FIFA advanced the opening match of the 2022 World Cup by one day to November 20. This change was accommodated to let Qatar feature in the opener. Qatar against Ecuador was to be the official inauguration match on November 21 in the previous schedule. Senegal against the Netherlands would be the first match of the day. England against Iran would have been second, as per the old plan.
“Host country Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday 20 November as part of a stand-alone event,” said FIFA.
“The opening match and ceremony of this year’s tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been brought forward one day following a unanimous decision taken by the Bureau of the FIFA Council.”
Under the new plan, the Group A game between Senegal and the Netherlands has been shifted from 1:00 pm (1000 GMT) on November 21 to a 7:00 pm start. There is no change to England’s opening Group B clash against Iran. “We have to focus on those customers who are most affected. I guess in this case we will be looking at our Ecuadorian customers who are travelling from overseas.”
Official countdown clocks for the event were quickly changed. The 100-day countdown to the opening match will now start on Friday, instead of Saturday. The decision was also announced as Qatar staged the first official match at the Lusail stadium which will host the December 18 World Cup final.
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