It's nearly here.

After four years of waiting, fans will get to see the world's top players in action at the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup. For the first time in history, the tournament will take place during the later months of the year due to Qatar having been granted rights to host the coveted event.

Here's all you need to know ahead of the latest iteration of the world's most famous quadriennial tournament.

When does the 2022 FIFA World Cup begin?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will begin on Sunday, November 20th, with Qatar facing Ecuador in the tournament opener.

When does the 2022 FIFA World Cup end?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will end on Sunday, December 18th with the final taking place on that date.

What are the full key dates for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Here are the key dates for the 2022 FIFA World Cup:

Group stages: November 20th - December 2nd

Round of 16: December 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th

Quarter-Finals: December 9th and 10th

Semi-Finals: December 13th and 14th

Third place match: December 17th

Final: December 18th

Who are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Qatar will be hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and as such, earned an automatic ticket to the competition. This will be the first time an Arab country hosts the tournament. 

What countries are featuring in the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

A total of 32 countries will be taking part at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be rolling out its 22nd edition this year. This will be the last time 32 teams are involved, as from 2026, the field is anticipated to expand to a total of 48 teams.

The 32 teams have been split into eight groups of four as follows:

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands

Group B: England, Wales, USA, Iran

Group C: Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia

Group D: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia

Group E: Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica

Group F: Canada, Belgium, Croatia, Morocco

Group G: Brazil, Cameroon, Serbia, Switzerland

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, South Korea, Uruguay

Who are the reigning champions heading into the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

France are the current reigning champions heading into the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Les Bleus will hope to become the first team since Brazil to win back to back titles, and the third in history after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) did so.

Are there any debutant sides at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Qatar are the sole debutants, albeit teams like Wales and Canada are back in the World Cup for the first time in decades (64 years for Wales, 36 for Canada).

When will all teams announce their squads for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Many teams have already announced their squads, but the final date required to submit a 26-man roster is before November 14th, with FIFA expected to announce the full rosters on November 15th. Prior tournaments had teams allowed 23 players per squad, but FIFA have decided to increase this numbers to 26 for this upcoming competition. 

Who are the highest and lowest ranking sides to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

As per FIFA's most recent rankings that were released in October, the highest ranking side in this competition are Brazil (1st), while the lowest ranking side are Ghana (61st).

How many teams qualified from each federation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

31 teams (excluding Qatar) qualified from five different federations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They are as follows:

UEFA: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Wales 

CONCACAF: Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States

AFC: Australia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran

CAF: Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia

CONMEBOL: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador

The OFC did not have any team successfully book a spot at this tournament. Meanwhile, hosts Qatar are part of AFC, bringing the total teams from that federation to six.

What venues will the 2022 FIFA World Cup matches be held in?

A total of eight venues will be hosting the games at the upcoming World Cup. Here is how the breakdown will be from November through December:

Group Stages (A, B, E, F): Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

Group Stages (C, D, G, H): Lusail Iconic Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium

Round of 16: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Education City Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium

Quarter-Finals: Education City Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium,  Al Bayt Stadium

Semi-Finals: Lusail Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium

Third-place match: Khalifa International Stadium

Final: Lusail Iconic Stadium

Where can I follow matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Make sure you bookmark our bespoke broadcast page for listings and other information as to how to follow your favorite teams and players at this year's World Cup.