The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will begin with a match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al Thumama Stadium on November 21, after the football governing body FIFA made changes to the schedule after the final draw was made in Doha on Friday.
The opening match at 1pm was supposed to involve the hosts Qatar, who were drawn to play Ecuador, but FIFA's published schedule showed a change to the kick-off times. Senegal and the Netherlands will play at 1pm local time in the opening match in the first of four games on November 21, with Qatar against Ecuador now set for 7pm at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
The other two matches on November 21 will be between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium at 4pm, while USA take on Wales or Ukraine or Scotland at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan at 10pm.
Qatar's second Group A match will be against African champions Senegal on November 25 at 4pm at the Al Thumama Stadium, with the hosts finishing their group stage engagements on November 29 with a clash against three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands at 6pm at the Al Bayt Stadium.
If Qatar do make it to the last 16 as Group A winners or runners-up, they could run into any of England, US and Iran, who are all in Group B. One of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine will take up the last spot in the Group B after the European play-offs in June.
An action-packed group stage will run until December 2, when 16 sides will make their way through to the knockout rounds. The last-16 fixtures are due to take place between December 3-6, with the quarter-finals being held on December 9 and 10.
Semi-final showdowns are pencilled in for December 13 and 14, with the final at the Lusail Stadium to be held on December 18 – the day after a third place play-off.
