The 2022 FIFA World Cup is being broadcast around the world to billions of fans.
However, producing a global event from one location is a difficult logistical challenge, and part of that includes constructing a match schedule that takes into account both local fans and those elsewhere the world.
When matches kick off matters a great deal, as FIFA want to maximize as many broadcast markets as possible to help fans around the world tune in to watch their country take to the field as well as making as lucrative for them as possible.
While games may be in the morning and early afternoon in North America, they will be in the afternoon and evening across Europe and in middle of the night in east Asia and Oceana.
Here, The Sporting News brings you all the details regarding when games will take place and how your local time zone compares to the match kickoff times in Qatar.
MORE: All you need to know about World Cup 2022 host venue Qatar
What is the time difference in Qatar during World Cup 2022?
Most group-stage games at the FIFA 2022 World Cup kicked off at 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. locally in Qatar. Meanwhile, knockout games will kick off at 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. locally.
But what does that mean for you? For those around the world, the following guide should help you determine what time matches will kick off in your country.
| City, Country | Qatar +/- | Kickoff Times (Knockout) |
|---|---|---|
| Doha, Qatar (host) | 0 | 6:00pm, 10:00pm |
| Los Angeles, USA | -11 | 7:00am, 11:00am |
| New York City, USA | -8 | 10:00am, 2:00pm |
| Perth, Australia | +5 | 11:00pm, 3:00am* |
| Sydney, Australia | +8 | 2:00am*, 6:00am* |
| Toronto, Canada | -8 | 10:00am, 2:00pm |
| Vancouver, Canada | -11 | 7:00am, 11:00am |
| London, England | -3 | 3:00pm, 7:00pm |
| New Delhi, India | +2:30 | 8:30pm, 12:30am* |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | +5 | 11:00pm, 3:00am* |
| Auckland, New Zealand | +10 | 4:00am*, 8:00am* |
| Singapore | +5 | 11:00pm, 3:00am* |
| Hong Kong | +5 | 11:00pm, 3:00am* |
* Kickoff time is following day from local time Qatar
What is Qatar's time zone?
Qatar is in the Arabia Standard Time Zone. Here's how that compares to the rest of the world.
| City, Country | UTC +/- | Time Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Doha, Qatar (host) | +3 | Arabian Standard Time (AST) |
| Los Angeles, USA | -8 | Pacific Standard Time (PST) |
| New York City, USA | -5 | Eastern Standard Time (EST) |
| London, England | 0 | Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) |
| Perth, Australia | +8 | Australia Western Standard Time (AWST) |
| Sydney, Australia | +11 | Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST) |
| Toronto, Canada | -5 | Eastern Standard Time (EST) |
| Vancouver, Canada | -8 | Pacific Standard Time (PST) |
| New Delhi, India | +5:30 | India Standard Time (IST) |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | +8 | Malaysia Time (MT) |
| Auckland, New Zealand | +13 | New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) |
| Singapore | +8 | Singapore Standard Time (SST) |
| Hong Kong | +8 | Hong Kong Time (HKT) |
Where is the next World Cup?
The next World Cup will be in 2026, and will take place across North America with joint hosts USA, Mexico, and Canada welcoming the best teams across the globe.
North America spans four different time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific), although there are no venues for the 2026 World Cup located in the Mountain Time Zone.
The location for the 2030 World Cup has not been determined, with a number of different nations from various parts of the world submitting bids. Spain and Portugal have submitted a joint bid for the 2030 tournament that has recently brought Ukraine into the fold, while South American nations Uruguay and Argentina are also in the mix for joint hosting.