The stage is set and all roads lead to Qatar, as we eagerly await thrilling action from the most prestigious football competition in the world – the FIFA World Cup. This year’s edition promises to be iconic, and football lovers all over the world are already buzzing in excitement.
Here, we will cover all key details surrounding FIFA World Cup 2022.
Why is FIFA World Cup 2022 special?
The buzz around this year’s FIFA World Cup has been electrifying. The last time we saw such a build to a World Cup event was in the lead-up to FIFA World Cup 2010, held in South Africa. Similar to 2010, this year’s edition is full of firsts.
FIFA World Cup 2022 will be the first time a Middle Eastern country will host this prestigious event, and the first time Qatar will host an event of this magnitude. To ensure a seamless World Cup event, the attention to detail that organizers have been putting in has been nothing short of amazing.
Without a doubt, Qatar is doing everything possible to leave a lasting impression. So far, observers have certainly been impressed with the preparations.
This will also be the first time that a World Cup event is not held in the summer. Due to the extremely hot temperatures in Qatar during the summer, FIFA World Cup 2022 is instead going to take place between November 21 and December 18.
Which teams have qualified so far for Qatar 2022?
The tournament will involve 32 teams from six Confederations. This will be the last time that 32 teams will participate in the World Cup, as plans have been made for the number of teams to increase to 48, beginning with World Cup 2026 and onward.
Due to the Russia and Ukraine unrest, some qualifier games are still in play. However, most of the competing teams from different Confederations have already been placed in their specific groups.
The table below contains the qualified teams and their respective groups in the 2022 World Cup.
| Group | Team 1 | Team 2 | Team 3 | Team 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Qatar | Ecuador | Senegal | Netherlands |
| B | England | Iran | USA | European Playoff Winner |
| C | Argentina | Saudi Arabia | Mexico | Poland |
| D | France | Intercontinental Playoff 1 Winner | Denmark | Tunisia |
| E | Spain | Intercontinental Playoff 2 Winner | Germany | Japan |
| F | Belgium | Canada | Morocco | Croatia |
| G | Brazil | Serbia | Switzerland | Cameroon |
| H | Portugal | Ghana | Uruguay | South Korea |
- Three groups still have yet to be filled: Group B, Group D and Group E.
- The Group B spot will be occupied by either Wales, Ukraine or Scotland.
- Moving to Group D, the open spot is left for either Australia, UAE or Peru to occupy.
In Group E, the spot to be occupied is left blank for either Costa Rica or New Zealand.
Recently, pundits have referred to Group E as the “group of death”; informed by the fact that two World Cup-winning nations are in the group – Spain and Germany. These two nations are to be paired against each other, promising to make their match one of the most exciting fixtures on the group stage. However, given their team’s history in the World Cup, it should be noted that Japan is no small fish in the pond.
By all indications, Group E is one group to look out for at the 2022 World Cup.
Biggest names to watch out for at the 2022 World Cup
One factor that always makes the World Cup stand out is the experience of getting to watch the best players from each continent compete on the same stage. This is a rarity that makes the global showpiece one of the most anticipated sporting competitions in the world.
As with other World Cup competitions, there are many top-flight players to look out for in the upcoming tournament, including.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Similarly to Ronaldo, The eight-time Ballon D’Or winner will be gracing the World Cup tournament for the last time, which brews high expectations. Having suffered a drop in form since his move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), we are looking at Messi to remind us of his genius at this World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo has so far defined himself to be a big-game player – not only on club stages, but equally on national stages. For years, Ronaldo has been instrumental in helping Portugal qualify for different World Cup tournaments. We expect to see him give his absolute best this time around, as this could be his last World Cup appearance.
Harry Kane (England)
Over the years, the England captain has proven to be a top performer in national competitions. The tenacity he continues to display suggests that this tournament will be no different. Kane has scored 49 goals playing for England and ranks second on the list of highest goalscorers with the Three Lions, only behind Wayne Rooney with 53 goals. With just four goals separating him from top spot, it is not too tall of a dream to expect Kane to surpass Rooney’s record at this World Cup.
Luka Modric (Croatia)
Through Modric’s performance in the Champions League this season, he has proven that class is permanent. The Real Madrid star has always been a top performer when it comes to national competitions. As he features in his last World Cup tournament, we expect him to bring his playmaking brilliance to spice up the Croatian side.
Karim Benzema (France)
“The older the wine, the better it gets.” This has been the case for Benzema. Despite his age, the top-flight striker has been a relentless goalscorer. Playing on a star-studded French side, we expect to see a basket of cinematic goals from this Madridista. He is the current favourite to win this years’ Ballon d’Or, and a gold medal here could seal the deal for his quest.
Robert Lewandowski(Poland)
Lewandowski has proven to be the king on German soil and was recently awarded as the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year. Arguably the most prolific centre-forward of the past decade, he will also be playing his last World Cup tournament. With that in mind, we expect him to bring his A-game in order to leave a lasting impression.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
The PSG star clinched his first World Cup title at his first appearance, in 2018. The Frenchman became the youngest player in the modern era to win the World Cup – a feat conquered at just 18 years old. He is also the youngest player since Pele to score in a decisive World cup final game.
Many already see him as the heir to Ronaldo and Messi. Another triumph here could see him attain his own legendary status at a young age.
Neymar (Brazil)
By his own standards, Neymar has flopped for the majority of this season. However, he is one player that always hits full gear with his national team. We have seen Neymar shoulder much expectation on the national front. He has delivered so much that, without him on the pitch, Brazil often looks ordinary.
The above statement is further supported by his last performance at the Copa America tournament. We can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeves this time.
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Is he currently the best midfielder in world football? Many seem to think so. De Bruyne has proven himself at the club level, but, in national colours, certain let-down has been prevalent.
Yet again, he will be looking to prove himself yet at this 2022 World Cup. With a fully-stacked Belgium side to support his pursuit, De Bruyne will be eager to lead his side to glory in the upcoming competitions.
Where to Watch the World Cup Games?
To catch up with the Qatar 2022 action, there is a range of options available to you. Out of the many, two main sports apps will provide viewership of the tournament games: Fox Sports and NBC.
You can also explore streaming platforms like Hulu, FuboTV, and DirectTV. They each have provisions for the Fox Sports channel.
How to Watch the World Cup 2022 Without Cable from the UK, USA, and Canada?
For most people looking to catch up with the happenings at Qatar 2022, where to watch the competition could come as a major concern. This is because not many can afford to pay the fees charged by cable services and as such would prefer a cheaper alternative.
If you are one of those living in the UK, U.S or Canada who can’t afford the ridiculous subscription fees of these cable platforms and would rather save cost, then you are in luck. In this section of this article, we will be looking at affordable streaming platforms that offer Qatar 2022 events in the UK, U.S, and Canada.
How To Watch From UK
For the UK, most of the platforms that are authorized to show World Cup games are not affordable. However, the most accessible and affordable option in the UK is BBC iPlayer.
The BBC iPlayer is a popular streaming platform in the UK, that offers registered users a range of viewing services, ranging from TV Shows to Sports events. Thankfully, it is also projected to show the prospective World Cup games as well.
To have access to the platforms’ numerous services, all you have to do is sign up. Signing up takes less than five minutes and requires no charge from you.
Once your account is open, you can simply optimize the search icon to find the World Cup games that you would like to watch.
One impressive feature of this platform is that it allows you to connect to TV devices. This would come in handy if you are looking to view from a larger screen as opposed to your mobile devices.
To connect to a TV, it is advisable to check the site’s specifications for supported TV devices.
How To Watch From USA
If you are in the U.S, there are a truckload of affordable streaming sites that offer viewership of World Cup Games.
Fox Sports
Fox Sports is the most popular option you can find around as far as affordable streaming platforms in the U.S is concerned. This platform has always been the go-to option for sports enthusiasts in the U.S looking to watch their favourite games.
Gladly, the World Cup is also on the offer for events that would be available at Fox Sports. While it is free to download the app, to get access to the games, you are expected to pay for a monthly subscription. The monthly subscription that allows you to stream the World Cup games is about $50, which is very affordable when compared to cable charges in the U.S.
Peacock TV
Peacock TV is a popular live streaming service in the U.S that offers a range of services from news, tv shows to sports.
This streaming platform also has the Qatar 2022 World Cup events on its offer.
To get access to the platform, you are expected to download the app and sign up. This app is only available to those resident in the U.S.
As it is the case with Fox Sports, you will be required to pay a subscription charge to be able to get access to the World Cup events available.
FuboTV
This is one Live TV service that’s renowned for providing one of the best streaming services in the US.
The Fubo TV comes with a range of subscription packages that you can explore. However, the most affordable is the Starter which charges you $64. With the Starter package, you can have access to all of the FIFA World Cup games.
Sling TV
Sling TV is another popular TV streaming service that provides channels on different categories ranging from entertainment to live sports.
This TV service also allows you to catch up on World Cup games as well.
You can get access to the World Cup games at SlingTV for as low as $35.
Hulu TV
Hulu is a popular TV streaming platform that’s subscription-based. Though it is more popular for airing TV shows, it also allows you to have access to sports channels like Fox which makes it possible to watch the World Cup.
To get access to the diverse range of channels available on this platform, you will be required to pay $64 per month. It is very much worth it because it allows you access to 75 channels, including sports channels.
How To Watch From Canada
If you are in Canada, your best bet to watch live World Cup 2022 games is via the Fifa.com website.
Most of the options available in Canada are cable-based options. However, by watching on the Fifa website, you can have access to World Cup games from anywhere.
The most exciting thing about watching via this means is that it requires no charge from you. All you simply have to do is sign in and navigate through the World Cup games for the one you would like to watch.
If you are a resident in any of the three countries discussed above, we want to believe this section is exhaustive enough in covering all the options you have to stream the World Cup games without cable.
FIFA World Cup 2022 All Matches Time & TV schedule
Find out any Qatar World Cup Matches to watch on your TV in game time and TV Channels.
| Date | Matches | UK Time | UK TV Channel | US TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 21 November | Senegal vs Netherlands | 10 AM | ITV | |
| England vs Iran | 1 PM | BBC One | ||
| Qatar v Ecuador | 4 PM | BBC One | ||
| USA v Ukraine/Scotland/Wales | 7 PM | ITV | ||
| Tuesday 22 November | Argentina v Saudi Arabia | 10 AM | ITV | |
| Denmark v Tunisia | 1 PM | ITV | ||
| Mexico v Poland | 4 PM | BBC One | ||
| France v UAE/Australia/Peru | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Wednesday 23 November | Morocco v Croatia | 10 AM | ITV | |
| Germany v Japan | 1 PM | ITV | ||
| Spain v Costa Rica/New Zealand | 4 PM | ITV | ||
| Belgium v Canada | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Thursday 24 November | Switzerland v Cameroon | 10 AM | ITV | |
| Uruguay v South Korea | 1 PM | BBC One | ||
| Portugal v Ghana | 4 PM | ITV | ||
| Brazil v Serbia | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Friday 25 November | Ukraine/Scotland/Wales v Iran | 10 AM | BBC One | |
| Qatar v Senegal | 1 PM | BBC One | ||
| Netherlands v Ecuador | 4 PM | ITV | ||
| England v USA | 7 PM | ITV | ||
| Saturday 26th November | Tunisia v UAE/Australia/Peru | 10 AM | BBC One | |
| Poland v Saudi Arabia | 1 PM | ITV | ||
| France v Denmark | 4 PM | ITV | ||
| Argentina v Mexico | 7 PM | ITV | ||
| Sunday 27th November | Japan v Costa Rica/New Zealand | 10 AM | ITV | |
| Belgium v Morocco | 1 PM | BBC One | ||
| Croatia v Canada | 4 PM | BBC One | ||
| Spain v Germany | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Monday 28th November | Cameroon v Serbia | 10 AM | ITV | |
| South Korea v Ghana | 1 PM | BBC One | ||
| Brazil v Switzerland | 4 PM | ITV | ||
| Portugal v Uruguay | 7 PM | ITV | ||
| Tuesday 29th November | Ecuador v Senegal | 3 PM | ITV | |
| Netherlands v Qatar | 3 PM | ITV | ||
| Iran v United States | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Ukraine/Scotland/Wales v England | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Wednesday 30th November | Tunisia v France | 3 PM | BBC One | |
| UAE/Australia/Peru v Denmark | 3 PM | BBC One | ||
| Poland v Argentina | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Saudi Arabia v Mexico | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Thursday 1st December | Canada v Morocco | 4 PM | BBC One | |
| Croatia v Belgium | 4 PM | BBC One | ||
| Japan v Spain | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Costa Rica/New Zealand v Germany | 7 PM | BBC One | ||
| Friday 2nd December | Ghana v Uruguay | 4 PM | BBC One | |
| South Korea v Portugal | 4 PM | BBC One | ||
| Serbia v Switzerland | 7 PM | ITV | ||
| Cameroon v Brazil | 7 PM | ITV |
Selected Stadiums for Qatar 2022
For Qatar 2022, eight stadiums have been selected as designated venues. Out of the eight stadiums, five have been completed, while three are still under construction. It is projected that all three unfinished stadiums will be ready for use before the tournament commences, in November.
Lusail Iconic Stadium
With over 80,000-capacity, this stadium is iconic in every sense. It will showcase two noteworthy moments of the tournament – the opening and the final match.
Al Bayt Stadium
This stadium, located in Al Khor Qatar, has an average seat capacity of just over 60,000 seats. The stadium was completed in 2019 and turned out to be a monumental edifice.
Al Rayyan Stadium
Constructed in 2003, Al Rayyan is one of Qatar’s oldest stadiums and allows for a capacity of 40,000. Though it is currently under renovation, the finishing touches are expected to be completed in time for the tournament.
Al Wakrah
Al Wakrah is also under renovations. The stadium promises to be one of the finest stadiums in the world and will hold 40,000 seats.
Ras Abu Aboud Stadium
This 40,000-capacity stadium in Qatar was specifically built for this tournament. Interestingly, it has been designed with the intent to be pulled down after the World Cup.
Al Thumama Stadium
The unique architectural design of this stadium makes it stand out from the others. Construction of the stadium recently concluded in 2021. It holds a 40,000-capacity.
Khalifa International Stadium
This is the oldest stadium on the list of designated stadiums for Qatar 2022. The 40,000-capacity stadium was built in 1976 and has been a popular destination for a host of tournaments in Doha.
Education City Stadium
This 45,000-capacity stadium is located on the outskirts of Doha. It has been selected as the designated venue for the quarter-finals of Qatar 2022.
How to buy tickets for Qatar World Cup 2022
Tickets to watch games live at the World Cup can be purchased online via the official FIFA website. Any fan with an intention to buy tickets must register an account on FIFA’s ticket portal.
In the initial sales period, which ended on March 29th, over 800,000 tickets were sold. A large portion of the tickets were purchased by fans in England, Qatar, Mexico, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.
The second round of ticket sales concluded on April 29th. Meaning that, at the time of writing, at least one million tickets would have been sold. The ticketing format used for this phase was a “random selection draw sales period”.
There is to be a third and final round of ticket sales, which will take place later in the year, just before World Cup 2022 begins.
What to Expect from Qatar 2022?
There is a lot to look out for, but we’ll focus on the major factors that have the potential to shape the tournament.
- There is to be high usage of technology-inclined innovations – from the buildings’ technology to the even food technology – that will make for an exciting spectacle, even for neutrals.
- Noting the rich and unique culture of the Middle East, it will be interesting to see how the global world adapts to it in the midst of competition.
- As this is the first time the World Cup will be held in November, and during the club season, many are wondering how players will cope with the scheduling; switching from national team to club football almost immediately.
Summary
Having assessed what this edition of the World Cup holds so far, it promises to be exciting for the fans and players, alike. Qatar 2022 already has all the makings of a memorable World Cup event that will leave us talking about it for decades to come.
