DOHA, Qatar โ Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
The 2022 World Cup kicks off Sunday and lasts until Dec. 18.
It will be the first World Cup in the Middle East. Thirty-two teams will play 64 matches over the course of 29 days until the winner is crowned. Here is a viewer's guide to the World Cup.
After missing the 2018 World Cup, the United States (USMNT) qualified and were slotted into Group B with Wales, England and Ireland. Group B is the most-talented group from top to bottom; it's the only one with all four teams ranked inside FIFA's top 20.
Here's everything you need to know about the USMNT three opponents:
USA vs. Wales โ Nov. 21
Wales:
- Coach: Rob Page
- Highest finish: Quarterfinals (1958)
- 2018 finish: Did not qualify
- Key players: Gareth Bale, Wayne Hennessey, Daniel James
- Storyline: It's been 64 years since Wales' only other World Cup appearance in history in 1958. The Welsh will be led by Gareth Bale, an international soccer phenom who made a name for himself playing for Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid. He recently came to MLS in 2022 to sign with LAFC and helped lead them to a MLS Cup title.
USA vs. England โ Nov. 25
England:
- Coach: Gareth Southgate
- Highest finish: Winner (1966)
- 2018 finish: Fourth
- Key players: Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Harry Kane
- Storyline: England is the highest-ranked team in this group, but are limping into the World Cup on a six-game winless run. The 2018 Golden Boot winner in Harry Kane will lead an England side looking to improve upon its fourth place finish in the 2018 World Cup and qualify for its first World Cup final since 1966. The USMNT has never lost to England in any of their three previous FIFA World Cup matches (1-0-1). In their last meeting in 2010, Landon Donovan was in the starting lineup when the U.S. earned a crucial point against England to top their group and advance to the knockout stage.
USA vs. Iran โ Nov. 29
Iran:
- Coach: Carlos Queiroz
- Highest finish: Group stage (1930)
- 2018 finish: Group stage
- Key players: Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mehdi Taremi
- Storyline: It has been labeled as โThe Mother of All Games Part II.โ Just like at the World Cup in 1998, the two countries will meet in the group stage in a politically charged matchup. Diplomatic relations have yet to be restored between the nations since being severed in 1980.
Here is a breakdown of the USMNT roster and its ties to Texas.
More World Cup coverage: