Cristiano Ronaldo will compete in his final World Cup in Qatar 2022, and he stands a good chance of progressing to the knockout rounds because Portugal appears to be the top team in Group H.
Following the draw held in Doha on April 1, South Korea, Ghana, and Uruguay will join Ronaldo and his colleagues on the group stage.
Champions of the World Cup twice. The second-ranked squad in the group, Uruguay, will be looking to build on its 2018 performance, which saw them go to the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual champions, France.
Ghana, a footballing giant in Africa, qualified by defeating Nigeria. South Korea, led by star Son Heung-min, will attempt to upset the bigger footballing heavyweights, as they did when they defeated Germany in Russia in 2018.
In Round 16, one of the two teams from Group H that advance would play a group from Group G.
World Cup Group H table & fixtures
Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
---|
H1: Portugal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
H2: Ghana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
H3: Uruguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
H4: South Korea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group H match schedule
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Thurs, Nov. 24 | Uruguay vs. South Korea | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
Thurs, Nov. 24 | Portugal vs. Ghana | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
Mon, Nov. 28 | South Korea vs. Ghana | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
Mon, Nov. 28 | Portugal vs. Uruguay | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Fri, Dec. 2 | South Korea vs. Portugal | 10 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
Fri, Dec. 2 | Ghana vs. Uruguay | 10 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
Each nation will face the other three teams in a round-robin manner as the four teams chosen for the group. The three group stage matches count toward the group rankings; a win earns three points, a tie earns one, and a loss earns none.
According to total points, the top two teams from each group proceed to the single-game knockouts. Goal differential comes first as a tiebreaker when teams are deadlocked on points, then goals scored. Another set of tiebreakers is used if teams are deadlocked in those areas.
Draw for World Cup Group H
Portugal
Portugal achieved what was expected by overcoming North Macedonia in the playoff round to secure a spot in Qatar 2022. They will be appearing for the sixth time at the championship game. They regularly compete on this stage but have yet to take home the victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo's appearance at the World Cup is most likely his last. All eyes will be on the 37-year-old superstar, who will be the pivotal player in Qatar and is anxious to expand his already overflowing trophy collection by winning the first team world championship. Bruno Fernandes, a teammate at Manchester United, will be essential for the Euro 2016 champions.
Despite their offensive prowess, Portugal has recently been most impressive defensively, allowing just six goals in their past ten games across all competitions.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 8 (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 6th (UEFA)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 7 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: (UEFA playoff winners: (2-0 vs. North Macedonia)
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: 2W-0L-0D (Goals: 5 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: 9W-3L-4D (Goals: 34 scored / 15 conceded)
- Coach: Fernando Santos (Portugal) since September 2014
- Star players: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United / England), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United / England), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City / England)
Ghana
After a heroic effort in the qualifying rounds, Ghana will be in Qatar. They qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2014 after defeating Nigeria on away goals in the African playoffs. In 2010, the Black Stars came close to making it to the World Cup semifinals before losing to Uruguay on penalties.
Although there aren't as many well-known names on the current roster as in the 2010 and 2014 editions, players like Thomas Partey of Arsenal and Mohammed Kudus of Ajax will both be players to watch as the event draws near.
This Ghanaian team was built on grit and tenacity, losing just two of their ten games in 2021. However, after a terrible performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, when they were eliminated at the group stage without a win, they had a point to make up on the big stage.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 60 (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 11th (CAF)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 4 (Brazil 2014)
- How qualified: (CAF Third Round winners: (agg 1-1 vs. Nigeria, Ghana win on away goals)
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: 0W-3L-3D (Goals: 4 scored / 9 conceded)
- 2021: 5W-2L-3D (Goals: 11 scored / 6 conceded)
- Coach: Otto Addo (Germany) since January 2022 — interim
- Star players: Thomas Partey (Arsenal / England), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax / Netherlands), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace / England)
Uruguay
Although Uruguay's team has quality, 2021 was an uneven year for La Celeste, who was eliminated from Copa America at the quarterfinal stage despite having high expectations.
At the 2018 World Cup, Uruguay also advanced to the Round of eight, when they were defeated by eventual champions France. In Qatar, the South Americans will continue to constantly produce players with exceptional individual talent. Even though Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, two strikers who are both 35 and in the latter stages of their careers, are still more than capable of being a severe threat in front of goal.
Uruguay has won four games in a row in 2022, including a spirit-boosting 2-0 triumph over Chile in late March. However, worries regarding their team's age and ability to handle supposedly more vigorous opponents continue to exist.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 13 (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 3rd (CONMEBOL)
- World Cup titles: 2
- World Cup appearances (last): 14 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: (CONMEBOL third place: 8W-6L-4D)
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: 4W-0L-0D (Goals: 8 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: 4W-5L-6D (Goals: 11 scored / 16 conceded)
- Coach: Diego Alonso (Uruguay) since December 2021
- Star players: Edinson Cavani (Manchester United / England), Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid / Spain), Diego Godin (Atletico Mineiro / Brazil)
South Korea
South Korea hasn't missed a World Cup since 1982, and Paulo Bento's team will compete in Qatar to continue the trend.
After already securing a place in the finals, South Korea came in second place in a problematic third-round qualification group. Bento's team had a seven-match winning streak before that, and they will be hoping for a similar surge going into the World Cup, where they will be attempting to go past the group stage for the first time since 2010.
Son Heung-min, a forward for Tottenham who frequently scores for club and country, is South Korea's most recognizable game-changer.
Hwang Hee-chan of the Wolves is a significant player for the Tigers of Asia. Can South Korea replicate their best World Cup performance, which saw them advance to the semifinals on home soil in 2002?
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 29 (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 3rd (AFC)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 10 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: AFC Third Round Group A runners-up 7W-L1-D2
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: 5W-1L-0D (Goals: 14 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: 7W-1L-2D (Goals: 20 scored / 6 conceded)
- Coach: Paulo Bento (Portugal) since August 2018
- Star players: Son Heung-min (Tottenham / England), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves / England), Kim Min-jae (Fenerbahce / Turkey)
Teams that will leave World Cup Group H behind
Sportsbooks are anticipated to post group odds for each club to advance from the group stage shortly after the World Cup Draw.
On Monday, December 5, and Tuesday, December 6, the top two teams from Group H will advance to Round 16 and compete against the top two teams from Group G.
The following knockout pairings are listed in the official FIFA 2022 World Cup fixture schedule from the Round of 16 through the championship match:
World Cup Round of 16
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Sat, Dec. 3 | 1A vs. 2B | 10 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
Sat, Dec. 3 | 1C vs. 2D | 2 p.m. | Ahmad Bin Ali |
Sun, Dec. 4 | 1D vs. 2C | 10 a.m. | Al Thumama |
Sun, Dec. 4 | 1B vs. 2A | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
Mon, Dec. 5 | 1E vs. 2F | 10 a.m. | Al Janoub |
Mon, Dec. 5 | 1G vs. 2H | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
Tues, Dec. 6 | 1F vs. 2E | 10 a.m. | Education City |
Tues, Dec. 6 | 1H vs. 2G | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
World Cup Quarterfinals
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Fri, Dec. 9 | QF1: 1E/2F vs. 1G/2H | 10 a.m. | Education City |
Fri, Dec. 9 | QF2: 1A/2B vs. 1C/2D | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
Sat, Dec. 10 | QF3: 1F/2E vs. 1H/2G | 10 a.m. | Al Thumama |
Sat, Dec. 10 | QF4: 1B/2A vs. 1D/2C | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
World Cup Semifinals
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Tues, Dec. 13 | QF2 vs. QF1 | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
Wed, Dec. 14 | QF4 vs. QF3 | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
World Cup 3rd Place
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Sat, Dec. 17 | Semifinal losers | 10 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
World Cup Final
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Sun, Dec. 18 | Semifinal winners | 10 a.m. | Lusail |
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