FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar to begin earlier than scheduled

The tournament was supposed to start on Monday 21 November.

The opening date of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar looks set to change as FIFA seeks to begin the tournament a day earlier than scheduled.

FIFA has submitted a proposal to move Qatar’s clash with Ecuador to Sunday 20 November.

The Group A clash was due to be played on Monday 21 November at 8pm in the Al Bayt Stadium as the second game of the tournament after the opening match of Senegal versus the Netherlands at 5pm.

However, upon meeting Qatar and Ecuador and after receiving a request from the South American confederation Conmebol, FIFA wants to keep with its tradition of seeing the hosts play in the inaugural match of the tournament, a tradition that dates back to 2006 when Germany played Costa Rica.

The final decision will be made by the bureau of the FIFA council, which comprises the six confederation presidents, plus FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

If the decision is not passed, it will be the first time the host or holder of the FIFA World Cup will not play in the inaugural match or round of games since the first tournament in Uruguay in 1930.

 

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Image source FIFA World Cup

Matt Cassidy

When he is not hunting for the latest piece of Abu Dhabi news, Matt is ticking off his UAE bucket-list experiences (although he does love to take a break to test out the fine restaurants and bars of the capital). An armchair sports lover, he is on a personal mission to attend every sporting event in the UAE to make out for most likely missing the big one in Doha in November.