FIFA World Cup Schedules

Qatar 2022 is a notable exception to this rule, as summertime temperatures are too hot to play in. So, the tournament will take place from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18. Those looking to bet on the World Cup should be aware that there’s both a three-game Group Stage and single-elimination knockout stage. 

There are eight four-team World Cup groups. Each national team plays a round robin vs. their group opponents. The Qatar 2022 Group Stage will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2 with as many as four matches per day.

Group Stage match times will be spread out from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET but, within each group, the final matches of the stage will be played at the same time to weed out anti-competitive behavior. Regardless, World Cup odds on the final Group Stage matchday will take into account whether a team has already been mathematically eliminated from knockout stage contention. At the end of the Group Stage, the top two teams from each group qualify for the Round of 16. 

Unlike the Group Stage, knockout stage games feature two extra-time periods of 15 minutes each and, if necessary, penalty kicks if the score is still tied. For betting purposes, the score at the end of 90 minutes (plus stoppage time) is the most relevant one, as point spreads will not take extra-time periods into account.

The eight Round of 16 matches will be played from Dec. 3-6 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET. The winner from Group A plays the runner-up from Group B, and the winner from Group B plays the runner-up from Group A, and so on. The quarterfinals are on Dec. 9-10 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET, and the semifinals will be held on Dec. 13-14 at 2 p.m. ET.

Qatar 2022 will come to a close with the World Cup Final on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. ET in Lusail. There’s also a third-place game the previous day between the semifinal losers at 10 a.m. ET.

World Cup futures odds are released months in advance so it’s never too early to place a bet. 

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