COLOMBO (News 1st) – Several key matches of 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be played today (29).

Netherlands vs. Qatar (8:30 PM)

Netherlands will enter Tuesday's Group A contest with tournament hosts Qatar knowing that a win or a draw would see them qualify for the last-16 stage of the 2022 World Cup.

Holland would also be through to the knockout round with a defeat if Ecuador beat Senegal in the section's other match, but Qatar have already been eliminated, having lost their opening two matches.

Qatar, meanwhile, have been eliminated in the group stage, with the host nation losing their opening two matches at the tournament to Ecuador and Senegal.

Felix Sanchez's side started their Group A campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador on November 20 before suffering a 3-1 loss to Senegal in their second match of the competition on Friday.

Ecuador vs. Senegal (8:30 PM)

Ecuador will be looking to seal qualification for the knockout stages of the World Cup on Tuesday, when they take on Senegal in what will likely be a winner-takes-all clash at the Khalifa International Stadium.

La Tri have been majorly impressive in Group A, with a win over Qatar on the opening day and a stalemate against the Netherlands on matchday two, while Senegal recorded a victory over Qatar in their second match of proceedings following a loss to the Netherlands in their first fixture.

Senegal have also given themselves a fighting chance of qualifying from Group A, owing to their classy victory over Qatar on matchday two of the World Cup.

In a clinical display, the Lions of Teranga dispatched their Qatari opposition by a score of 3-1, as strikes from Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou and Bamba Dieng grabbed all three points at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Iran vs. USA (12:30 AM)

After keeping their World Cup hopes alive by defeating Wales dramatically on Friday, Iran face an impressive USA side at the Al Thumama Stadium on Tuesday, with three points enough to take either team through to the knockout stages.

Despite not being able to return maximum points from any of their two opening games at this tournament, Gregg Berhalter's USA side have shown they are set to be a new prospect in international football with a young crop of energetic and athletic stars.

After decades of Americans competing at the top level in Europe being a rare sight, 10 such players donned the stars and stripes on Friday night and overran England for large parts of the encounter, with only poor finishing preventing Berhalter's men from earning their first World Cup win over the Three Lions since 1950.

Wales vs. England (12:30 AM)

A pivotal battle of the Brits takes place in World Cup 2022 Group B on Tuesday evening, as Wales take on familiar foes England at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

The Three Lions will progress to the last 16 as group winners with all three points, while Wales – who lost 2-0 to Iran on Friday – must triumph and hope that other results go their way to stand a chance of making it through.

Source: FIFA / Agencies

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