Fifa looks to start World Cup in Qatar 1 day earlier

Gulf Today Report

The 2022 Fifa World Cup will start in Qatar on November 20 instead of the twenty-first of the same month, after the organizers decided to present the opening match by one day, according to sources in Fifa.

The opening match between Qatar and Ecuador was supposed to take place on November 21, but it was not the first match that day.

The sources reported that the International Football Association Board (FIFA) and the Qatari organisers agreed to the amendment.

A Sunday start for the World Cup had been ruled out several years ago when a shorter, 28-day tournament schedule was agreed to by Fifa after talks with influential leagues in Europe which will play club games through Nov. 13.

However, a Qatar-Ecuador game involves few players who are with European clubs and would give the host nation an exclusive day to open its tournament.