It is a World Cup year once again and excitement is starting to build for football’s biggest tournament which will take place in Qatar during November and December.

Moved from the summer due to the Middle Eastern country’s hot temperatures, things are sure to be a bit different this time around.

But with 32 nations competing for the crown, it will be no less thrilling and plenty will be dreaming that their name is next to be etched on the famous trophy.

So, when is the World Cup group stage draw? Read on as we bring you all the important information.

When is the 2022 World Cup group stage draw?

The group stage draw for the 2022 World Cup will be made on April 1 in Qatar’s capital city Doha, where a host of games at the finals are taking place.

This will be once 29 of the 32 teams have been decided for the tournament, with the winners of the intercontinental play-offs in June taking two of those places.

Ukraine is unable to participate in their play-off semi-final against Scotland due to Russia’s invasion, meaning that section of European qualification has been postponed until June at the earliest.

The rest of the teams will be left with over seven months to prepare for their opponents before the tournament gets started on November 21.

FIFA has confirmed the pots for the draw will be based on their rankings at the end of the current international break on March 29.

Qatar will be in Pot One alongside the seven highest-ranked nations to make the finals, which will include England, while the three teams yet to qualify will be represented as placeholders in Pot Four.

Which teams have qualified?

As a host nation, Qatar has an automatic place at this year’s finals.

Four-time winners Germany became the first country to seal their spot through qualification by topping their group with a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia in October 2021.

England was in the hat a month later, as were defending champions France, while the tournament’s most successful side in Brazil was the first to qualify from South America.

Qualified World Cup 2022 teams: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay.

Source: Livescore.