Months have passed after the group draw, the 2022 World Cup is expected to change the schedule of the opening ceremony and opening matches. The reason is to push the match between host Qatar and Ecuador first.
According to the results of the draw to divide the group and the original schedule, the 2022 World Cup will officially open on November 21 with the first match between the representatives of Africa – Senegal and the Netherlands at 17:00 (GMT +7).
Meanwhile, the remaining match in Group A between the host team – Qatar and the South American representative – Ecuador takes place at 23:00 (GMT+7), meaning the host will play after the match between England vs Iran in Group B (20:00 – GMT+7).
Since 2006, the World Cup host teams have been allowed to play the opening match by default. Therefore, this schedule of the 2022 World Cup will break this special “tradition”.
While the final round of the World Cup was approaching, the parties involved suddenly proposed to change the opening ceremony schedule of the 2022 World Cup to push the match between Qatar and Ecuador first. That will follow the tradition. This proposal was agreed by the two countries and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).
Many sources said that FIFA accepted this request, which means that the 2022 World Cup will start 1 day earlier than the original schedule. The match between Qatar and Ecuador will take place at 20:00 on Sunday, November 20. Pushing up the opening match also created conditions for host Qatar to organize a grand opening ceremony as expected.
Office of the FIFA Council, composed of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the Presidents of the six member Confederations (UEFA – Europe, CONMEBOL – South America, CONCACAF – North America, CAF – Africa, AFC – Asia and OFC – Oceania) will vote to accept the decision to adjust the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup or not.
If this happens, the matches between Senegal and the Netherlands, England against Iran, and the United States against Wales will also be changed on November 21.
