What you need to know prior to the start of the January international break
The final countdown for the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has started and more countries can book their ticket during the January international break.
In 300 days (as of 25 January) the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will kick off and 32 teams will feature this year before it expands to 48 in 2026. One of the biggest sporting events in the world will be held for the second time in Asia and for the first time it is scheduled to start in the winter, running from 18 November to 18 December.
The international break in January is crucial for many teams around the world that are looking to book their ticket to Qatar later this year. So far, 13 countries have already qualified for the World Cup, which means there are only 19 spots left to be determined over the coming months.
Teams that have already qualified
Qatar
Germany
Denmark
Brazil
France
Belgium
Croatia
Spain
Serbia
England
Switzerland
Netherlands
Argentina
Not a lot of traveling in Qatar
Qatar is a smaller country compared to Russia 2018, so it is going to be easier for the teams to travel from venue to venue. There will be a total of 64 games during the 2022 World Cup and only five cities were chosen for the event (Doha, Al Rayyan, Al-Khor, Lusail and Al Wakrah) and eight stadiums.
The teams that could qualify during the winter break
Several teams can book their ticket during the January international break, including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, South Korea and Iran. If this happens there will only be 10 spots left for the international break in March when Italy, Wales, Portugal and Turkey have to play during the World Cup Playoff in Europe.