FIFA has officially announced that Qatar World Cup 2022 is set to begin a day sooner than planned permitting the hosts to play the initial round of the competition on November 20 following the opening ceremony.
According to the current schedule released after the draw on April 1, Netherlands and Senegal play the primary match of the World Cup at 1pm (10:00 GMT) on November 21 with Qatar taking on Ecuador at 7pm (16:00 GMT) in the third match occurring on the first day of the season.
The change is "in accordance with the long-standing tradition of opening matches involving hosts or reigning champions,” a statement said.
"The first match and the inaugural ceremony of the current year's tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been brought one day earlier following a consistent choice taken by the Bureau of the FIFA Council," it added. The opening ceremony will be followed by a game between Qatar and Ecuador.
The decision followed an assessment of the competition and operational implications, as well as a thorough consultation process and an agreement with key stakeholders and the host country,” the statement said.
It is sure that the Qatar World Cup 2022 will see the greatest footballing competition on the globe that comes to the Middle East unexpectedly.
Because of Qatar's desert environment, the nation experiences intense heat throughout the mid year, with temperatures increasing above 40°C. To safeguard fans and players of the FIFA World Cup, the competition in Qatar was moved to winter, when temperatures are at a more agreeable 15°C.
