The World Cup 2022 Match Schedule - Making the Most of Your Tournament Experience

Preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have been steaming ahead for some time. Despite the inevitable hold-ups brought about by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, more than 90% of the World Cup infrastructure and over 85% of stadium work has been completed. In terms of World Cup venues, transportation (Doha has a brand new Metro and a vastly improved road system in place for the tournament), accommodation and entertainment, Qatar is ready to welcome its footballing playing and game-loving guests. And, adding to the sense of anticipation has been the recent release of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Match Schedule.

Match Schedule

The Match Schedule, while unable to assign matches to particular venues until after the Finals draw in March 2022, does provide a host of information:

The first match of the tournament will kick-off in Al Khor’s 60,000 capacity arena, Al Bayt Stadium, on the 21st November 2022. The Final will be played nearly a month later on the 18th December at the 80,000 seat Lusail Stadium.

The Group Stage matches, held from the 21st November to the 2nd December, will be played across all of Qatar’s eight World Cup stadiums - Al Bayt, Al Janoub, Al Rayyan, Al Thumama, Education City, Khalifa International, Lusail and Ras Abu Aboud.

At the Group Stage, four matches per day are scheduled. And, with the stadiums located in a radius of less than 60 km, fans and media in Qatar for the tournament may attend an unprecedented number of matches in a single day.

Early matches during the Group Stages start at 1 pm, local time. The final and fourth match of the day starts at 10 pm, finishing just before midnight.

Following on from the Group Stage matches, the winning teams will then play the Round of 16 for eight places in the Quarter-Finals. Two matches per day, over four days (3rd - 6th December), will be held in the evenings, 6 pm and 10 pm. Games will be held across all of the stadiums.

Eight teams will then play the Quarter-Finals across Friday 9th and Saturday 10th December for places in the Semi-Finals. Matches scheduled for either 6 pm or 10 pm will be held at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Education City Stadium and Lusail Stadium.

The four prevailing teams will compete in the Semi-Finals for the coveted two places at the Final. Lusail and Al Bayt stadiums will host the semis on the 13th and 14th December, respectively, in the evenings (10 pm).

And, the Final match at Lusail has a start time of 6 pm.

The 3rd Place match will kick-off at 6 pm on the 17th December at Khalifa International Stadium.

The Match Schedule set-up means that there will be lots of daily action for fans to watch. Still, with the combination of rest days (before the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the Final) and short travel distances to and from stadiums, teams will not be overstretched.

Around the World

The planned kick-off times around the world are relatively kind to most spectators allowing fans to turn on their TVs and watch their teams playing during reasonable daytime hours. Though, as always, for some, there are a few late-night and pre-dawn viewings. Generally, countries in Eastern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the west coast of Northern America, and the Pacific Islands will have to set their alarm clocks for this tournament.

Making the Most of It

In 2015, the 2022 World Cup was rescheduled from the summer months to the winter season. Though Qatar has built innovative air-conditioned stadiums to ensure player and spectator comfort whatever the weather, the oppressive heat during June and July was deemed too hot for the tournament experience outside of the stadiums. With the change in tournament dates, visitors will be able to make the most of their time in Qatar and experience all the country has to offer alongside the festival of football.

So what can you get up to when you’re not following the Match Schedule?

Attractions

For the first time, the World cup tournament is being held in a Middle Eastern country. So it is a golden opportunity, not only watch football but also to explore the country and its culture.

In the city, you can visit a host of museums and art galleries, mosques, souqs and heritage sites - all proudly boasting of Qatar's culture (old and new), history and tradition. The city also offers a myriad of parks, beaches, promenades and marinas to wander around, and any number of restaurants and cafes. Or, if you prefer a modern, air-conditioned and ultimate shopping experience, any of Doha's Malls would be an ideal option. Malls provide so many indoor activities you could easily spend an entire day there and still not see and do everything on offer.

Winter in Qatar is the best season for heading outdoors, and there are plenty of attractions on offer. You can get involved in a multitude of outdoor sports - dune bashing, sandboarding, skydiving, kayaking, scuba diving and sailing. You can watch a good many others - camel racing, falcon hunting, horse racing, cricket, tennis, motorsports, etc. There is also an Aqua Park just outside of Doha's city limits. And, for a totally immersive experience, visiting one of Qatar's open-air festivals and events would be just the ticket.

Winter is also a perfect time of year to get out of the city and camping in the desert. If you’re happy to head out of the city, then you can always try exploring Qatar’s less well-known natural environment, and its heritage and archaeological sites. And, with a lengthy coastline, there are also plenty of beaches, coves and islands to discover.

In the evenings, taking a stroll outside will offer an alternative perspective of the city. After dark parks fill up with families picnicking, kids playing and people relaxing and socialising outdoors. Night markets, souqs, cafes and restaurants buzz with people until around midnight.

If you are staying in a hotel, don't miss the attractions on your doorstep. In Qatar, many of the hotels pride themselves on the range of facilities that they provide. These include beautiful pools and manicured beaches, spa facilities, bars and clubs, as well as mount-watering brunches, afternoon teas and business lunches.

And, don't forget to explore the stadiums and their surroundings. Each stadium has been built in a unique spot and is designed to reflect an aspect of Qatari culture.

For detailed information about Qatar’s many attractions, delve into our Explore Qatar section of the website.

Getting Around

All of Qatar’s World Cup venues, attractions and accommodation are within easy reach - just a short ride away in a car, taxi, bus or on the Metro and light rail systems!

Indeed, Qatar is a small country. Doha, the capital city, is centrally located very close to the Hamad International Airport. Of the eight World Cup stadiums, seven are located within a few kilometres of the city centre, only one (Al Bayt) is further out...only about 45 minutes away from Doha!

Fans, football teams, officials and the media at the World Cup will spend very little time travelling. Everything is within a stone's throw. There will be time and opportunity for everyone to enjoy both the football and the attractions offered by Qatar.

So, time to get planning to enjoy your 2022 World Cup experience to the full…

To find out what transport is available in Qatar and detailed ‘how to’ information, explore our Transport pages under the Your Stay section of the website.