FIFA Confirms Change in World Cup opening Dates

FIFA Confirms Change in World Cup opening Dates

FIFA has confirmed that the tournament will be held a day earlier than planned to allow hosts Qatar to face Ecuador in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup. Qatar is originally set to play its first World Cup campaign on Monday (21 November). That day the competition between Group A rivals Senegal and the Netherlands was scheduled to begin.

But due to a unanimous decision taken by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, the Qatar team will now open the tournament at 7 pm local time on Sunday 20 November. Information about this has been given in the DPA’s report.

The Opening Ceremony Has Also Been Extended By one Day to November 20

“The FIFA World Cup 2022 will begin with an even bigger celebration for local and international fans, as host Qatar now takes on Ecuador on Sunday, 20 November,” a statement issued by FIFA said.

“The decision followed an assessment of competition and operational impacts, as well as an exhaustive consultation process, an agreement with key stakeholders and the host country,” the report said.

The decision moved the Netherlands’ matches against Senegal to a later time slot on 21 November, and now England’s first match in Group B will be against Iran.

World Cup hosts Germany have been involved in the tournament’s opening match since the 2006 season, where Jürgen Klinsmann’s team defeated Costa Rica 4–2.

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