Today, Sunday, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is officially starting in Qatar, lasting until December 18, making it the first World Cup hosted in an Arab and Muslim country. Hundreds of thousands of fans from various countries have flocked to Doha to attend this global event, while hundreds of millions around the world will tune in today for the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador.
The State of Qatar and FIFA confirmed their complete readiness for the event, asserting that all procedures are in place. They emphasized that this edition will be historic and exceptional in terms of infrastructure, organizational aspects, and match conditions, incorporating advanced technologies and services being used for the first time in World Cup history.
Yesterday, Al Bidda Park in Doha hosted the official opening of the fan festival for the World Cup, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the launch of the festival, wishing the audience enjoyment of the Qatar World Cup festivities. Infantino stated that the tournament represents an opportunity for coexistence among peoples to enhance the spread of football culture worldwide.
In a press conference held earlier in Doha, Infantino condemned the criticisms related to the World Cup, describing them as moral lessons reflecting hypocrisy. He said, “We have heard many moral lessons from Europeans and from Western countries. I am a European citizen, and I believe that what we Europeans have done over the past 3,000 years, we should apologize for over the next 3,000 years before we give lessons to others.”
At the same time, the FIFA President confirmed that Qatar is fully prepared to host the best World Cup, and that the organizers are ready to provide a safe atmosphere for fans. He also noted that Qatar has made significant progress in protecting workers' rights and that he is aware of the advancements made in Doha in the field of human rights.
Here are the groups:
- **Group A:** Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
- **Group B:** England, Iran, USA, Wales
- **Group C:** Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- **Group D:** France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- **Group E:** Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- **Group F:** Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- **Group G:** Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- **Group H:** Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
**Here is the complete match schedule (Doha time):**
**Group Stage (Doha time)**
- **Sunday, November 20**
- 19:00 Qatar – Ecuador (Al Bayt Stadium)
- **Monday, November 21**
- **Group A:**
- 19:00 Senegal - Netherlands (Al Thumama)
- **Group B:**
- 16:00 England - Iran (Khalifa)
- 22:00 USA - Wales (Ahmad Bin Ali)
- **Tuesday, November 22**
- **Group C:**
- 13:00 Argentina - Saudi Arabia (Lusail)
- 19:00 Mexico – Poland (974)
- **Group D:**
- 16:00 Denmark - Tunisia (Education City)
- 22:00 France - Australia (Al Janoub)
- **Wednesday, November 23**
- **Group E:**
- 16:00 Germany - Japan (Khalifa)
- 19:00 Spain - Costa Rica (Al Thumama)
- **Group F:**
- 13:00 Morocco - Croatia (Al Bayt)
- 22:00 Belgium - Canada (Ahmad Bin Ali)
- **Thursday, November 24**
- **Group G:**
- 13:00 Switzerland - Cameroon (Al Janoub)
- 22:00 Brazil - Serbia (Lusail)
- **Group H:**
- 16:00 Uruguay - South Korea (Education City)
- 19:00 Portugal - Ghana (974)
- **Friday, November 25**
- **Group A:**
- 16:00 Qatar - Senegal (Al Thumama)
- 19:00 Netherlands - Ecuador (Khalifa)
- **Group B:**
- 13:00 Wales - Iran (Ahmad Bin Ali)
- 22:00 England - USA (Al Bayt)
- **Saturday, November 26**
- **Group C:**
- 16:00 Poland - Saudi Arabia (Education City)
- 22:00 Argentina - Mexico (Lusail)
- **Group D:**
- 13:00 Tunisia - Australia (Al Janoub)
- 19:00 France - Denmark (974)
- **Sunday, November 27**
- **Group E:**
- 13:00 Japan - Costa Rica (Ahmad Bin Ali)
- 22:00 Spain - Germany (Al Bayt)
- **Group F:**
- 16:00 Belgium - Morocco (Al Thumama)
- 19:00 Croatia - Canada (Khalifa)
- **Monday, November 28**
- **Group G:**
- 13:00 Cameroon - Serbia (Al Janoub)
- 19:00 Brazil - Switzerland (974)
- **Group H:**
- 16:00 South Korea - Ghana (Education City)
- 22:00 Portugal - Uruguay (Lusail)
- **Tuesday, November 29**
- **Group A:**
- 18:00 Ecuador - Senegal (Khalifa)
- 18:00 Netherlands - Qatar (Al Bayt)
- **Group B:**
- 22:00 Iran - USA (Al Thumama)
- 22:00 Wales - England (Ahmad Bin Ali)
- **Wednesday, November 30**
- **Group C:**
- 22:00 Poland – Argentina (974)
- 22:00 Saudi Arabia - Mexico (Lusail)
- **Group D:**
- 18:00 Australia - Denmark (Al Janoub)
- 18:00 Tunisia - France (Education City)
- **Thursday, December 1**
- **Group E:**
- 22:00 Japan - Spain (Khalifa)
- 22:00 Costa Rica - Germany (Al Bayt)
- **Group F:**
- 18:00 Canada - Morocco (Al Thumama)
- 18:00 Croatia - Belgium (Ahmad Bin Ali)
- **Friday, December 2**
- **Group G:**
- 22:00 Serbia - Switzerland (974)
- 22:00 Cameroon - Brazil (Lusail)
- **Group H:**
- 18:00 Ghana - Uruguay (Al Janoub)
- 18:00 South Korea - Portugal (Education City)
**Round of 16:**
- **Saturday, December 3**
- Match 49 (18:00) Group A Winner - Group B Runner-up (Khalifa)
- Match 50 (22:00) Group C Winner - Group D Runner-up (Ahmad Bin Ali)
- **Sunday, December 4**
- Match 52 (18:00) Group D Winner - Group C Runner-up (Al Thumama)
- Match 51 (22:00) Group B Winner - Group A Runner-up (Al Bayt)
- **Monday, December 5**
- Match 53 (18:00) Group E Winner - Group F Runner-up (Al Janoub)
- Match 54 (22:00) Group G Winner - Group H Runner-up (974)
- **Tuesday, December 6**
- Match 55 (18:00) Group F Winner - Group E Runner-up (Education City)
- Match 56 (22:00) Group H Winner - Group G Runner-up (Lusail)
**Quarter-finals:**
- **Friday, December 9**
- Match 58 (18:00) Winner Match 53 - Winner Match 54 (Education City)
- Match 57 (22:00) Winner Match 49 - Winner Match 50 (Lusail)
- **Saturday, December 10**
- Match 60 (18:00) Winner Match 55 - Winner Match 56 (Al Thumama)
- Match 59 (22:00) Winner Match 51 - Winner Match 52 (Al Bayt)
**Semi-finals:**
- **Tuesday, December 13**
- Match 61 (22:00) Winner Match 57 - Winner Match 58 (Lusail)
- **Wednesday, December 14**
- Match 62 (22:00) Winner Match 59 - Winner Match 60 (Al Bayt)
**Third Place Playoff:**
- **Saturday, December 17**
- Match 63 (18:00) Loser Match 61 - Loser Match 62 (Khalifa)
**Final:**
- **Sunday, December 18**
- Match 64 (22:00) Winner Match 61 - Winner Match 62 (Lusail).
