The 2022 World Cup began on Sunday, November 20 in Qatar, but now it’s over the European domestic scene will kick back into life.
The tournament in the Middle East was held in unique circumstances. While it is not the first event where the hosts attracted criticism for their record on human rights, it was unique for being held outside the traditional summer months.
FIFA originally planned to hold the event as normal but it was moved to November and December, with alterations to stadia which kept pitch-side temperature within a playable climate.
Because of the move to a mid-season World Cup, the European calendar came to a halt. Champions League matches will restart in 2023 as normal after the group stages were completed in time, but the Premier League stopped with some teams having played 14 times, and others 15.
British football is famous for its festive fixture list, with Boxing Day kicking off a full roster of fixtures, and another set played a couple of days later, and more action on New Year’s Day.
WHEN DID THE 2022 WORLD CUP END?
The final was played on Sunday, December 18 in Qatar.
Argentina were crowned champions after beating France on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw.
WHEN DO PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES START AFTER THE 2022 WORLD CUP?
This year, Boxing Day marks the return of the Premier League, with teams playing either on December 26, 27 or 28.
There is then a frenetic period where every day features a match on December 30 and 31, with more games played on January 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
WHEN IS THE CARABAO CUP LAST 16?
The Carabao Cup last-16 matches were played just days after the World Cup finishes.
There were four matches scheduled for December 20. Leicester City beat MK Dons, Newcastle United downed Bournemouth and there were wins for Southampton and Wolves against Lincoln City and Gillingham.
United knocked out Burnley 2-0 on Wednesday, while Charlton – the only non-Premier League team left in the competition – beat Brighton on penalties and Blackburn Rovers overcame Nottingham Forest on the same night.
Then Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-2 on December 22. Here is the draw for the quarter-finals.
WHEN IS THE FA CUP THIRD ROUND?
The FA Cup third round takes place across the period of January 6-9, 2023.
WHEN DO EUROPEAN MATCHES RESTART?
The Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League restart in February 2023 once the big five European leagues are back in action.
The top leagues across Europe all restart at different times after the World Cup.
The Champions League is the first tournament to play games on February 14.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURE LIST FROM DECEMBER 26, 2022
26 December
- Brentford v Tottenham
- Southampton v Brighton
- Leicester City v Newcastle
- Crystal Palace v Fulham
- Everton v Wolves
- Aston Villa v Liverpool
- Arsenal v West Ham
27 December
- Aston Villa v Liverpool
- Chelsea v Bournemouth
- Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
28 December
- Leeds United v Manchester City
30 December
- West Ham v Brentford
- Liverpool v Leicester
31 December
- Wolves v Manchester United
- Manchester City v Everton
- Fulham v Southampton
- Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
- Newcastle v Leeds
- Brighton v Arsenal
1 January
- Tottenham v Aston Villa
- Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
