World Cup 2022: Day-by-day match schedule, kick-off times and venues

The Netherlands and Senegal will kick-off the World Cup finals on November 21 after Fifa confirmed the match schedule for the group stages.

Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal and three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands will meet in Group A showdown at the Al Thumama Stadium at 2pm (UAE), before hosts Qatar face Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium at 8pm.

England will also be in action on the opening day as they launch their quest against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium, with the Group B fixture kicking off at 5pm. Group rivals the United States meet either Scotland, Wales or Ukraine in the day’s late fixture, which gets under way at 11pm.

Holders France are in action the day after, when they will face either United Arab Emirates, Australia or Peru in Group D at the Al Janoub Stadium in the late kick-off, while Christian Eriksen’s Denmark open against Tunisia at the Education City Stadium earlier the same day.

Favourites Brazil do not play until Thursday, November 24, when they meet Serbia in Group G at the Lusail Stadium in an 11pm kick-off.

Belgium, the team Brazil replaced at the top of Fifa’s ranking table earlier, play for the first time at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 23 against Group F rivals Canada, who have made the finals for the first time in 36 years.

The tournament will see Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in action for the first time on November 24, with Ghana their opponents at Stadium 974.

Monday, November 21

Group A

Senegal v Netherlands — Al Thumama Stadium (2pm UAE)

Qatar v Ecuador — Al Bayt Stadium (8pm)

Group B

England v Iran — Khalifa International Stadium (5pm)

USA v Wales/Scotland/Ukraine — Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (11pm)

Tuesday, November 22

Group C

Argentina v Saudi Arabia —