Everything you need to know about the #WorldCup2022: 64 games in Qatar before a country is crowned the winner

The Netherlands and Senegal will kick-off the World Cup finals on November 21 after Fifa confirmed the match schedule for the group stages.

Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal and three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands will meet in Group A showdown at the Al Thumama Stadium at 2pm (UAE), before hosts Qatar face Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium at 8pm. 

England will also be in action on the opening day as they launch their quest against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium, with the Group B fixture kicking off at 5pm. Group rivals the United States meet either Scotland, Wales or Ukraine in the day’s late fixture, which gets under way at 11pm.

Holders France are in action the day after, when they will face either United Arab Emirates, Australia or Peru in Group D at the Al Janoub Stadium in the late kick-off, while Christian Eriksen’s Denmark open against Tunisia at the Education City Stadium earlier the same day.

Favourites Brazil do not play until Thursday, November 24, when they meet Serbia in Group G at the Lusail Stadium in an 11pm kick-off.

Belgium, the team Brazil replaced at the top of Fifa’s ranking table earlier, play for the first time at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 23 against Group F rivals Canada, who have made the finals for the first time in 36 years.

The tournament will see Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in action for the first time on November 24, with Ghana their opponents at Stadium 974.

Group stage fixtures

Monday, November 21

Group A

Senegal v Netherlands — Al Thumama Stadium (2pm UAE)

Qatar v Ecuador — Al Bayt Stadium (8pm)

Group B

England v Iran — Khalifa International Stadium (5pm)

USA v Wales/Scotland/Ukraine — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (11pm)

Tuesday, November 22

Group C

Argentina v Saudi Arabia — Lusail Stadium (2pm)

Mexico v Poland — Stadium 974 (8pm)

Group D

Denmark v Tunisia — Education City Stadium (5pm)

France v Peru/UAE/Australia — Al Janoub Stadium (11pm)

Wednesday, November 23

Group E

Germany v Japan — Khalifa International Stadium (5pm)

Spain v Costa Rica/New Zealand — Al Thumama Stadium (8pm)

Group F

Morocco v Croatia — Al Bayt Stadium (2pm)

Belgium v Canada — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, (11pm)

Thursday, November 24

Group G

Switzerland v Cameroon — Al Janoub Stadium (2pm)

Brazil v Serbia — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Group H

Uruguay v South Korea — Education City Stadium (5pm)

Portugal v Ghana — Stadium 974 (8pm)

Friday, November 25

Group A

Qatar v Senegal — Al Thumama Stadium (5pm)

the Netherlands v Ecuador — Khalifa International Stadium (8pm)

Group B

Wales/Scotland/Ukraine v Iran — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (2pm)

England v USA — Al Bayt Stadium, (11pm)

Saturday, November 26

Group C

Poland v Saudi Arabia — Education City Stadium (5pm)

Argentina v Mexico — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Group D

Tunisia v Peru/UAE/Australia — Al Janoub Stadium (2pm)

France v Denmark — Stadium 974 (8pm)

Sunday, November 27

Group E

Japan v Costa Rica/New Zealand — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (2pm)

Spain v Germany — Al Bayt Stadium (11pm)

Group F

Belgium v Morocco — Al Thumama Stadium (5pm)

Croatia v Canada — Khalifa International Stadium (8pm)

Monday, November 28

Group G

Cameroon v Serbia — Al Janoub Stadium (2pm)

Brazil v Switzerland — Stadium 974 (8pm)

Group H

South Korea v Ghana — Education City Stadium (5pm)

Portugal v Uruguay — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Tuesday, November 29

Group A

Netherlands v Qatar — Al Bayt Stadium (7pm)

Ecuador v Senegal — Khalifa International Stadium (7pm)

Group B

Iran v USA — Al Thumama Stadium (11pm)

Wales/Scotland/Ukraine v England — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (11pm)

Wednesday, November 30

Group C

Poland v Argentina — Stadium 974 (11pm)

Saudi Arabia v Mexico — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Group D

Peru/UAE/Australia v Denmark — Al Janoub Stadium (7pm)

Tunisia v France — Education City Stadium (7pm)

Thursday, December 1

Group E

Japan v Spain — Khalifa International Stadium (11pm)

Costa Rica/New Zealand v Germany — Al Bayt Stadium (11pm)

Group F

Croatia v Belgium — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (7pm)

Canada v Morocco — Al Thumama Stadium (7pm)

Friday, December 2

Group G

Serbia v Switzerland — Stadium 974 (11pm)

Cameroon v Brazil — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Group H

Ghana v Uruguay — Al Janoub Stadium (7pm)

South Korea v Portugal — Education City Stadium (7pm)

Round of 16

Saturday, December 3

Match 49 — Group A winner v Group B runner-up — Khalifa International Stadium (7pm)

Match 50 — Group C winner v Group D runner-up — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (11pm)

Sunday, December 4

Match 51 — Group B winner v Group A runner-up — Al Bayt Stadium (11pm)

Match 52 — Group D winner v Group C runner-up — Al Thumama Stadium (7pm)

Monday, December 5

Match 53 — Group E winner v Group F runner-up — Al Janoub Stadium, (7pm)

Match 54 — Group G winner v Group H runner-up — Stadium 947, (11pm)

Tuesday, December 6

Match 55 — Group F winner v Group E runner-up — Education City Stadium (7pm)

Match 56 — Group H winner v Group G runner-up — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Quarter-finals

Friday, December 9

Match 57 — Match 49 winner v Match 50 winner — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Match 58 — Match 53 winner v Match 54 winner — Education City Stadium (7pm)

Saturday, December 10

Match 59 — Match 51 winner v Match 52 winner — Al Bayt Stadium (11pm)

Match 60 — Match 55 winner v Match 56 winner — Al Thumama Stadium (7pm)

Semi-finals

Tuesday, December 13

Match 61 — Match 57 winner v Match 58 winner — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Wednesday, December 14

Match 62 — Match 59 winner v Match 60 winner — Al Bayt Stadium (11pm)

Third-place play-off

Saturday, December 17

Match 63 — Khalifa International Stadium (7pm)

World Cup Final

Sunday, December 18

Match 64 — Lusail Stadium (7pm)