MY ACCOUNT
It is a World Cup year once again and excitement is starting to build for football’s biggest tournament which will take place in Qatar during November and December.
Moved from the summer due to the Middle Eastern country’s hot temperatures, things are sure to be a bit different this time around.
But with 32 nations competing for the crown, it will be no less thrilling and plenty will be dreaming that their name is next to be etched on the famous trophy.
So, when is the World Cup group stage draw? Read on as we bring you all the important information.
When is the 2022 World Cup group stage draw?
The group stage draw for the 2022 World Cup will be made on April 1 in Qatar’s capital city Doha, where a host of games at the finals are taking place.
This will be once 30 of the 32 teams have been decided for the tournament, with the winners of the intercontinental play-offs in June taking the final two places.
That will leave teams with over seven months to prepare for their opponents before the tournament gets started on November 21.
Which teams have qualified?
As host nation, Qatar have an automatic place at this year’s finals.
Four-time winners Germany became the first country to seal their spot through qualification by topping their group with a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia in October 2021.
England were in the hat a month later, as were defending champions France, while the tournament’s most successful side in Brazil were the first to qualify from South America.
Qualified World Cup 2022 teams: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iran, Netherlands, Qatar, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland
Which teams still need to qualify?
While many are already booking their flights to Qatar, there are plenty of European teams who will have to rely on the lottery of a qualification play-off to seal their place.
That includes home nations Scotland and Wales, who will face each other for a place in the finals if they are both victorious in their semi-finals against Ukraine and Austria respectively.
Meanwhile, one out of heavyweight duo Italy or Portugal will miss the World Cup having both been drawn in Path C for the play-offs.
The intercontinental play-off sees a nation from the AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC federations face off to decide the final tournament spaces.
World Cup European play-off draw
Path A
Scotland vs Ukraine
Wales vs Austria
Path B
Poland have been given a bye due to FIFA expelling Russia from the competition after their invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden vs Czech Republic
Path C
Italy vs North Macedonia
Portugal vs Turkey
What is the 2022 World Cup format?
The tournament will see 32 nations divided into eight groups of four.
Once each team has played each other in their pools, the winners and runners-up will advance to the last 16.
From there, it is a knockout system with the two finalists eventually facing off at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
When does the 2022 World Cup kick off?
The first game kicks off on November 21 and the group stage plays out over 12 days.
The knockout rounds begin with the first last-16 clash on December 3, with the remainder taking place over the next three days.
Then it is time for the quarter-finals on December 9 and 10, the semi-finals on December 13 and 14 and final on December 18.
World Cup 2022 schedule
Group stage: November 21-December 2
Last 16: December 3-6
Quarter-finals: December 9-10
Semi-finals: December 13-14
Final: December 18
