The two most recent World Cup runners-up aim to return to the grandest stage of them all as Argentina face Croatia in the semifinals of Qatar 2022.
Argentina reached the final in 2014, where they were defeated 1-0 by Germany in extra time. The Croatians reached the final four years later, and although they fared better on the scoreboard with two goals, it wasn't enough against a high-octane France side that claimed the sport's ultimate prize with a 4-2 victory.
Like they did in Russia, Croatia have taken the long road to get to the semifinals, winning penalty shoot-outs in each of the round of 16 and quarterfinal stages. With so much football under their belts in such a short period of time, there are concerns that some of Croatia's older players — notably stars Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic — will not have had enough time to recover ahead of a high-intensity match against the reigning Copa America champions.
However, the Argentines themselves are also coming off 120 minutes plus penalties in their quarterfinal victory over the Nethlerlands, and similar concerns surrounding captain Lionel Messi have arisen.
Regardless, both teams enter the match with the knowledge that a victory on Tuesday puts them one step away from the World Cup trophy. That's motivation enough to play through tired legs.
QATAR 2022: Complete fixture list | All 8 World Cup stadiums
Here's everything you need to know about Tuesday's match.
Argentina vs. Croatia: What time is kickoff at Qatar 2022?
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 13
- Time: 2:00 p.m. EST / 7:00 p.m. GMT / 8:00 p.m. CET
The match is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. local time at Lusail Stadium in Doha. That's 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 7:00 p.m. GMT or 8:00 p.m. CET.
Argentina vs. Croatia: How to watch on TV or streaming
- USA: FOX, Telemundo, fuboTV
- UK: ITV One, ITV Hub, S4C (Wales)
- Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS
- Australia: SBS
- Argentina: DIRECTV Sports, TyC Sports
- Croatia: HRT
Viewers in the United States can watch the match on FOX (English) or Telemundo (Spanish). FOX can be streamed live on fuboTV (start your free trial today).
In Croatia, the match is available on HRT. Viewers in Argentina can watch on DIRECTV Sports or TyC Sports.
For listings in your region, consult FIFA.com.
Argentina vs. Croatia: What stadium is hosting the match?
Lusail Iconic Stadium
The largest stadium in Qatar, the Lusail Iconic Stadium looks to live up to its name as the jewel of the 2022 World Cup.
With seating for 80,000 fans, the venue will host the most games of the tournament, with the highlight being the final on December 18. Before that date, another nine matches will be played there, including two group stage games each for powerhouses Brazil and Argentina. Following the group stage, the Lusail Stadium will host one match from each knockout round.
After the World Cup is over, the stadium is expected to be downsized considerably.
World Cup 2022 Semifinals: Dates, kick-off times
All kick-off times are listed in Arabia Standard Time .
Tuesday, December 13
- Argentina vs. Croatia, 22:00
Wednesday, December 14
- France vs. Morocco, 22:00