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.

Thirty-one nations will earn the right to play alongside host Qatar 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

The two playoff series, featuring one nation from each of four different regions, will determine the final two qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.

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?

Only four teams have officially qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including the host nation.

After Qatar, four-time World Cup champion Germany and Euro 2021 semifinalist Denmark were the first two nations to book their ticket to the big dance with two qualifying matches to spare. Brazil was the first to earn a berth from South America with five matches left. The table below will be updated as nations clinch: