FIFA World Cup 2022 Fixtures

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The biggest competition in the soccer world is on its way this year – with a few first-time changes in place. The FIFA World Cup 2022 takes place in Qatar this November. This makes it the first time the event has not taken place in the traditional months of June and July. This guide will take you through all the FIFA World Cup 2022 fixtures.

With some notable names missing (Italy miss the tournament for the second time in a row) and some notable countries taking part, such as Canada for the first time since 1986, it’s set to be another hugely entertaining sporting spectacle.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Fixtures

All eyes will be on the group stages in the first instance, with teams seeded according to their world ranking with FIFA, the world football governing body. Reigning champions France will be hoping to win their third World Cup title after also winning back in 1998.

The World Cup always draws massive crowds, massive viewers and massive talking points. Think Maradona’s famous Hand of God goal or Zidane’s headbutt in the 2006 final – so be sure not to miss it.

Check out the 2022 FIFA World Cup fixtures below for the first games of some of the biggest national teams in the world. You can also check the latest team standings in our live World Cup ladder.

How to watch the soccer World Cup 2022 in Qatar

If you want to watch the World Cup 2022 this November live in Australia, SBS have the exclusive rights to all fixtures in the tournament. Their free to air service will be the place to watch all 64 live games throughout the first World Cup in the Middle East. 

Watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 on SBS

Following Optus Sports’ coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, SBS will be the exclusive broadcaster of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This makes the largest football event accessible to everyone, making Australian audiences the biggest victors of the competition.

SBS also has a dedicated streaming service that allows you to watch the World Cup on the go on your smartphone or other compatible devices. This means you don’t have to miss a single game. It is quite easy to create an account with SBS, and there is no cost involved. You can access the multitude of content in the SBS library by simply clicking on the “SIGN IN/CREATE AN ACCOUNT” option at the top of the SBS homepage and providing the requested information.

Stream select World Cup 2022 replays with Kayo Sports 

Although they don’t have exclusive rights to the World Cup in Qatar, Kayo Sports is a great option for football fans. Though you won’t have access to every single live game, there will be plenty of replays, reactions and World Cup-related shows to access thanks to Kayo’s link with BeIN Sports. So there’s no danger of missing out on all the action, with more football tournaments available through Kayo.

Kayo offer a 7-day free trial for customers that you can take advantage of throughout the World Cup, before subscribing to a basic ($25/month) or premium ($35/month) plan.

World Cup 2022 Preview

The 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar is scheduled to be the 22nd running of the competition that dates all the way back to 1930. The event takes place every four years and is home to some of the most entertaining football matches in history.

Reigning champions France will be looking to be only the xx team to defend their crown, with a host of countries including Brazil, England and Germany all hoping to battle it out for the prestigious golden trophy. Euro 2020 victors Italy have missed out in qualifying for a World Cup for the second consecutive tournament for the first time in their history – but they aren’t the only ones not heading to Qatar.

World-known stars such as Mohammad Salah, Erling Haaland, David Alaba and Jorginho will not be at the World Cup as their countries failed to qualify.

There is a possible last-chance saloon for the two best players the world has ever seen, however, as both Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal have qualified – in what could be each of the star players’ last opportunity to lift the trophy for their country.

Where is the World Cup being played?

The World Cup in 2022 is taking part in Qatar this November. It is the first time an Arab country has hosted the famous soccer tournament – and the first time the event has been moved into the western winter months, beginning at the end of November.

There have been various questions over the human rights record of Qatar in the awarding of – and build-up to – the World Cup later this year. Similar to how Saudi Arabia has been questioned in hosting the Formula One race over the past couple of years, there have been concerns raised by western countries about attempts of ‘sports-washing,’ where countries attempt to paper over poor human rights records by hosting globally-loved, lavish sporting events.

Who will win the World Cup?

It’s always a tough one to call, but the World Cup has traditionally gone to the most consistent – and often most defensively sound – team. There have been a few surprises in its history –  such as when West Germany defeated hugely talented favourites Hungary in the final in 1954 – but generally one of the biggest teams headed into the tournament has come out on top.

Check out our three teams to watch below:

Brazil

Brazil have endured a tough time in recent years but this qualifying period for them has been almost perfect – recording 14 wins and 3 draws, going undefeated and topping their qualifying by 6 points ahead of Argentina, they could definitely reclaim their coveted crown. 

Having won the World Cup a record 5 times, they’ll be hoping to make it 6 with their talisman Neymar leading them to glory.

England

England have long been mooted to win a World Cup again since their famous victory in 1966 – but it’s yet to happen. Their famed ‘golden generation’ that contained the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard failed to live up to their expectation and they never reached past the quarter finals.

That’s all changed in recent years under manager Gareth Southgate, as they reached the semi-finals in the last World Cup and came runners-up in the last major event, Euro 2020. Can they go one better this time around?

Canada

Canada could very well be dark horses of the tournament. We’re not quite saying they’ll win the trophy by all means, but what they’ve achieved has been nothing short of fantastic. With English head coach John Herdman – who formerly worked in New Zealand and won two bronze medals with the Canadian women’s national soccer team – they have undergone a bit of a resurgence in recent years.

With star players such as Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Lille striker Jonathan David in their squad, it could be an exciting spectacle to see them in action.

What time of day will the World Cup be played?

With the World Cup taking place in the Middle East, the matches will be played between 1:00 pm and 10:00 pm local time – which works out between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am in Australia. While some games might be easy to stay up for, others might be difficult to catch on live TV – making streaming replays and highlights an excellent option.

How many teams are in World Cup 2022?

In the 2022 World Cup, a total of 32 teams will compete. The first World Cup to feature 32 teams was held in France in 1998. For the 2026 World Cup, which will be held jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the number of qualifying teams will be increased to 48.

Why has the World Cup changed to November?

Among some of the human rights questions raised by hosting the tournament in the Middle East, another area of concern was how the World Cup would be hosted in such a hot country in the Middle East. Average high temperatures in usual World Cup months for Qatar is well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, often tipping 120 – which would have caused significant health concerns for players.

Switching the tournament to cooler months was initially met with a bit of resistance, but ultimately the decision has been made.

Why is Qatar World Cup controversial?

The World Cup 2022 being held in Qatar is seen as controversial due to a lot of human rights concerns – such as the mistreatment of migrant workers – and there has been lots of opposition to the event taking place there.

Qatar promoted their World Cup as a show of representing the Arab world, with many other Arab countries supporting their bid – and have also stated they hope it bridges the gap from the West to the Arab world.

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