The start date of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to be moved forward by one day to allow hosts Qatar to be involved in the first match.
The tournament had originally been scheduled to get underway on Monday 21 November with African champions Senegal taking on The Netherlands in Group A. However, FIFA now plans to move host nation Qatar’s opening clash against Ecuador – also in Group A – forward to Sunday 20 November as the curtain-raiser.
This has yet to be confirmed with approval being sought from by the Bureau of the FIFA Council (comprised of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the leaders of each continental confederation) but it is thought to be a formality, according to multiple reports. It will mean that the tournament will now be staged from 20 November through to the 18 December final.