Hyderabad: The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the first to be held in an Arab country, has kicked off with 32 teams vying for the ultimate glory. A last chance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Kylian Mbappe is back on the biggest stage of all. Brazil bidding for a record-extending sixth title. Here's what you should know as the world's largest sporting carnival is underway.
It's a one-stop place that provides the must-watchs, some food for thought and the results so far in which are embedded the match report so that you will not have to be on a constant click zone and search mode to find what matters the most. It's simple, read on:
The schedule (The timings are subject to changes):
November 20 -- Qatar vs Ecuador -- 9.30 PM -- Al Bayt Stadium (GROUP A)
Result: Ecuador beat Qatar
Read Full Match Report: FIFA opening shocker to host country: Ecuador trounces Qatar
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November 21 -- England vs Iran -- 6:30 PM -- Khalifa International Stadium (GROUP B)
Result: England beat Iran
Read Full Match Report: England crush Iran 6-2 in World Cup opener
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November 21 -- Senegal vs Netherlands 9:30 PM -- Al Thumama Stadium (GROUP A)
Result: Netherlands beat Senegal
Read Full Match Report: Netherlands strikes late to beat Senegal 2-0 at World Cup
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November 22 -- USA vs Wales -- 12:30 AM -- Al Rayyan Stadium (GROUP B)
Result: 1-1 draw between the two teams
Read Full Match Report: Bale salvages 1-1 draw for Wales against US in World Cup
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November 22 -- Argentina vs Saudi Arabia -- 3:30 PM Lusail Stadium (GROUP C)
Result: Saudi Arabia beat Argentina
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Saudi Arabia stun Argentina 2-1
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November 22 -- Denmark vs Tunisia -- 6:30 PM -- Education City Stadium (GROUP D)
Result: 0-0 draw
Read Full Match Report: Tunisia holds Denmark to 0-0 draw in Group D at World Cup
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November 22 -- Mexico vs Poland -- 9:30 PM -- Stadium 974 (GROUP C)
Result: 0-0 draw
Read Full Match Report: Mexico and Poland play out 0-0 draw at World Cup
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November 23 -- France vs Australia -- 12:30 AM -- Al Janoub Stadium (GROUP D)
Result: France beat Australia
Read Full Match Report: Giroud equals Thierry Henry's national record as France rout Australia 4-1 at FIFA World Cup
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November 23 -- Morocco vs Croatia -- 3:30 PM -- Al Bayt Stadium (GROUP F)
Result: 0-0 draw
Read Full Match Report: Another surprise as Morocco holds Croatia 0-0 at World Cup
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November 23 -- Germany vs Japan -- 6:30 PM -- Khalifa International Stadium (GROUP E)
Result: Japan beat Germany
Read Full Match Report: Japan scores shocking upset victory over Germany at FIFA World Cup 2022
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November 23 -- Spain vs Costa Rica -- 9.30 PM -- Al Thumama Stadium (GROUP E)
Result: Spain beat Costa Rica
Read Full Match Report: Young Spain squad routs Costa Rica 7-0 at World Cup
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November 24 -- Belgium vs Canada -- 12:30 AM -- Al Rayyan Stadium (GROUP F)
Result: Belgium beat Canada
Read Full Match Report: Belgium spoils Canada's World Cup return with 1-0 win
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November 24 -- Switzerland vs Cameroon -- 3:30 PM -- Al Janoub Stadium (GROUP G)
Result: Switzerland beat Cameroon
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Embolo scores as Switzerland pip Cameroon 1-0
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November 24 -- Uruguay vs South Korea -- 6.30 PM -- Education City Stadium (GROUP H)
Result: 0-0 draw
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: South Korea holds Uruguay to 0-0 draw
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November 24 -- Portugal vs Ghana -- 9:30 PM -- Stadium 974 (GROUP H)
Result: Portugal beat Ghana
Read Full Match Report: Ronaldo makes World Cup history, Portugal beats Ghana 3-2
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November 25 -- Brazil vs Serbia -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium (GROUP G)
Result: Brazil beat Serbia
Read Full Match Report: Richarlison's goals help Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 at World Cup
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November 25 -- Wales vs Iran -- 3:30 PM -- Al Rayyan Stadium (GROUP B)
Result: Iran beat Wales
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Cheshmi's late goal sends Iran to 2-0 win over Wales
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November 25 -- Qatar vs Senegal -- 6:30 PM -- Al Thumama Stadium (GROUP A )
Result: Senegal beat Qatar
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Qatar loses 3-1 to Senegal, host nearing WC exit
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November 25 -- Netherlands vs Ecuador -- 9:30 PM -- Khalifa International Stadium (GROUP A)
Result: 1-1 draw
Read Full Match Report: Valencia scores World Cup-best third goal in Ecuador draw
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November 26 -- England vs USA -- 12:30 AM -- Al Bayt Stadium (GROUP B)
Result: 0-0 draw
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup 2022: US frustrates England again with 0-0 draw
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November 26 -- Tunisia vs Australia -- 3:30 PM -- Al Janoub Stadium (GROUP D)
Result: Australia beat Tunisia
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Australia beat Tunisia 1-0 to revive its WC campaign
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November 26 -- Poland vs Saudi Arabia -- 6.30 PM -- Education City Stadium (GROUP C)
Result: Poland beat Saudi Arabia
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Lewandowski scores at World Cup, Poland beats Saudis 2-0
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November 26 -- France vs Denmark -- 9:30 PM-- Stadium 974 (GROUP D)
Result: France beat Denmark
Read Full Match Report: Mbappe scores 2, France reaches knockout stage of World Cup
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November 27 -- Argentina vs Mexico -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium (GROUP C)
Result: Argentina beat Mexico
Read Full Match Report: Messi leads Argentina to 2-0 win over Mexico at World Cup
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November 27 -- Japan vs Costa Rica -- 3:30 PM -- Al Rayyan Stadium (GROUP E)
Result: Costa Rica beat Japan
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Costa Rica rallies late to beat Japan 1-0 in Group E
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November 27 -- Belgium vs Morocco -- 6:30 PM -- Al Thumama Stadium (GROUP F)
Result: Morocco beat Belgium
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Morocco pulls off another tournament's upset, beats Belgium 2-0
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November 27 -- Croatia vs Canada -- 9:30 PM -- Khalifa International Stadium (GROUP F)
Result: Croatia beat Canada
Read Full Match Report: Croatia downs Canada 4-1 at World Cup on Kramaric's 2 goals
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November 28 -- Spain vs Germany -- 12:30 AM -- Al Bayt Stadium (GROUP E)
Result: 1-1 draw
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Late goal helps Germany draw 1-1 with Spain
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November 28 -- Cameroon vs Serbia -- 3.30 pm -- Al Janoub Stadium (GROUP G)
Result: 3-3 draw
Read Full Match Report: Cameroon stages World Cup comeback after dropping goalkeeper
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November 28 -- South Korea vs Ghana -- 6:30 PM -- Education City Stadium (GROUP H)
Result: Ghana beat South Korea
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November 28 -- Brazil vs Switzerland -- 6:30 PM -- Stadium 974 (GROUP G)
Result: Brazil beat Switzerland
Read Full Match Report: Without Neymar, Brazil edges Switzerland 1-0 at World Cup
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November 29 -- Portugal vs Uruguay -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium (GROUP H)
Result: Portugal beat Uruguay
Read Full Match Report: Portugal advances to last 16, beats Uruguay 2-0 at World Cup
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November 29 -- Ecuador vs Senegal -- 8:30 PM -- Khalifa International Stadium (GROUP A)
Result: Senegal beat Ecuador
Read Full Match Report: Senegal advances to last 16 at World Cup, beats Ecuador 2-1
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November 29 -- Netherlands vs Qatar -- 8.30 PM -- Al Bayt Stadium (GROUP A)
Result: Netherlands beat Qatar
Read Full Match Report: Netherlands beat host Qatar 2-0 to advance at World Cup
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November 30 -- Iran vs USA -- 12:30 AM -- Al Thumama Stadium (GROUP B)
Result: USA beat Iran
Read Full Match Report: Pulisic goal advances US in World Cup with 1-0 win over Iran
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November 30 -- Wales vs England -- 12:30 AM -- Al Rayyan Stadium (GROUP B)
Result: England beat Wales
Read Full Match Report: England advances after beating Wales 3-0 at World Cup
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November 30 -- Australia vs Denmark -- 8:30 PM -- Al Janoub Stadium (GROUP D)
Result: Australia beat Denmark
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Australia beat Denmark 1-0
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November 30 -- Tunisia vs France -- 8:30 PM -- Education City Stadium (GROUP D)
Result: Tunisia beat France
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Tunisia beat France 1-0
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December 1 -- Poland vs Argentina -- 12:30 AM -- Stadium 974 (Group C)
Result: Argentina beat Poland
Read Full Match Report: Messi and Argentina advance at World Cup, beat Poland 2-0
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December 1 -- Saudi Arabia vs Mexico -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium (Group C)
Result: Mexico beat Saudi Arabia
Read Full Match Report: Mexico beats Saudi Arabia 2-1 but falls short at World Cup
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December 1 -- Canada vs Morocco -- 8:30 PM -- Al Thumama Stadium (Group F)
Result: Morocco beat Canada
Read Full Match Report: Morocco advances at World Cup after beating Canada 2-1
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December 1 -- Croatia vs Belgium -- 8:30 PM -- Al Rayyan Stadium (Group F)
Result: 0-0 Draw
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December 2 -- Costa Rica vs Germany -- 12:30 AM -- Al Bayt Stadium
Result: Germany beat Costa Rica (Group E)
Read Full Match Report: Germany out of World Cup despite 4-2 win over Costa Rica
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December 2 -- Japan vs Spain -- 12:30 AM -- Khalifa International Stadium (Group E)
Result: Japan beat Spain
Read Full Match Report: Same stadium. Same result. Japan stun Spain 2-1 at World Cup, knocks Germany out
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December 2 -- Ghana vs Uruguay -- 8.30 PM -- Al Janoub Stadium (Group H)
Result: Uruguay beat Ghana
Read Full Match Report: Uruguay beats Ghana 2-0 at World Cup but both teams out
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December 2 -- South Korea vs Portugal -- 8.30 PM -- Education City Stadium (Group H)
Result: South Korea beat Portugal
Read Full Match Report: South Korea beats Portugal 2-1 at World Cup after late goal
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December 3 -- Cameroon vs Brazil -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium (Group G)
Result: Cameroon beat Brazil
Read Full Match Report: Brazil wins group despite 1-0 loss to Cameroon at World Cup
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December 3 -- Serbia vs Switzerland -- 12:30 AM -- Stadium 974
Result: Switzerland beat Serbia (Group G)
Read Full Match Report: Switzerland beat Serbia 3-2 to reach last 16 of World Cup
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Following teams from their respective groups have qualified for the Round of 16
Group A: Netherlands (7 points), Senegal (6)
Group B: England (7), USA (5)
Group C: Argentina (6), Poland (4)
Group D: France (6), Australia (6)
Group E: Japan (6), Spain (4)
Group F: Morocco (7), Croatia (5)
Group G: Brazil (6), Switzerland (6)
Group H: Portugal (6), South Korea (4)
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Round of 16
December 3 - Netherlands vs USA - Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan (8:30 PM IST)
Result: Netherlands beat USA
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Netherlands eliminates US in round of 16
December 4 - Argentina vs Australia - Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan (12:30 AM IST)
Result: Argentina beat Australia
Read Full Match Report: Messi scores, Argentina beats Australia 2-1 at World Cup
December 4 - France vs Poland - Al Thumama Stadium, Doha (8:30 PM IST)
Result: France beat Poland
Read Full Match Report: Kylian Mbappe leads France past Poland 3-1 at World Cup
December 5 - England vs Senegal - Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor (12:30 AM IST)
Result: England beat Senegal
Read Full Match Report: England reaches World Cup quarterfinals, beats Senegal 3-0
December 5 - Japan vs Croatia - Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah (8:30 PM IST)
Result: Croatia beat Japan
Read Full Match Report: Croatia beat Japan 3-1 in penalty shootout after goalless extra time at World Cup knockout
December 6 - Brazil vs South Korea - Stadium 974, Doha (12:30 AM IST)
Result: Brazil beat South Korea
Read Full Match Report: Neymar scores, Brazil beats South Korea 4-1 at World Cup
December 6 - Morocco vs Spain - Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan (8:30 PM IST)
Result: Morocco beat Spain
Read Full Match Report: Morocco beats Spain on penalties to advance at World Cup
December 7 - Portugal vs Switzerland - Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail (12:30 AM IST)
Result: Portugal beat Switzerland
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Portugal crush Switzerland 6-1, to face Morocco next
Quarterfinal
December 9 -- Croatia vs Brazil -- 8:30 PM -- Education City Stadium
Result: Croatia beat Brazil
Read Full Match Report: Croatia beats Brazil on penalties in World Cup quarterfinals
December 10 -- Netherlands vs Argentina -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium
Result: Argentina beat Netherlands
Read Full Match Report: FIFA World Cup: Messi, Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties
December 10 -- Morocco vs Portugal -- 8:30 PM -- Al Thumama Stadium
Result: Morocco beat Portugal
Read Full Match Report: Morocco's miracle shocks Portugal 1-0, become first African team to qualify for semifinals at World Cup
December 11 -- England vs France -- 12:30 AM -- Al Bayt Stadium
Result: France beat England
Read Full Match Report: France advances to semifinals at World Cup, tops England 2-1
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Semifinal
December 14 -- Argentina vs Croatia -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium
Result: Argentina beat Croatia
Read Full Match Report: Messi, Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final
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December 15 -- Morocco vs France -- 12:30 AM -- Lusail Stadium
Result: France beat Morocco
Read Full Match Report: Mbappe, France advance to World Cup final, beat Morocco 2-0
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Third place match
December 17 -- Morocco vs Croatia -- 8:30 PM -- Khalifa International Stadium
Final
December 18 -- Argentina vs France -- 8:30 PM -- Lusail Stadium
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TOP TEAMS
Brazil (No. 1 in FIFA ranking). Neymar, Vinicius Junior and the rest of the flair-filled Selecao are peaking at the right time. Is a first World Cup title since 2002 on the horizon?
Belgium (No. 2). The "Golden Generation" is gradually breaking up but there’s still Kevin De Bruyne leading the Belgian charge. There is a doubt about the fitness of Romelu Lukaku, however.
Argentina (No. 3). No World Cup title since the days of the great Diego Maradona. This will be the first World Cup since his death in November 2020 and Argentina has improved under coach Lionel Scaloni, with Messi still at its core and leading the team on a 35-match unbeaten run.
France (No. 4). The defending champions. Still the country with the most depth to its squad, despite an injury list that includes Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. Now with Mbappé AND Karim Benzema leading the attack. No team has retained its World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.
England (No. 5). The team has hit a bad patch of form — winless in six games — but has a strong track record in recent major tournaments. England was a semifinalist at the World Cup in 2018 and a finalist at the European Championship in 2021.
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BIG STARS
Lionel Messi, Argentina. The seven-time world player of the year might have been saving his 35-year-old legs for one last push at a World Cup winner’s medal that, to many, would solidify him as soccer’s greatest player. He is in stellar form for Paris Saint-Germain at the moment.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal. He has won the European Championship but the leading scorer in men’s international soccer hasn’t played in a World Cup final, let alone won one. He’s 37 years old now and no longer first choice at Manchester United — so make the most of him while you can.
Kylian Mbappe, France. The star of the last World Cup at the age of 19 and he is only getting better. The speedy striker could match Brazil great Pele in being a champion at his first two World Cups.
Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium. Widely regarded as the world’s best midfielder, his driving runs and crossing are among the best sights in soccer. Belgium will be thankful he is arriving in Qatar healthy.
Neymar, Brazil. Often overshadowed by Mbappé and Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, still the main man for Brazil. Watch out for tricks and flicks, and some histrionics, too.
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HOW IT WORKS
Get ready for a feast of soccer. There are eight groups of four teams, with the top two advancing to the 16-team knockout stage. There will be four games back-to-back per day — yes, four! — for most of the first two sets of group games, then simultaneous kickoffs for the last two games in each group. There’ll be no break for the knockout stage, which begins the day after the group stage ends. The first day without soccer comes on Dec. 7 — the 17th day of competition.
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MUST-SEE GAMES
Qatar vs. Ecuador, Sunday. The first match of the tournament and always a date to save on the calendar.
Argentina vs. Mexico, Nov. 26. The first of the big continental rivalries in the group stage, with Messi potentially sealing his and Argentina’s spot in the last 16.
Spain vs. Germany, Nov. 27. Surely there can’t have been many bigger group-stage matches than this at a World Cup? Two recent champions, two giants of European and world soccer.
Iran vs. United States, Nov. 29. It has been labeled as "The Mother of All Games Part II." Just like at the World Cup in 1998, the two countries will meet in the group stage in a politically charged matchup. Diplomatic relations have yet to be restored between the nations since being severed in 1980.
Ghana vs. Uruguay, Dec. 2. Anyone remember the night of July 2, 2010? In the last minute of extra time in a World Cup quarterfinal match between Uruguay and Ghana, Luis Suarez deliberately stopped the ball with his hand on the goalline, got sent off, only for Ghana to miss the penalty and lose in a shootout as Suarez celebrated on the sideline. Revenge would be sweet for Ghana.
