The 2022 FIFA World Cup featured 32 participating teams.
Qatar hosted the tournament from 20 November to 18 December 2022. The 32 nations were arranged into eight groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage. The competition included 64 matches across eight stadiums in five cities.
Qatar qualified automatically as the host and made its first World Cup appearance. Argentina eventually won the tournament, defeating France in a dramatic final that ended 3–3 after extra time before Argentina prevailed 4–2 on penalties.
The number 32 can cause confusion because 2022 was the final World Cup played in that format. FIFA expanded the tournament to 48 teams beginning with the 2026 edition, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The 2022 competition was also unusual for being held in November and December rather than the traditional mid-year period, because of Qatar’s summer heat.