Qatar will break from tradition at the World Cup in 2022 and will not play in the first game because of the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s plans for the opening ceremony.
That’s according to ESPN, who report Fifa have agreed to move Qatar’s opening game with Ecuador to an evening slot. Senegal and the Netherlands will instead play the first match of the tournament on November 21 before the opening ceremony is then held later that day.
No host nation has sat out the opening match of a World Cup since the 2002 edition joint-hosted by Japan and South Korea. France and Senegal played the first group stage tie on May 31 that year, while Japan later faced Belgium and South Korea met Poland on June 4.
France travelled to Asia as the defending World Cup champions, but endured a nightmare tournament. Les Bleus crashed out of the competition in the group stage after defeats by Senegal and Denmark. Uruguay also held France to a goalless draw as they finished fourth.
It was as the reigning holders that Fifa allocated the opening match to France, as was the norm between 1974 and 2002. The host nation had only held the honour of beginning the event in 1966 and 1970, before it became a customary role from Germany 2006 onwards.
Emir of Qatar’s ceremony plans will see hosts not play in opening World Cup game
Qatar will pass on playing in the first game at the 2022 World Cup because of the Emir of Qatar’s plans for the opening ceremony. Sheikh Tamim has insisted on there being a huge firework display before his nation’s first fixture with Ecuador in their first-ever appearance.
An afternoon kick-off as originally intended would significantly reduce the visual impact of the firework display. Fifa have, therefore, agreed to push Qatar and Ecuador’s match until after France face Senegal, which will also now take place before the opening ceremony.
Fifa expect Qatar will have the opening ceremony immediately preceding their first World Cup finals appearance. The event will take place on November 21 at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor in line with the first day of the World Cup. It lasted just 30 minutes at Russia 2018.
The Maroon failed to qualify for each edition between 1978 and 2018, while withdrawing during the qualifying stages in 1974. Qatar did not enter any edition before the 1974 event in Germany, while given a free pass to the first Middle Eastern edition in 2022 as host nation.
Recent results in the opening match of a World Cup
Russia held the 2018 World Cup opening ceremony at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14 before facing Saudi Arabia. The match saw Russia win 5-0, following goals by Yury Gazinsky (12), Denis Cheryshev (43, 91), Artem Dzyuba (71) and Aleksandr Golovin (94).
The Arena de Sao Paulo hosted the opening ceremony for the 20th edition in Brazil in 2014 on June 12. It proceeded the Selecao coming from behind to beat Croatia 3-1 with Neymar (29, 71 pen) and Oscar (91) getting in on the act after Marcelo’s own goal on 12 minutes.
South Africa were the last host nation to not win the opening game of a World Cup in 2010. Mexico held Bafana Bafana to a 1-1 draw at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium, with Rafael Marquez (79) hitting the Tricolor’s equaliser after Siphiwe Tshabalala’s opener (55).
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Germany, meanwhile, beat Costa Rica 4-2 in Munich to begin the World Cup finals in 2006. Philipp Lahm broke the deadlock (6), before Miroslav Klose hit a brace (17, 61) either side of Paulo Wanchope equalising (12) and later giving the Ticos hope (73) of a taking one point.
Torsten Frings (87) would ensure Die Mannschaft began their home event with a win. No host nation has lost in the opening match of a World Cup in which they have played in the opening fixture since it became customary to play the first game from Germany 2006 on.
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