There are mere months before another men’s FIFA World Cup. The 2022 Qatar edition will be the first tournament hosted in the Middle East and the first to be held at the end of the calendar year in November and December.
Eight stadiums will host the event across five cities in Qatar: Lusall, Al Khor, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah and Doha.
How many teams are in the World Cup?
The 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar will feature 32 teams before the field expands to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup. The FIFA men’s World Cup has featured 32 teams for the last six editions since France 1998.
Joining host nation Qatar at the tournament will be 31 other countries that will earn a ticket to the big dance through regional qualifying matches. It has been predetermined how many nations will qualify from each region:
- Africa (CAF): 5
- Asia (AFC): 4 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
- Europe (UEFA): 13
- North/Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
- Oceania (OFC): 1 playoff qualifier
- South America (CONMEBOL): 4 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
Two intercontinental playoff matches played in June 2022, featuring one nation from each of four different regions, will determine the final two qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup: Asia vs. South America, and North America vs. Oceania.
The final European World Cup berth will also be determined in June. Wales will host one of Scotland or Ukraine in a single-elimination playoff final. Both matches will be played during the June window after Ukraine requested the matches be moved due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
MORE: CONCACAF standings & CONMEBOL table
When does the World Cup start?
- Inaugural matches: Monday, Nov. 21, 2022
- World Cup final: Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick off on a Monday with four matches in Qatar.
The World Cup final will still be held on a Sunday, as per tradition. The trophy will be hoisted by the winner on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Which teams have qualified for the World Cup?
A total of 24 of 32 teams have officially qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including the host nation. That leaves 8 spots to be filled in the upcoming months.
In addition to host nation Qatar, there have been 12 nations from Europe to qualify for the tournament, four from South America, four from Asia, two from Africa, and Canada became the first from North America.
The table below will be updated as nations clinch:
| No. | Nation (FIFA Ranking) | Region | Date qualified | How qualified | WC apps | Titles (Last) |
| 1 | Qatar (52) | Asia | Dec. 2, 2010 | Hosts | 1 of 22 | — |
| 2 | Germany (11) | Europe | Oct. 11, 2021 | 1st – Grp. J | 20 of 22 | 4 (2014) |
| 3 | Denmark (9) | Europe | Oct. 12, 2021 | 1st – Grp. F | 6 of 22 | — |
| 4 | Brazil (2) | S. America | Nov. 11, 2021 | Top 4 | 22 of 22 | 5 (2002) |
| 5 | France (3) | Europe | Nov. 13, 2021 | 1st – Grp. D | 16 of 22 | 2 (2018) |
| 6 | Belgium (1) | Europe | Nov. 13, 2021 | 1st – Grp. E | 14 of 22 | — |
| 7 | Croatia (15) | Europe | Nov. 14, 2021 | 1st – Grp. H | 6 of 22 | — |
| 8 | Spain (7) | Europe | Nov. 14, 2021 | 1st – Grp. B | 16 of 22 | 1 (2010) |
| 9 | Serbia (25) | Europe | Nov. 14, 2021 | 1st – Grp. A | 4 of 22 | — |
| 10 | England (5) | Europe | Nov. 15, 2021 | 1st – Grp. I | 16 of 22 | 1 (1966) |
| 11 | Switzerland (14) | Europe | Nov. 15, 2021 | 1st – Grp. C | 12 of 22 | — |
| 12 | Netherlands (10) | Europe | Nov. 16, 2021 | 1st – Grp. G | 11 of 22 | — |
| 13 | Argentina (4) | S America | Nov. 16, 2021 | Top 4 | 18 of 22 | 2 (1986) |
| 14 | Iran (21) | Asia | Jan. 27, 2022 | Top 2 – Grp. A | 6 of 22 | — |
| 15 | South Korea (29) | Asia | Feb. 1, 2022 | Top 2 – Grp. A | 11 of 22 | — |
| 16 | Japan (23) | Asia | Mar. 24, 2022 | Top 2 – Grp. B | 7 of 22 | — |
| 17 | Saudi Arabia (53) | Asia | Mar. 24, 2022 | Top 2 – Grp. B | 6 of 22 | — |
| 18 | Ecuador (44) | S. America | Mar. 24 2022 | Top 4 | 4 of 22 | — |
| 19 | Uruguay (16) | S. America | Mar. 24, 2022 | Top 4 | 14 of 22 | 2 (1950) |
| 20 | Canada (33) | N. America | Mar. 27, 2022 | Top 3 | 2 of 22 | — |
| 21 | Ghana (61) | Africa | Mar. 29, 2022 | Playoff | 4 of 22 | — |
| 22 | Senegal (18) | Africa | Mar. 29, 2022 | Playoff | 3 of 22 | — |
| 23 | Portugal (8) | Europe | Mar. 29, 2022 | Playoff | 8 of 22 | — |
| 24 | Poland (28) | Europe | Mar. 29, 2022 | Playoff | 9 of 22 | — |
| 25 | Africa | Mar. 29, 2022 | Playoff | — | ||
| 26 | Africa | Mar. 29, 2022 | Playoff | — | ||
| 27 | Africa | Mar. 29, 2022 | Playoff | — | ||
| 28 | N. America | Mar. 30, 2022 | Top 3 | — | ||
| 29 | N. America | Mar. 30, 2022 | Top 3 | — | ||
| 30 | Europe | June TBD | Playoff | — | ||
| 31 | Asia / S. America | June TBD | Intercont’l Playoff |
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| 32 | N. America / Oceania | June TBD | Intercont’l Playoff |
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