The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F, Belgium, Croatia, Canada, and Morocco are all poised to compete for a spot in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
In this group, 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia will face 2018 World Cup semi finalists Belgium in a clash that will undoubtedly be seen across the world.
Canada will compete in the event for the first time since 1986, and they will be hopeful about their potential of reaching the knockout stage after placing first in their qualification group. Morocco is the other team in Group F, hoping to reclaim the African flag following a creditable 2-2 draw with Spain in Russia 2018.
On Wednesday, November 23, Belgium will face Canada in the first match of the group stage, while Morocco will face Croatia on the same day.
In the Round of 16, the two clubs from Group F would face a team from Group E.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match schedule
|
Date |
Match |
Time (IST) |
Time (BDT) |
Stadium |
|
23 Nov 2022 |
Morocco vs. Croatia |
14:30 |
15:00 |
Al Bayt |
|
22/23 Nov 2022 |
Belgium vs. Canada |
23:30 |
00:00 |
Ahmad Bin Ali |
|
27 Nov 2022 |
Belgium vs. Morocco |
17:30 |
18:00 |
Al Thumama |
|
27 Nov 2022 |
Croatia vs. Canada |
20:30 |
21:00 |
Khalifa Int’l |
|
1 Dec 2022 |
Croatia vs. Belgium |
19:30 |
20:00 |
Ahmad Bin Ali |
|
1 Dec 2022 |
Canada vs. Morocco |
19:30 |
20:00 |
Al Thumama |
Each of the four teams in the group will play the other three nations in a round-robin form. The points from those three group-stage games are used to determine the group rankings – three points for a victory, one point for a tie, and none for a defeat.
The single-game knockouts are held for the top two squads in each group based on total points. If two clubs are tied on points, the first tiebreaker is goal differential, followed by goals scored. If teams are tied in those areas as well, a different set of tiebreakers is used.
IFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F Teams Overview
Belgium, one of the best in the region for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, has been assigned to Group F, which includes Croatia, Morocco, and Canada.
Before the event, here’s a look at each club.
Belgium
- Current FIFA world ranking: 2nd (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 1st (UEFA)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 13 (Russia 2018)
- Manager: Roberto Martinez since August 2016
- Star Players: Kevin De Bryune (Manchester City / England), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea / England), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid / Spain)
- How qualified: UEFA Group E winners: 6W-0L-2D
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-1 / Lose-0 / Draw-1 (Goals: 5 scored / 2 conceded)
- 2021: Win-11 / Lose-3 / Draw-3 (Goals: 39 scored / 15 conceded)
Belgium may no longer be the world’s top-ranked squad, having been surpassed by Brazil in the FIFA rankings, but they can still call on several key members of their great era and will be expected to perform well in Qatar.\
Coach Roberto Martinez, on the other hand, must hope that this is the year the Red Devils finally live up to the pre-tournament hype and win some trophies. It could be difficult to stop with players like Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku.
Belgium was eliminated in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020 and was knocked out of the 2018 World Cup semis. They have a decent possibility of advancing far again this time, but they will need to be more composed in tense situations.
Croatia
- Current FIFA world ranking: 16th (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 11st (UEFA)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 5 (Russia 2018)
- Manager: Zlatko Dalic since October 2017
- Star players: Luka Modric (Real Madrid / Spain), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan / Italy), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas / Turkey)
- How qualified: UEFA Group H winners: 7W-1L-2D
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-1 / Lose-0 / Draw-1 (Goals: 3 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: Win-8 / Lose-4 / Draw-4 (Goals: 29 scored / 14 conceded)
Croatia has also been assigned to Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
Croatia stunned many by making the 2018 World Cup final, where they were defeated by France. However, they didn’t perform as well at Euro 2020, where they were dismissed in the Round of 16.
Luka Modric, the cornerstone of Real Madrid, is still a fantastic player despite his advanced age. The 35-year-old will be looking to make an impression in what will almost certainly be his final World Cup.
Croatia shined in qualification, losing only once — in Slovenia — but despite being hopeful of progressing from the group stage, it’s hard to see Zlatko Dalic’s team having another long run in the tournament.
Morocco
- Current FIFA world ranking: 24th (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 2nd (CAF)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 5 (Russia 2018)
- Manager: Vahid Halilhodzic since August 2019
- Star players: Sofaine Boufal (Angers / France), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain / France), Ayoub Al Kaabi (Hatayspor / Turkey)
- How qualified: CAF Third Round winner: agg 5-2 vs. DR Congo
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-4 / Lose-1 / Draw-2 (Goals: 13 scored / 7 conceded)
- 2021: Win-17 / Lose-0 / Draw-3 (Goals: 49 scored / 6 conceded)
Morocco is considered one of the best teams on the African continent, and they will have plenty of star power in Qatar 2022, where they will compete for the sixth time in the finals.
Much will be expected of Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi, but he should be well backed by the likes of Sofaine Boufal — who has Premier League experience having previously played for Southampton — and Ayoub Al Kaabi, who plays for Hatayspor in the Turkish Super Lig and is the team’s most potent top striker.
Morocco advanced to the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year before being eliminated by eventual champions Egypt, and might be a surprise contender to reach the final.
Canada
- Current FIFA world ranking: 38th (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 4th (CONCACAF)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 1 (Mexico 1986)
- Manager: John Herdman since January 2018
- Star players: Jonathan David (Lille / France), Junior Hoilett (Reading / England), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich / Germany)
- How qualified: CONCACAF winners: 8W-2L-4D
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-4 / Lose-2 / Draw-0 (Goals: 10 scored / 2 conceded)
- 2021: Win-13 / Lose-2 / Draw-4 (Goals: 55 scored / 11 conceded)
For the first time in 36 years, Canada will compete in the World Cup after an excellent qualification campaign that saw them finish first in the CONCACAF standings.
As they clinched the spot in Qatar by defeating Jamaica 4-0 in Toronto in late March, that was a huge milestone for both players and supporters, with talisman Alphonso Davies breaking down in tears live on his Twitch broadcast as he watched his team finish the mission.
Davies missed that game after contracting myocarditis (heart inflammation) after contracting COVID-19, and Canada will need the Bayern Munich star back and blazing on all cylinders if they are to advance. Coach John Herdman will be attempting to make history by becoming the first individual to guide a team to the World Cups in both the women’s and men’s divisions.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F to advance
December 5 & 6, the first- and second-place finishers in Group F will proceed to the Round of 16, where they will meet the two teams who advanced from Group E.
