Group A of every World Cup includes the host nation, and this year's version is no different as Qatar were seeded as team A1 at the draw earlier this year.
With such a spot comes very high expectations, especially given that the Qataris will be making their World Cup debut on home soil. The host nation was originally not scheduled to feature in the opening match of the tournament, but FIFA announced in August that Qatar vs. Ecuador would be rescheduled for Sunday, November 20, starting the competition a day earlier.
Regardless, the debutant side will have their work cut out for them in a group that includes Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador. All three of those teams feature players who have experienced the highest levels of competition, which will pose a massive challenge for a Qatari team coming off their first Asian Cup title.
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As the traditional powers of the group, the Dutch will be seen as the favourites to top Group A. Should they play to their potential, the Netherlands will leave the remaining three sides to battle it out for second place, but manager Louis van Gaal knows that anything can happen in international tournaments.
World Cup 2022 Group A: Dates, kick-off times
All kick-off times are listed in Arabia Standard Time.
| Date | Time | Fixture | Venue |
| Nov. 20 | 19:00 | Qatar vs. Ecuador | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Nov. 21 | 13:00 | Senegal vs. Netherlands | Al Thumama Stadium |
| Nov. 25 | 16:00 | Qatar vs. Senegal | Al Thumama Stadium |
| Nov. 25 | 19:00 | Netherlands vs. Ecuador | Khalifa International Stadium |
| Nov. 29 | 18:00 | Ecuador vs. Senegal | Khalifa International Stadium |
| Nov. 29 | 18:00 | Netherlands vs. Qatar | Al Bayt Stadium |
World Cup 2022 Group A: How to watch
- UK: BBC, ITV
- USA: FOX, FS1, Telemundo
- Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS
- Australia: SBS, SBS Viceland
For listings in your region, consult FIFA.com.