When Is the FIFA World Cup?
This year, the FIFA World Cup will take place from November 20 to December 18. This is the first year that the World Cup will not be held in the early summer months, thanks to the extreme heat in Qatar.
The World Cup will include 32 qualified teams divided into eight groups. These teams will match up against each other for a total of 64 games before a winner is crowned. As a result, spectators will have ample opportunity to see the top talent in the world go head-to-head with each other.
Unlike previous years, the entire first round of group stage games is completely scheduled with the match times and stadiums already set. Setting a plan to see the matchups you want has never been easier. The group matches will last through December 2 until the field of teams narrows down to the round of 16. You can find the entire schedule of World Cup games here.
Where Are the FIFA World Cup Games Taking Place?
For the first time, Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup. Qatar is a small peninsula country in the Middle East bordering Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula. Despite its small size, Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world in both GDP and culture.
World Cup games this year will be taking place in eight stadiums spread out among five cities across Qatar. The 2022 host stadiums are:
- Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
- Al Bayt Stadium
- Al Janoub Stadium
- Al Thumama Stadium
- Education City Stadium
- Khalifa International Stadium
- Lusail Stadium
- Stadium 974
Four of the above stadiums are located near the capital of Doha, while the cities Al Wakrah, Lusail, Al Khor, and Al Rayyan each host one stadium. All the host cities are on the Eastern portion of the Qatar Peninsula, and the farthest distance between any two cities is about an hour’s drive, making travel between each stadium reasonably simple.