Qatar World Cup 2022 Countdown: When does the World Cup start?

With the European domestic football season now well underway, the countdown to the winter break and subsequent Qatar World Cup 2022 begins.

For the first time, the World Cup will not be held in the summer with the world's biggest sporting event set to be held over the winter months of November and December in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar.

Here is all the key information you need ahead of this winter's World Cup.

When does the Qatar World Cup 2022 start?

The Qatar World Cup 2022 was initially scheduled to start on Monday, November 21st with the opening fixture of Senegal vs the Netherlands in Group A, but this date looks set to change.

FIFA have now announced plans to move Qatar vs Ecuador forward by one day, allowing the host nation to play in the curtain-raiser event on the opening day of the tournament, as is traditional.

This means that Qatar vs Ecuador will now take place on Sunday, November 20th, representing the start of the Qatar World Cup 2022.

When will England play at the Qatar World Cup?

England will play their opening World Cup 2022 match on what is now the second day of the tournament, facing Iran in Group B on November 21st.

Gareth Southgate's side will then play the United States of America in their second group game with kick-off scheduled for 9 PM on November 25th.

Another four-day gap will then begin before England face off against Wales on November 29th.