The 2022 Qatar World Cup kicks off on Sunday, with the hosts taking on Ecuador at the newly built Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
After launching its invasion of Ukraine in February, Russia was suspended from competing in the tournament by Fifa.
Russia had been due to participate in a qualification play-off match against Poland in late March.
Here’s what you need to know about the tournament and Russia’s participation.
Which teams have qualified for Qatar 2022?
Fifa faced fierce criticism after initially announcing that Russia would still be allowed to compete in a play-off against Poland, provided the team used a different name — “Football Union of Russia (RFU)” — and play in a neutral venue with no fans and no flags.
But following intense pressure from Poland, whose football association has repeatedly stated its intention to boycott the match, which was followed by refusal from countries across Europe to play Russia, Fifa, in conjunction with European football’s governing body, Uefa, has changed its stance and suspended all Russian teams from international competition.
Here is a full list of the teams that are competing:
Hosts:
- Qatar
Europe:
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Serbia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Wales
South America:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Ecuador
- Uruguay
Asia
- Australia
- Iran
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF)
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Mexico
- USA
Africa
- Cameroon
- Ghana
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Tunisia
Neither Northern Ireland nor the Republic of Ireland managed to qualify, after each finished outside the top two in their respective groups. Scotland also failed to make it through the play-offs.
Perhaps the biggest absence will be Italy, who were sensationally eliminated at home to 67th-ranked North Macedonia. Sweden and Norway will also be missing.
Egypt were knocked out of qualification on penalties by Senegal – after losing by the same method in the Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year. Nigeria and Algeria will also miss out.
In South America, Peru, Colombia and Chile – all massive footballing nations – notably fell short.
When are England and Wales playing?
England’s first game comes on day two of the tournament – they take on Iran in a Group B fixture at 1pm on Monday 21 November.
Wales are in the same group as England, so will play on the same day. They face the USA at 7pm.
Wales’ second game is against Iran at 10am on Friday 25 November, before England play the USA at 7pm.
England and Wales face each other in their final group game on Tuesday 29 November at 7pm.
When are the knockout stages?
The knockout stages will begin on Saturday 3 December, with the round of 16. There will be two fixtures each day, with the round concluding on Tuesday 6 December.
The quarter-finals will be on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December, before the semi-finals on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December, all at 7pm.
The World Cup final will be played on Sunday 18 December at 3pm, with the third place play-off the day prior at the same time.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/O7s4Nk2
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