This year’s World Cup is the first ever played in November and December.
WASHINGTON — World Cup action begins in Qatar on Sunday, Nov. 20, officially kicking off the 64-game tournament featuring 32 teams from around the globe.
The U.S. men’s team figures to be the youngest of the 32 teams by average age, with only one player remaining from the 2014 World Cup, the last time America qualified.
When does the US play in the World Cup?
The U.S. is slated for its first Group B match on Monday, Nov. 21 against Wales.
The second match for the U.S. men’s national team comes four days later on Friday, Nov. 25, against England.
The U.S. will finish the Group B stage by facing Iran on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
All three of the U.S. Group B games kick off at 2 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast live on FOX.
Echoing the 1998 World Cup, Iran and the U.S. will face off in a politically charged match in the group stage. It has been nearly 42 years since the nations severed diplomatic relations.
Where is the World Cup this year?
This year’s World Cup is the first ever played in November and December. The change from the usual summer tournament is to avoid Qatar’s desert heat.
Game schedules are also visibly more packed than previous tournaments, with the World Cup squeezing back-to-back games for seven days straight in order to complete the tournament in only 29 days. The last two tournaments in Brazil and Russia were both 32 days.
How does the World Cup work?
The tournament begins with eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the 16-team knockout stage.
There will be four games back-to-back per day for most of the first two sets of group games, then simultaneous kickoffs for the last two games in each group.
There’ll be no break for the knockout stage, which begins the day after the group stage ends. The first day without any soccer matches comes on Dec. 7 — the 17th day of competition.
Who is playing for the US World Cup team?
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Luton, England), Sean Johnson (New York City), Matt Turner (Arsenal, England).
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan, Italy), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, England), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), DeAndre Yedlin (Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville).
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds, England), Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles), Tyler Adams (Leeds, England), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain), Weston McKennie (Juventus, Italy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Cristian Roldan (Seattle).
Forwards: Jesús Ferreira (Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia, Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Norwich, England), Tim Weah (Lille, France), Haji Wright (Antalyspor, Turkey).
What teams are in the World Cup?
Best result: First appearance
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: Automatic as host
Coach: Felix Sanchez (Spain)
Players to watch: Abdelkarim Hassan, Hassan Al-Haydos, Saad Al Sheeb.
Schedule: vs. Ecuador on Nov. 20 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Senegal on Nov. 25 at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Netherlands on Nov. 29 at Al Bayt Stadium.
ECUADOR
Best result: Round of 16 (2006)
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: Fourth place in South American qualifying group
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro (Argentina)
Players to watch: Piero Hincapie, Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan.
Schedule: vs. Qatar on Nov. 20 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Netherlands on Nov. 25 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. Senegal on Nov. 29 at Khalifa International Stadium.
SENEGAL
Best result: Quarterfinals (2002)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: African playoffs
Coach: Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Players to watch: Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Iliman Ndiaye.
Schedule: vs. Netherlands on Nov. 21 at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Qatar on Nov. 25 at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Ecuador on Nov. 29 at Khalifa International Stadium.
NETHERLANDS
Best result: Runner-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group G
Coach: Louis van Gaal (Netherlands)
Players to watch: Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, Daley Blind.
Schedule: vs. Senegal on Nov. 21 at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Ecuador on Nov. 25 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. Qatar on Nov. 29 at Al Bayt Stadium.
ENGLAND
Best result: Champion (1966)
2018 World Cup: Semifinals
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group I
Coach: Gareth Southgate (England)
Players to watch: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham.
Schedule: vs. Iran on Nov. 21 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. United States on Nov. 25 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Wales on Nov. 29 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Best result: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: Won Asian qualifying Group A
Coach: Carlos Queiroz (Portugal)
Players to watch: Sardar Azmoun, Ehsan Hajsafi, Mehdi Taremi.
Schedule: vs. England on Nov. 21 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. Wales on Nov. 25 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. United States on Nov. 29 at Al Thumama Stadium.
UNITED STATES
Best result: Semifinals (1930)
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: Third place in CONCACAF qualifying group
Coach: Gregg Berhalter (United States)
Players to watch: Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie.
Schedule: vs. Wales on Nov. 21 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. England on Nov. 25 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Iran on Nov. 29 at Al Thumama Stadium.
Best result: Quarterfinals (1958)
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: European playoffs
Coach: Robert Page (Wales)
Players to watch: Gareth Bale, Daniel James, Aaron Ramsey.
Schedule: vs. United States on Nov. 21 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. Iran on Nov. 25 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. England on Nov. 29 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
ARGENTINA
Best result: Champion (1978, 1986)
2018 World Cup: Round of 16
How they qualified 2022: Second place in South American qualifying group
Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
Players to watch: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria.
Schedule: vs. Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22 at Lusail Stadium; vs. Mexico on Nov. 26 at Lusail Stadium; vs. Poland on Nov. 30 at Stadium 974.
SAUDI ARABIA
Best result: Round of 16 (1994)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: Won Asian qualifying Group B
Coach: Herve Renard (France)
Players to watch: Salem Al-Dawsari, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Salman Al-Faraj.
Schedule: vs. Argentina on Nov. 22 at Lusail Stadium; vs. Poland on Nov. 26 at Education City Stadium; vs. Mexico on Nov. 30 at Lusail Stadium.
MEXICO
Best result: Quarterfinals (1970, 1986)
2018 World Cup: Round of 16
How they qualified 2022: Second place in CONCACAF qualifying group
Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentina)
Players to watch: Guillermo Ochoa, Hirving Lozano, Andres Guardado.
Schedule: vs. Poland on Nov. 22 at Stadium 974; vs. Argentina on Nov. 26 at Lusail Stadium; vs. Saudi Arabia on Nov. 30 at Lusail Stadium.
POLAND
Best result: Third place (1974, 1982)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: European playoffs
Coach: Czeslaw Michniewicz (Poland)
Players to watch: Robert Lewandowski, Jan Bednarek, Wojciech Szczesny.
Schedule: vs. Mexico on Nov. 22 at Stadium 974; vs. Saudi Arabia on Nov. 26 at Education City Stadium; vs. Argentina on Nov. 30 at Stadium 974.
FRANCE
Best result: Champion (1998, 2018)
2018 World Cup: Champion
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group D
Coach: Didier Deschamps (France)
Players to watch: Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Raphael Varane.
Schedule: vs. Australia on Nov. 22 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. Denmark on Nov. 26 at Stadium 974; vs. Tunisia on Nov. 30 at Education City Stadium.
AUSTRALIA
Best result: Round of 16 (2006)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: Intercontinental playoffs
Coach: Graham Arnold (Australia)
Players to watch: Ajdin Hrustic, Awer Mabil, Mat Ryan.
Schedule: vs. France on Nov. 22 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. Tunisia on Nov. 26 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. Denmark on Nov. 30 at Al Janoub Stadium.
DENMARK
Best result: Quarterfinals (1998)
2018 World Cup: Round of 16
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group F
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand (Denmark)
Players to watch: Christian Eriksen, Simon Kjaer, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Schedule: vs. Tunisia on Nov. 22 at Education City Stadium; vs. France on Nov. 26 at Stadium 974; vs. Australia on Nov. 30 at Al Janoub Stadium.
TUNISIA
Best result: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: African playoffs
Coach: Jalel Kadri (Tunisia)
Players to watch: Ellyes Skhiri, Dylan Bronn, Aissa Laidouni.
Schedule: vs. Denmark on Nov. 22 at Education City Stadium; vs. Australia on Nov. 26 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. France on Nov. 30 at Education City Stadium.
Best result: Champion (2010)
2018 World Cup: Round of 16
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group B
Coach: Luis Enrique (Spain)
Players to watch: Pedri Gonzalez, Sergio Busquets, Alvaro Morata.
Schedule: vs. Costa Rica on Nov. 23 at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Germany on Nov. 27 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Japan on Dec. 1 at Khalifa International Stadium.
COSTA RICA
Best result: Quarterfinals (2014)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: Intercontinental playoffs
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez (Colombia)
Players to watch: Keylor Navas, Bryan Ruiz, Celso Borges.
Schedule: vs. Spain on Nov. 23 at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Japan on Nov. 27 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. Germany on Dec. 1 Al Bayt Stadium.
GERMANY
Best result: Champion (1954, 1974, 1990 as West Germany; 2014)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group J
Coach: Hansi Flick (Germany)
Players to watch: Leroy Sane, Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala.
Schedule: vs. Japan on Nov. 23 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. Spain on Nov. 27 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Costa Rica on Dec. 1 at Al Bayt Stadium.
Best result: Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018)
2018 World Cup: Round of 16
How they qualified 2022: Second place in Asian qualifying Group B
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu (Japan)
Players to watch: Takumi Minamino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kaoru Mitoma.
Schedule: vs. Germany on Nov. 23 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. Costa Rica on Nov. 27 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. Spain on Dec. 1 at Khalifa International Stadium.
BELGIUM
Best result: Third place (2018)
2018 World Cup: Third place
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group E
Coach: Roberto Martinez (Spain)
Players to watch: Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois.
Schedule: vs. Canada on Nov. 23 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. Morocco on Nov. 27 at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Croatia on Dec. 1 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
CANADA
Best result: Group stage (1986)
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: Won CONCACAF qualifying group
Coach: John Herdman (England)
Players to watch: Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin.
Schedule: vs. Belgium on Nov. 23 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; vs. Croatia on Nov. 27 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. Morocco on Dec. 1 at Al Thumama Stadium.
MOROCCO
Best result: Round of 16 (1986)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: African playoffs
Coach: Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Players to watch: Achraf Hakimi, Sofiane Boufal, Sofyan Amrabat.
Schedule: vs. Croatia on Nov. 23 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Belgium on Nov. 27 at at Al Thumama Stadium; vs. Canada on Dec. 1 at Al Thumama Stadium.
CROATIA
Best result: Final (2018)
2018 World Cup: Final
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group H
Coach: Zlatko Dalic (Croatia)
Players to watch: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic.
Schedule: vs. Morocco on Nov. 23 at Al Bayt Stadium; vs. Canada on Nov. 27 at Khalifa International Stadium; vs. Belgium on Dec. 1 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
BRAZIL
Best result: Champion (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
2018 World Cup: Quarterfinals
How they qualified 2022: Won South American qualifying group
Coach: Tite (Brazil)
Players to watch: Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Casemiro.
Schedule: vs. Serbia on Nov. 24 at Lusail Stadium; vs. Switzerland on Nov. 28 at Stadium 974; vs. Cameroon on Dec. 2 at Lusail Stadium.
SERBIA
Best result: Fourth place (1930, 1962 as Yugoslavia)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group A
Coach: Dragan Stojkovic (Serbia)
Players to watch: Dusan Vlahovic, Alejsandar Mitrovic, Dusan Tadic.
Schedule: vs. Brazil on Nov. 24 at Lusail Stadium; vs. Cameroon on Nov. 28 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. Switzerland on Dec. 2 at Stadium 974.
SWITZERLAND
Best result: Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954)
2018 World Cup: Round of 16
How they qualified 2022: Won European qualifying Group C
Coach: Murat Yakin (Switzerland)
Players to watch: Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Yann Sommer.
Schedule: vs. Cameroon on Nov. 24 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. Brazil on Nov. 28 at Stadium 974; vs. Serbia on Dec. 2 at Stadium 974.
CAMEROON
Best result: Quarterfinals (1990)
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: African playoffs
Coach: Rigobert Song (Cameroon)
Players to watch: Vincent Aboubakar, Andre Onana, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Schedule: vs. Switzerland on Nov. 24 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. Serbia on Nov. 28 at Al Janoub Stadium; vs. Brazil on Dec. 2 at Lusail Stadium.
PORTUGAL
Best result: Third place (1966)
2018 World Cup: Round of 16
How they qualified 2022: European playoffs
Coach: Fernando Santos (Portugal)
Players to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes.
Schedule: vs. Ghana on Nov. 24 at Stadium 974; vs. Uruguay on Nov. 28 at Lusail Stadium; vs. South Korea on Dec. 2 at Education City Stadium.
Best result: Quarterfinals (2010)
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
How they qualified 2022: African playoffs
Coach: Otto Addo (Ghana)
Players to watch: Daniel Amartey, Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew.
Schedule: vs. Portugal on Nov. 24 at Stadium 974; vs. South Korea on Nov. 28 at Education City Stadium; vs. Uruguay on Dec. 2 at Al Janoub Stadium.
URUGUAY
Best result: Champion (1930, 1950)
2018 World Cup: Quarterfinals
How they qualified 2022: Third place in South American qualifying group
Coach: Diego Alonso (Uruguay)
Players to watch: Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez, Federico Valverde.
Schedule: vs. South Korea on Nov. 24 at Education City Stadium; vs. Portugal on Nov. 28 at Lusail Stadium; vs. Ghana on Dec. 2 at Al Janoub Stadium.
SOUTH KOREA
Best result: Semifinals (2002)
2018 World Cup: Group stage
How they qualified 2022: Second place in Asian qualifying Group A
Coach: Paulo Bento (Portugal)
Players to watch: Son Heung-min, Hwang Ui-jo, Kim Min-jae.
Schedule: vs. Uruguay on Nov. 24 at Education City Stadium; vs. Ghana on Nov. 28 at Education City Stadium; vs. Portugal on Dec. 2 at Education City Stadium.