World Cup 2022 to kick off 1 day earlier to give Qatar opening match

Hosts Qatar to face Ecuador on Nov. 20 as part of stand-alone event, FIFA says

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - The start date of the Qatar World Cup 2022 was moved one day earlier, the world governing body of football confirmed on Thursday.

"The FIFA World Cup 2022™ will kick off with an even greater celebration for local and international fans as host country Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday, 20 November at 19:00 as part of a stand-alone event," FIFA said in a statement

"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 today. Consequently, the encounter between Senegal and the Netherlands has been rescheduled from 13:00 to 19:00 on Monday, 21 November," it added.

The 22nd edition of the international football showpiece event, which is the first-ever winter World Cup, is scheduled to last from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, with 32 teams in eight groups.

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