World Cup groups: 32-team field complete after playoffs wrap up

Set your calendars. Plan your sick days. The countdown for November's big kickoff is truly underway.

The 32-team field for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is finally complete after Costa Rica overcame New Zealand in Tuesday's last intercontinental playoff.

The other late inclusions to the tournament were Wales and Australia after COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted the international schedule. The World Cup group-stage draw was conducted in April before the final three spots were allocated.

Costa Rica's qualification makes Group E appear to be one of the toughest quartets at the tournament as it's rounded out by Spain, Germany, and Japan. The United States and Canada should travel to the Middle East with some optimism given the overall quality in their respective groups.

Here are the groups in full:

Group A

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 21: Senegal vs. Netherlands - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 21: Qatar vs. Ecuador - 11 a.m.
• Nov. 25: Qatar vs. Senegal - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 25: Netherlands vs. Ecuador - 11 a.m.
• Nov. 29: Netherlands vs. Qatar - 10 a.m.
• Nov. 29: Ecuador vs. Senegal - 10 a.m.

Group B

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 21: England vs. Iran - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 21: United States vs. Wales - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 25: Wales vs. Iran - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 25: England vs. United States - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 29: Iran vs. United States - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 29: Wales vs. England - 2 p.m.

Group C

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 22: Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 22: Mexico vs. Poland - 11 a.m.
• Nov. 26: Poland vs. Saudi Arabia - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 26: Argentina vs. Mexico - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 30: Poland vs. Argentina - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 30: Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico - 2 p.m.

Group D

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 22: Denmark vs. Tunisia - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 22: France vs. Australia - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 26: Tunisia vs. Australia - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 26: France vs. Denmark - 11 a.m.
• Nov. 30: Tunisia vs. France - 10 a.m.
• Nov. 30: Australia vs. Denmark - 10 a.m.

Group E

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 23: Germany vs. Japan - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 23: Spain vs. Costa Rica - 11 a.m.
• Nov. 27: Japan vs. Costa Rica - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 27: Spain vs. Germany - 2 p.m.
• Dec. 1: Japan vs. Spain - 2 p.m.
• Dec. 1: Costa Rica vs. Germany - 2 p.m.

Group F

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 23: Morocco vs. Croatia - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 23: Belgium vs. Canada - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 27: Belgium vs. Morocco - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 27: Croatia vs. Canada - 11 a.m.
• Dec. 1: Croatia vs. Belgium - 10 a.m.
• Dec. 1: Canada vs. Morocco - 10 a.m.

Group G

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 24: Switzerland vs. Cameroon - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 24: Brazil vs. Serbia - 2 p.m.
• Nov. 28: Cameroon vs. Serbia - 5 a.m.
• Nov. 28: Brazil vs. Switzerland - 11 a.m.
• Dec. 2: Cameroon vs. Brazil - 2 p.m.
• Dec. 2: Serbia vs. Switzerland - 2 p.m.

Group H

Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)

• Nov. 24: Uruguay vs. South Korea - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 24: Portugal vs. Ghana - 11 a.m.
• Nov. 28: South Korea vs. Ghana - 8 a.m.
• Nov. 28: Portugal vs. Uruguay - 2 p.m.
• Dec. 2: South Korea vs. Portugal - 10 a.m.
• Dec. 2: Ghana vs. Uruguay - 10 a.m.

The top two nations in each group will advance to the knockout stages of the competition. The full schedule for the knockout stages can be found here.