The first-ever winter edition of the World Cup is now within touching distance, with hosts Qatar getting the tournament underway on Sunday.
England were drawn into Group B, alongside USA, Iran and Wales, and Gareth Southgate’s side will be looking to go one step further after agonisingly losing out to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Spain and Germany will also collide, alongside Japan and and Costa Rica, in what has been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’, while France and tournament-favourites Brazil will fancy their chances of going deep in the competition.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is now swiftly approaching, getting underway on November 20
Gareth Southgate’s England side come into the tournament with high hopes despite their recent poor form
A total of 32 teams, initially split into eight groups of four, will compete for the prestigious trophy in the last tournament of this format, with 48 nations set to qualify for the 2026 edition, set to be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The group stage will come to an end on Friday, December 2, with the following 16 fixtures crammed into a jam-packed schedule before a winner is eventually crowned.
Sportsmail tells you everything you need to know about the World Cup final below, including the match date, kick-off time and where it will be held.
When is the World Cup final?
The World Cup final will take place on Sunday, December 18, which is Qatar National Day, a national commemoration of their unification in 1878. It’s also exactly a week before Christmas Day.
The fixture will also take place exactly eight days before Premier League football resumes its campaign following the enforced winter break.
The match will kick-off at 3pm UK time, or 6pm for those actually attending in Qatar.
What stadium is hosting the final?
The World Cup final will be held at the Lusail Stadium, which will also host the opening fixture.
The stadium only opened this year, very much behind schedule, with the design inspired by the ‘interplay of light and shadow that characterises the fanar lantern’.
The 80,000-seater stadium only opened this year, very much behind schedule, and is situated in the £33billion city of Lusail
Most of the seats will be donated to developing countries as the city ‘will not need its own football stadium’ after 2022
At the end of the tournament, most of the seats will be removed and donated to developing countries as the new £33billion city of Lusail ‘will not need its own football stadium’ after 2022.
The stadium can hold a whopping 80,000 fans and is situation 10 miles outside of the Doha city centre.
Who are the favourites?
Brazil may not have enjoyed their last two World Cups, but as the 2022 tournament approaches they currently stand as the No 1 ranked team in the world.
They suffered humiliation at the 2014 World Cup, a tournament they hosted, when they lost 7-1 in the semi-final to eventual winners Germany.
And in Russia four years ago, while bowing out in a less high-profile exit, they fell short in the quarter-finals as they lost 2-1 to Belgium, who reached the semi-finals, before defeating England in the third-place play-off.
This time, however, they will fancy their chances of a significantly more successful tournament.
Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002 but will be looking to secure a sixth triumph in Qatar
France are also one of the favourites to win the World Cup, despite their current problems
Competing against Brazil are France, who will have to cope without midfielder Paul Pogba. The 29-year-old has been officially ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Les Bleus are looking to become just the third team in history, after Italy and Brazil, to win back-to-back World Cups, after they claimed an historic victory in Russia four years ago.
Also in the mix are Argentina, in what will likely be Lionel Messi’s final appearance at a World Cup, while Spain – who have endured a torrid time since winning the tournament in 2010 – will also look to make a statement.
And of course, despite failing to win any of their last six matches, England are still among the favourites to claim the prestigious prize this winter.
Gareth Southgate’s side will be looking to end 56 years of hurt, having reached the semi-finals in 2018 and the final of Euro 2020 last summer.
When are the rest of the matches taking place?
The World Cup will take place between November 20 and December 18 with a total of 32 teams – initially split into eight groups of four – competing for the grand prize.
The group stages will begin on November 20 and will run for 13 days, with four matches being played on each – other than the first.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the round of 16, with the stage ending on December 2.
The World Cup will get underway on November 20 and run through until December 18
The round of 16 will be played from December 3-6, the quarter-finals will take place from December 9-10 and the semi-finals will be played on December 13 and 14.
The final of the 2022 World Cup will take place on Sunday, December 18.
The first two rounds of group stage matches will all kick off at either 10am, 1pm, 4pm or 7pm UK time, with the final round – and the knockout matches – all at either 3pm or 7pm. The final will kick-off at 3pm UK time.
Full fixture and TV schedule
*All times in GMT
Sunday November 20
Group A: Qatar v Ecuador (Al Bayt Stadium) at 4pm on BBC
Monday November 21
Group B: England vs Iran (Khalifa International Stadium) at 1pm on BBCGroup A: Senegal vs Netherlands (Al Thumama Stadium) at 4pm on ITV Group B: USA vs Wales (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium) at 7pm on ITV
Tuesday November 22
Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 10am on ITVGroup D: Denmark vs Tunisia (Education City Stadium) at 1pm on ITVGroup C: Mexico vs Poland (Stadium 974) at 4pm on BBC Group D: France vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium) at 7pm on BBC
Wednesday November 23
Group F: Morocco vs Croatia (Al Bayt Stadium) at 10am on ITVGroup E: Germany vs Japan (Khalifa International Stadium) at 1pm on ITVGroup E: Spain vs Costa Rica (Al Thumama Stadium) at 4pm on ITVGroup F: Belgium vs Canada (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium) at 7pm on BBC
Thursday November 24
Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium) at 10am on ITVGroup H: Uruguay vs South Korea (Education City Stadium) at 1pm on BBC Group H: Portugal vs Ghana (Stadium 974) at 4pm on ITVGroup G: Brazil vs Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium), at 7pm on BBC
Friday November 25
Group B: Wales vs Iran (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium) at 10am on BBC Group A: Qatar vs Senegal (Al Thumama Stadium) at 1pm on BBC Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador (Khalifa International Stadium) at 4pm on ITVGroup B: England vs USA (Al Bayt Stadium) at 7pm on ITV
Saturday November 26
Group C: Tunisia vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium) at 10am on BBC Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia (Education City Stadium) at 1pm on ITVGroup D: France vs Denmark (Stadium 974) at 4pm on ITVGroup C: Argentina vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 7pm on ITV
Sunday November 27
Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium) at 10am on ITVGroup F: Belgium vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium) at 1pm on BBC Group F: Croatia vs Canada (Khalifa International Stadium) at 4pm on BBC Group E: Spain vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium) at 7pm on BBC
Monday November 28
Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia (Al Janoub Stadium) at 10am on ITVGroup G: South Korea vs Ghana (Education City Stadium) at 1pm on BBC Group H: Brazil vs Switzerland (Stadium 974) at 4pm on ITVGroup H: Portugal vs Uruguay (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 7pm on ITV
Tuesday November 29
Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar (Al Bayt Stadium) at 3pm on ITVGroup A: Ecuador vs Senegal (Khalifa International Stadium) at 3pm on ITVGroup B: Wales vs England (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium) at 7pm on BBC Group B: Iran vs USA (Al Thumama Stadium) at 7pm on BBC
Wednesday November 30
Group D: Australia vs Denmark (Al Janoub Stadium) at 3pm on BBC Group D: Tunisia vs France (Education City Stadium) at 3pm on BBC Group C: Poland vs Argentina (Stadium 974) at 7pm on BBC Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 7pm on BBC
Thursday December 1
Group F: Croatia vs Belgium (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium) at 3pm on BBC Group F: Canada vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium) at 3pm) on BBC Group E: Costa Rica vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium) at 7pm on ITVGroup E: Japan vs Spain (Khalifa International Stadium) at 7pm on ITV
Friday, December 2
Group G: South Korea vs Portugal (Education City Stadium) at 3pm on BBC Group G: Ghana vs Uruguay (Al Janoub Stadium) at 3pm on BBC Group H: Serbia vs Switzerland (Stadium 974) at 7pm on ITVGroup H: Cameroon vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 7pm on ITV
*knockout matches yet to be announced
Round of 16
Saturday December 3
Group A winners vs Group B Runners-up (Khalifa International Stadium) at 3pm (game 49)Group C winners vs Group D Runners-up (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium at 7pm (game 50)
Sunday December 4
Group D winners vs Group C Runners-up (Al Thumama Stadium) at 3pm (game 51)Group B winners vs Group A Runners-up (Al Bayt Stadium) at 7pm (game 52)
Monday December 5
Group E winners vs Group F Runners-up (Al Janoub Stadium) at 3pm (game 53)Group G winners vs Group H Runners-up (Stadium 974) at 7pm (game 54)
Tuesday December 6
Group F winners vs Group E Runners-up (Education City Stadium) at 3pm (game 55)Group H winners vs Group G Runners-up (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 7pm (game 56)
Quarter-finals
Friday December 9
Winners of game 53 vs Winners of game 54 (Education City Stadium) at 3pm (game 58)Winners of game 49 vs Winners of game 50 (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 7pm (game 57)
Saturday December 10
Winners of game 55 vs Winners of game 56 (Al Thumama Stadium) at 3pm (game 60)Winners of game 51 vs Winners of game 52 (Al Bayt Stadium) at 7pm (game 59)
Semi-finals
Tuesday December 13
Winners of game 57 vs Winners of game 58 (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 7pm
Wednesday December 14
Winners of game 59 vs Winners of game 60 (Al Bayt Stadium) at 7pm
Saturday December 17
Third place play-off (Khalifa International Stadium) at 3pm
Final
Sunday December 18
World Cup final (Lusail Iconic Stadium) at 3pm
