The World Cup is upon us, and with that all the excitement and thrill of experiencing one of the most popular sport events in the world.
But what about the group stage? Who are the teams that are going to be a part of this competition? When we can see the games? Let’s find out.
Group stage – all kick-off times
📌 Sunday November 20
- Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Monday November 21
- Group B: England vs Iran (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
- Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 4pm)
- Group B: USA vs Wales (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Tuesday November 22
- Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 10am)
- Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
- Group C: Mexico vs Poland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
- Group D: France vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Wednesday November 23
- Group F: Morocco vs Croatia (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 10am)
- Group E: Germany vs Japan (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
- Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 4pm)
- Group F: Belgium vs Canada (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Thursday November 24
- Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
- Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
- Group H: Portugal vs Ghana (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
- Group G: Brazil vs Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Friday November 25
- Group B: Wales vs Iran (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 10am)
- Group A: Qatar vs Senegal (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 1pm)
- Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 4pm)
- Group B: England vs USA (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Saturday November 26
- Group D: Tunisia vs Australia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
- Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
- Group D: France vs Denmark (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
- Group C: Argentina vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Sunday November 27
- Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 10am)
- Group F: Belgium vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 1pm)
- Group F: Croatia vs Canada (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 4pm)
- Group E: Spain vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Monday November 28
- Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 10am)
- Group H: South Korea vs Ghana (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
- Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 4pm)
- Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Tuesday November 29
- Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 3pm)
- Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
- Group B: Wales vs England (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
- Group B: Iran vs USA (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Wednesday November 30
- Group D: Australia vs Denmark (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
- Group D: Tunisia vs France (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
- Group C: Poland vs Argentina (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
- Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Thursday December 1
- Group F: Croatia vs Belgium (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
- Group F: Canada vs Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 3pm)
- Group E: Costa Rica vs Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
- Group E: Japan vs Spain (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
📌 Friday, December 2
- Group G: South Korea vs Portugal (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
- Group G: Ghana vs Uruguay (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
- Group H: Serbia vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
- Group H: Cameroon vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
What are the World Cup predictions?
⚽ Group A:
Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands.
Qatar qualified automatically to the competition due to being the host nation, but is safe to say that they are the least likely to qualify to the next round.
They don’t have a lot of experience in the competition, and none of their players have experienced at high level football.
On the other hand, Ecuador had a very solid qualifying round to the World Cup, Senegal had very solid displays in this year’s AFCON, competition which they won, and the Netherlands might not have as many great players as before, but manager Louis van Gaal has built a strong collective unit.
⚽ Group B:
England, Iran, United States and Wales.
England, due to their experience in the competition and squad quality, are bound to be one of the sure bets to qualify to the next round.
On the other hand, this generation of Welsh players, led by Gareth Bale, have broken that they can make history in the competition.
Iran might not have some talented players in the top leagues like before, but they should not be undermined.
The United States have more players in the best teams in the world than ever before and their growth shouldn’t be underestimated.
A very even group with England as the sole favorite to qualify for the next round.
⚽ Group C:
Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.
Saudi Arabia are usually a constant in the competition, but they have often struggled to make an impact in the World Cup and this year seems to be the same case, at least as of this recording.
This is very likely going to be Lionel Messi’s last dance at the World Cup with Argentina. This version of the national side is boosted by the victory at the 2021 Copa America, with manager Lionel Scaloni giving them a very solid structure.
They are obviously the favorites for the top place in this group.
The second place seems to be a battle between Mexico and Poland. The Mexicans usually qualify to the next round and have an experienced side.
While Poland have struggled to live up to their potential in recent international competitions with world class striker Robert Lewandowski struggling massively in the World Cup.
⚽ Group D:
France, Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.
France are the reigning champions and while they boast one of the best squads in the competition, even arguably the best, a disappointing 2021 Euros and lots of internal issues in the dressing room might make things difficult to defend their crown.
Having said that, they should have enough talent to qualify to the next round.
Denmark are poised to be second in the group while Australia and Tunisia might not have lots of world class players, but they have proven to be quite competitive over the years.
The delicate situation within the French dressing room and a bit of overconfidence by the Danish might make things very interesting in this group, but, unless any surprises happen, these two sides are the favorites to qualify to the next round.
⚽ Group E:
Spain, Costa Rica, Germany and Japan.
Spain and Germany seem poised to qualify to the next round: they both have a lot of experience in the competition.
They won it in the past decade and they have lots of high quality players in the best teams in the world. At first, they seem to be a sure thing in the next round.
Costa Rica qualified without much fanfare in Concacaf and while some football romantics would love to see their heroics from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to repeat this time around, it doesn’t seem likely.
Japan have always stood out as a potential interesting team in the competition, but they often fail to live up to their potential, so is going to be fun to see if this time is any different.
⚽ Group F:
Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia.
Belgium’s golden generation has been frustrating to see in the World Cup: they often qualify with ease to the competition, they cruise in the early stages and, ultimately, they fail to win when it matters the most.
This is probably the last chance they have to win the competition and the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and company are going to have to bring something special here.
Meanwhile, Canada makes a return to the World Cup after decades and they boast a very young, talented squad. Considering how they qualified with ease in CONCACAF, we wouldn’t put it past them to surprise lots of people.
Morocco don’t have it easy, especially considering how their best player, Hakim Ziyech, doesn’t seem likely to be a part of the squad due to personal issues with the federation.
Croatia made it all the way to the final last time around in 2018, but, much like Belgium, it seems like the last dance for this amazing generation led by the now legendary Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric.
They still have enough quality to make it to the next round, so, at least in theory, this is Belgium and Croatia’s group to lose.
⚽ Group G:
Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.
Brazil are always going to be a candidate for the trophy as they are the competition’s biggest winners and they also have a lot of arguments this time around. Manager Tite has built a very solid squad that has both talent and teamwork.
Led by a very in-form Neymar, they also have an embarrassment of riches in attack, such as Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Antony, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo, among many others.
On the other hand, the same cannot be said about Serbia. Yes, they have qualified in great fashion, even sending Portugal to the playoffs in the process, but the Serbians have often struggled to replicate that form in the World Cup.
They have a chance of fighting for second place with Switzerland, who are a tricky side that has shown to be quite competitive, as proven by their amazing display against France in the 2021 Euros.
Sadly for Cameroon, they don’t boast the great talents they used to have and, at least as of this recording, they don’t seem likely to be a strong candidate to make it past this group.
⚽ Group H:
Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.
Much like it happens with Lionel Messi, this is very likely to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance at World Cup glory with Portugal.
While this isn’t a country that has enjoyed major success in the competition, a team boasting the likes of Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Joao Cancelo, among many others, should be in the discussion to go far in the tournament.
They are definitely favorites to top this group.
You also have Uruguay, who never enter the competition as favorites or standing out much, but they always give strong, hardworking performances.
While legends of the modern game such as Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez are playing their last games with Uruguay, young upstarts such as center back Ronald Araujo and midfielder Federico Valverde are slowly taking their place in the main stage with the national team.
South Korea may not have the strongest of teams, but Tottenham starlet Son Heung-min has always delivered for his country and doesn’t seem unlikely he would do it again this time around, even though his team’s chances for qualification are slim.
Same goes for Ghana, who have some interesting players such as Athletic Club’s Iñaki Williams or Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus, but also seem one step behind Portugal and Uruguay.
