first game on November 18.
Draw
When is the group draw for World Cup 2022?
The World Cup 2022 group draw took place in Qatar’s capital city Doha on April 1.
You can see the full World Cup 2022 groups here.
Kick-off times
What will the kick-off times be at the World Cup 2022?
All kick-off times for the World Cup 2022 will be between 10am and 7pm in the UK.
The first two rounds of group games will have kick-off times of 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm GMT.
The final group stage games and all knockout games will have kick-offs of 3pm and 7pm.
Here's how those times translate around the world:
10am GMT
Qatar: 1pm
CET: 11am
EST: 5am
PDT: 2am
1pm GMT
Qatar: 4pm
CET: 2pm
EST: 8am
PDT: 5am
3pm GMT
Qatar: 6pm
CET: 4pm
EST: 10am
PDT: 7am
4pm GMT
Qatar: 7pm
CET: 5pm
EST: 11am
PDT: 8am
7pm GMT
Qatar: 10pm
CET: 8pm
EST: 2pm
PDT: 11am
Stadiums
What stadiums will be used as World Cup 2022 venues?
These are the World Cup 2022 stadiums:
• Lusail Stadium, Lusail, capacity 80,000
• Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, capacity 60,000
• Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, capacity 40,000
• Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, capacity 40,000
• Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, 40,000
• Education City Stadium, Doha, capacity 40,000
• Stadium 974, Doha, capacity 40,000
• Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, capacity 40,000
Wall chart
Click on the image below to open a high-resolution PDF World Cup 2022 wall chart that you can print off at home. Alternatively, click here for black and white and blank versions of our World Cup 2022 wall chart.
Mascot
The World Cup 2022 mascot is La'eeb, a traditional Qatari headdress known as a ghutra, and its name translates as 'super-skilled player'.
La'eeb encourages everyone to believe in themselves, with the slogan ‘Now is All’. No, we haven't got a clue what that means either.
Stickers
Is there a sticker album for the World Cup 2022?
There is a Panini sticker album for the World Cup 2022 – but it will take 670 stickers to complete, so you might want to check out our guide for cheap Panini World Cup sticker deals.
