NEW - 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage draw: Opening match Date,venues
On November 21, hosts Qatar will face Ecuador in Al Khor in the tournament's opening game. The remaining group-stage matches' kick-off times and venues have yet to be determined.
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Peru/Australia/UAE, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica/New Zealand, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Holders France, who could face England in the quarter-finals if both sides win their groups, were drawn in Group D alongside Denmark and Tunisia, and will begin their defense against the winners of Intercontinental play-off 1 - the United Arab Emirates, Australia, or Peru.
Meanwhile, 2010 winners Spain and 2014 winners Germany were placed in Group E with Japan and one of Costa Rica or New Zealand - who will compete in the second Intercontinental play-off later this year.
Four-time champions Brazil has been grouped with Switzerland, Serbia, and Cameroon, all of whom they faced at the same stage in 2018. Argentina, the Selecao's main rival, was pitted against Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland.
Louis van Gaal, who has criticized the decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar, will face the hosts with his Netherlands side in Group A, which also includes Ecuador and Senegal, the African Cup of Nations champions
Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, will face Uruguay, Canada, and South Korea, while Belgium, ranked second in the world, will face Ghana, Morocco, and Croatia.
The group stage runs from November 21 to December 2.
The Round of 16 will take place from December 3rd to December 6th.
December 9/10: Quarter-finals
Semi-finals: December 13/14.
The deadline is December 18.
When will the games begin?
FIFA has confirmed that the first two rounds of matches will begin at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. local time (10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm in the United Kingdom).
The final round of group games and knockout-round matches will begin at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. local time, respectively (3pm and 7pm UK time).
The final is set to begin at 6 p.m. local time.
What are the venues ?
The group games will be held at the following venues: Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Education City Stadium, and Al Janoub Stadium.
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