World Cup 2022 schedule: From knockout games until final in Qatar

Joao Cancelo #20 in action with Walid Cheddira #21 in Morocco vs Portugal football game [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

The World Cup in Qatar – the first to be held in the Middle East – started on November 20 and the final is scheduled to take place on December 18.

Here is a look at the full schedule for the knockout rounds:

Round of 16

Saturday, December 3

• Game 49 – Netherlands vs USA  6pm (15:00 GMT) – Khalifa International Stadium
• Game 50 – Argentina vs Australia 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

Sunday, December 4

• Game 52 – France vs Poland, 6pm (15:00 GMT) – Al Thumama Stadium
• Game 51 – England vs Senegal, 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Al Bayt Stadium

Monday, December 5

• Game 53 – Japan vs Croatia, 6pm (15:00 GMT) – Al Janoub Stadium
• Game 54 – Brazil vs South Korea, 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Stadium 974

Tuesday, December 6

• Game 55 – Morocco vs Spain, 6pm (15:00 GMT) – Education City Stadium
• Game 56 – Portugal vs Switzerland, 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Lusail Stadium

The World Cup in Qatar set a record with teams from all continents present in the round of 16 for the first time ever, FIFA said.

The tournament also saw a record for the Asian Football Confederation, with three teams (Australia, Japan and South Korea) reaching the knockout stages.

Quarterfinal

Friday, December 9

• Game 58 – Croatia vs Brazil,  6pm (15:00 GMT) – Education City Stadium
• Game 57 – Netherlands vs Argentina, 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Lusail Stadium

Saturday, December 10 

• Game 59 – Morocco vs Portugal 6pm (15:00 GMT) – Al Thumama Stadium
• Game 60 – England vs France, 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Al Bayt Stadium

Morocco also made history by becoming the first team from Africa to reach a World Cup semi-final when they beat Portugal.

“Africa is back on the map of football today,” Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui said. “We had the mentality. We knew we could make history for Africa.”

Semifinal

Tuesday, December 13

• Game 61 – Argentina vs Croatia, 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Lusail Stadium

Wednesday, December 14

• Game 62 – France vs Morocco, 10pm (19:00 GMT) – Al Bayt Stadium

Third-place playoff

Saturday, December 17

• Losers of 61 vs losers of 62,  6pm (15:00 GMT) – Khalifa International Stadium

Final

Sunday, December 18 

• Winner of 61 vs winner of 62,  6pm (15:00 GMT)  – Lusail Stadium

Al Jazeera’s AI robot Kashef believes that the final will be played between France and Argentina, with Argentina winning the tournament.