Following a unanimous decision by the FIFA Council Presidency, the tournament will now start on 20 November instead of 21 November when three matches were scheduled, with Senegal against the Netherlands scheduled to open the tournament earlier.
“The 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick off with an even bigger celebration for local and international fans as host nation Qatar will now take on Ecuador in a standalone event on Sunday 20 November at 19:00 CET,” it said said in a statement from FIFA.
The decision ensures “the continuation of a longstanding tradition” of either the hosts or the defending champions playing in the first game of a World Cup.
It “followed an assessment of competition and operational impact, as well as a thorough process of consultation and agreement with key stakeholders and the host country,” the statement continued.
As a result of this move, Senegal’s game against the Netherlands was postponed from the afternoon to the evening of November 21st. However, the player release period remains unchanged and starts on November 14th.
FIFA also noted that “ticket holders will be duly notified via email that the relevant matches have been postponed and their tickets will remain valid regardless of the new date/time”.
A statement released Friday by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy of the Qatar 2022 World Cup reiterated the host country’s support for the decision.
“The impact of this decision on fans has been assessed by FIFA. We will work together to ensure a smooth tournament for fans affected by the change.”
“100 Days to Go, Qatar is ready. We look forward to welcoming the world to a historic edition of the FIFA World Cup.”
The tournament will now take place from November 20th to December 18th.