Optimistic England fans will be hoping for third time lucky as Gareth Southgate’s side launch their bid in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Three Lions have come up short in their last two major tournament appearances, with a semifinal loss to Croatia at Russia 2018 and penalty shootout heartbreak against Italy in the Euro 2020 final last year.
Their build-up to the Qatar showpiece has been far from ideal, after they were relegated in September from the top tier of the UEFA Nations League. But despite that frustration, there is a sense that England do still have the capacity to break through a mental barrier under Southgate, having constructed an unbeaten qualifying campaign to reach the World Cup.
Group B will be viewed with cautious optimism by Southgate and his squad, with star players Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling looking to fire them into the knockout stages, and beyond.
MORE: England all-time top scorers list: Where does Harry Kane rank?
England 2022 World Cup schedule
England kick off Group B with a clash against Iran in Al Rayyan, just a few hours before the second game in the group, as Wales take on the United States.
As the top seed in the group, England start their campaign with arguably their easiest fixture, taking on an Iranian side who are ranked outside the top 20 in the world in the latest FIFA rankings.
Games against the U.S. and Wales are likely to decide England’s fate as potential group winners, with a clash against Gregg Berhalter’s side painted as a potential banana skin.
The British ‘derby’ with Wales shapes up as a potentially decisive group clincher.
MORE: England Squad World Cup 2022: Players who missed out on Gareth Southgate’s selections for Qatar
Group B match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Mon, Nov. 21 | England vs. Iran | 8:00 a.m. | Khalifa International Stadium |
| Fri, Nov. 25 | England vs. USA | 2:00 p.m. | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Tues, Nov. 29 | England vs. Wales | 2:00 p.m. | Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium |
Potential knockout round schedule — if England finishes 1st in Group B
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Sun, Dec. 4 | Round of 16 | 2:00 p.m. | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Sat, Dec. 10 | Quarterfinals | 2:00 p.m. | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Wed, Dec. 14 | Semifinals | 2:00 p.m. | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Sat, Dec. 17* | Third Place Match | 10:00 a.m. | Khalifa International Stadium |
| Sun, Dec. 18 | Final | 10:00 a.m. | Lusail Stadium |
*Only in event of defeat in semifinals
Potential knockout schedule — if England finishes 2nd in Group B
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Sat, Dec. 3 | Round of 16 | 10:00 a.m. | Khalifa International Stadium |
| Fri, Dec. 9 | Quarterfinals | 2:00 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Tue, Dec. 13 | Semifinals | 2:00 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Sat, Dec. 17* | Third Place Match | 10:00 a.m. | Khalifa International Stadium |
| Sun, Dec. 18 | Final | 10:00 a.m. | Lusail Stadium |
*Only in event of defeat in semifinals
England World Cup group: Group B
England were drawn as top seeds in Group B alongside the U.S., Wales and Iran. As a Pot 1 team, England are viewed by bookmakers as the most likely to at least progress from the pool. However, the group stage draw presents three tricky ties, particularly based on their rivalry with Wales and the previous history against the United States.
In their last six World Cup appearances, England have only bowed out at the group stage once, with an average finish of the quarterfinals.
Can they go even further this year?
World Cup Group B betting odds
The pre-tournament betting odds for England and other Group B sides in the major global territories are below (odds via BetMGM for U.S., Sky Bet for U.K., Sports Interaction for Canada and Ladbrokes for Australia).
| Team | To win group |
|---|---|
| England | -350 (US) 2/5 (UK) 1.32 (CAN) 1.36 (AU) |
| USA | +550 (US) 5/1 (UK) 6.36 (CAN) 6.00 (AU) |
| Wales | +600 (US) 11/2 (UK) 6.75 (CAN) 6.00 (AU) |
| Iran | +1800 (US) 14/1 (UK) 16 (CAN) 15.00 (AU) |
| Team | To qualify |
| England | -2500 (US) 1/12 (UK) 1.05 (CAN) 1.10 (AU) |
| USA | +100 (US) 11/10 (UK) 2.02 (CAN) 2.00 (AU) |
| Wales | +120 (US) 5/4 (UK) 2.12 (CAN) 2.00 (AU) |
| Iran | +275 (US) 11/4 (UK) 5.23 (CAN) 3.50 (AU) |
| Team | To win World Cup |
| England | +800 (US) 7/1 (UK) 5.80 (CAN) 8.00 (AU) |
| USA | +10000 (US) 100/1 (UK) 90 (CAN) 101 (AU) |
| Wales | +15000 (US) 150/1 (UK) 119 (CAN) 151 (AU) |
| Iran | +50000 (US) 250/1 (UK) 301 (CAN) 501 (AU) |
World Cup Group B standings
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1: England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B2: Iran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B3: USA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B4: Wales | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
When is England vs Iran at World Cup 2022?
- Date: Monday, November 21, 2022 (Khalifa International Stadium)
- Time: 4:00 p.m. (local) / 8:00 a.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (GMT) / 12:00 a.m. (Tuesday, 22 Nov. AEDT)
England kick off their campaign against Iran, and they are one of the first sides that fans will see in action at the tournament, as their opener takes place on the first full day of group action.
Southgate will be aiming to avoid any first-day nerves, as the Three Lions have won just once in a World Cup opening group match since 2006.
When is England vs USA at World Cup 2022?
- Date: Friday, November 25, 2022 (Al Bayt Stadium)
- Time: 10:00 p.m. (local) / 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 7:00 p.m. (GMT) / 6:00 a.m. (Saturday, 26 Nov. AEDT)
England face the United States on Black Friday, November 25, in a game that looks likely to be decisive for both sides’ hopes.
It’s a monstrous matchup, with the US looking to seal a major upset, as England aim for revenge from their famous defeat to the U.S. in the 1950 World Cup.
When is England vs Wales at World Cup 2022?
- Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 (Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium)
- Time: 10:00 p.m. (local) / 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 7:00 p.m. (GMT) / 6:00 a.m. (Wednesday, 30 Nov. AEDT)
England wrap up their Group B campaign with a huge clash against rivals Wales.
This game could potentially eliminate one of the two sides from the World Cup, and crown the other as group winners, although results elsewhere in the other game between USA and Iran — played at the same time — are likely to have a major impact on the final standings.
How to watch the World Cup
Here’s how to watch the World Cup action in the major global territories:
| Territory | TV | Streaming |
| US | FOX/FS1/Telemundo (Spanish)/Universo (Spanish) | fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo En Vivo |
| Canada | TSN | TSN GO |
| UK | BBC/ITV/STV | BBC iPlayer, ITVX, STV Player |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| India | Sports18 | Voot TV |
Qatar World Cup game times
Qatar resides in the Arabian Standard Time Zone, which is GMT +3.World Cup 2022 kickoff times in the major global territories are:
Group stage:
- 1:00 p.m. (local) / 5:00 a.m. (ET) / 10:00 a.m. (GMT) / 9:00 p.m. (AEDT) / 3:30 p.m. (IST)
- 4:00 p.m. (local) / 8:00 a.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (GMT) / 12:00 a.m. (AEDT) / 6:30 p.m. (IST)
- 7:00 p.m. (local) / 11:00 a.m. (ET) / 4:00 p.m. (GMT) / 3:00 a.m. (AEDT) / 9:30 p.m. (IST)
- 10:00 p.m. (local) / 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 7:00 p.m. (GMT) / 6:00 a.m. (AEDT) / 12:30 a.m. (IST)
Knockout stage (ET):
- 6:00 p.m. (local) / 10:00 a.m. (ET) / 3:00 p.m. (GMT) / 2:00 a.m. (AEDT) / 8:30 p.m. (IST) (Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Third Place Match, Final)
- 10:00 p.m. (local) / 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 7:00 p.m. (GMT) / 6:00 a.m. (AEDT) / 12:30 a.m. (IST) (Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals)
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