MIAMI — The 2022 FIFA World Cup, which happens every four years, began on Nov. 20 and will run through Dec. 18 in Qatar, the first Arab nation to ever host a World Cup.
It’s definitely worth the trouble following it. In four years, Canada, the United States, and Mexico will be the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Miami will be among the 16 host cities.
For this World Cup, FIFA randomly divided the 32 qualifying teams into eight groups, from A to H. First, the teams play against each other within each group to earn three points for each victory or one point with a draw.
The score will determine which 16 teams will move forward to a knockout round of four days of games starting on Dec. 3. The winners will qualify for the semi-finals at 2 p.m. on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.
The third-place playoff is at 10 a.m., on Dec. 17, and the final is at 10 a.m., on Dec. 18. For the complete eastern time schedule of games, visit this page.
Coverage of the first few days of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Belgium earns 3 points
Nov. 23: BELGIUM VS CANADA (Group F)
Spain earns 3 points
Nov. 23: SPAIN VS COSTA RICA (Group E)
Japan earns 3 points
Nov. 23: GERMANY VS JAPAN (Group E)
- Japan gets 2 late goals to beat Germany 2-1 at World Cup
- Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest
Morocco, Croatia each earn 1 point
Nov. 23: MOROCCO VS CROATIA (Group F)
France earns 3 points
Nov. 22: FRANCE VS AUSTRALIA (Group D)
France, the FIFA World Cup 2018 winner, beat Australia four to one to move ahead in Group D on Tuesday at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar.
Mexico, Poland each earn point
Nov. 22: MEXICO VS POLAND (Group C)
Denmark, Tunisia each earn point
Nov. 22: DENMARK VS TUNISIA (Group D)
Saudi Arabia earns 3 points
Nov. 22: ARGENTINA VS SAUDI ARABIA (Group C)
- World Cup stunner: Saudi Arabia beats Messi’s Argentina 2-1
- Video shows Saleh Al-Shehri score against Argentina
- Loss for Messi and Argentina among biggest World Cup upsets
- Argentines shocked, saddened by loss in World Cup debut
- Saudis jubilant after World Cup win over Argentina
- Arab world revels in Saudi win over Argentina at World Cup
US, Wales each earn point
Nov. 21: US VS WALES (Group B)
The United States’ Timothy Weah scored his first FIFA World Cup goal against Wales on Monday afternoon in Qatar, but Welsh winger Gareth Bale scored a penalty to tie the game after victories by England and The Netherlands.
- Bale salvages 1-1 draw for Wales against US in World Cup
- US battles injuries, idleness ahead of World Cup opener
- US returns to World Cup against Wales after 8-year wait
Netherlands earns 3 points
Nov. 21: SENEGAL VS NETHERLANDS (Group A)
The Netherlands scored the only two goals of the game against Senegal right before it ended. Cody Gakpo surprised Senegal’s defense with a prompt leap and a swift header.
England earns 3 points
Nov. 21: ENGLAND VS IRAN (Group B)
England’s Bukayo Saka showed why some experts consider him to be among the world’s best young soccer players. The 21-year-old Londoner of Nigerian descent scored two of England’s six goals on Monday. Iran only scored once.
- Bellingham scores, gets serenaded in his World Cup debut
- Saka, Rashford help England rout Iran 6-2 at World Cup
- Iran goalkeeper clashes heads with teammate at World Cup
- Barred from stadiums at home, Iran women travel to World Cup
- World Cup ticketing app problem delays fans at England-Iran
- England closes in on finally winning another World Cup
- Women’s protests overshadow Iran’s World Cup loss
- Iran media blames humiliating World Cup loss on protests
Ecuador earns 3 points
Nov. 20: QUATAR VS. ECUADOR (Group A)
Enner Valencia, the son of a farmer who grew up in a port town in Ecuador, made Ecuadorean Americans in Miami proud on Sunday with a historic 2-0 victory over Qatar, the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- World Cup dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
- FIFA charges Ecuador over fan chants at World Cup opener
Nov. 20: OPENING
- Qatar opens World Cup with lavish half-hour ceremony
- Qatar faces overcrowding troubles
- Qatar’s World Cup opener shows its reemergence after boycott
- FIFA revenue hits $7.5B for current World Cup period
- World Cup Viewer’s Guide
SOCCER STARS AND FIFA
- Cristiano Ronaldo gambles on World Cup to restore reputation
- France star Karim Benzema out for World Cup with leg injury
- World Cup teams nix armbands that were seen as snub to Qatar
- FIFA orders to World Cup referees add up to 100-minute games
- Top US diplomat criticizes FIFA armband threat at World Cup
FIRST WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Thursday
SWITZERLAND VS CAMEROON at 5 a.m.
URUGUAY VS SOUTH KOREA at 8 a.m.
PORTUGAL VS. GHANA at 11 a.m.
BRAZIL VS SERBIA at 2 p.m.
Friday
WALES VS IRAN at 5 a.m.
QATAR VS SENEGAL at 8 a.m.
NETHERLANDS VS ECUADOR at 11 a.m.
ENGLAND VS US at 2 p.m.
Saturday
TUNISIA VS AUSTRALIA at 5 a.m.
POLAND VS SAUDI ARABIA at 8 a.m.
FRANCE VS DENMARK at 11 a.m.
ARGENTINA VS MEXICO at 2 p.m.
Sunday
JAPAN VS COSTA RICA at 5 a.m.
BELGIUM VS MOROCCO at 8 a.m.
CROATIA VS CANADA at 11 a.m.
SPAIN VS GERMANY at 2 a.m.
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