Every four years, the football/futbol/soccer world becomes enraptured in the World Cup. The 2022 edition of the world’s most popular sporting event takes place in host nation Qatar and runs from Sunday, Nov. 20, to Sunday, Dec. 18.
Soccer fans will be eager to follow along as the best footballers on the planet represent their countries on the grandest stage of the most beautiful game.
In addition to the next generation of talent taking center stage, legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be making what will likely be their final appearance at the World Cup.
Tournament favorites Brazil will be searching for their first World Cup victory in 20 years, while France looks to defend their championship from 2018 in Russia.
Who are your picks to win the 2022 World Cup? Fill your winners by printing out the bracket below.
World Cup Bracket 2023 Printable
Download our 2022 World Cup Bracket PDF to relive the tournament
2022 World Cup Format
The World Cup tournament format breaks down the 32-team field into two portions of competition: the group stage and the knockout rounds.
Group Stage
The 32 nations that qualify will first participate in group play, with eight batches of four teams each.
Each side plays the other three members of the group once. After that, the top two teams will advance from each group, based on which teams earn the most points from their win-draw-loss records. (A team is rewarded three points for a win and one for a draw. No points are given for a loss.)
Goal differential will break any ties for total points within the group to determine the 16 teams to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Knockout Stages
After World Cup teams are whittled down to 16, a single-elimination bracket ensues.
Keep up with our World Cup odds throughout each stage of the 2022 tournament.
2022 World Cup Schedule: Fixture Dates & Kickoff Times
All World Cup match kickoffs are listed in Eastern Standard Time.
Third-Place Match
Saturday, Dec. 17
Croatia 2-1 Morocco
World Cup Final
Sunday, Dec. 18
Argentina 3-3 France (Argentina wins 4-2 on PK)
