As host nation Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday, November 20, at 19:00 as part of a stand-alone event, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will begin with an even larger celebration for local and international fans.
Following a unanimous vote by the FIFA Council Bureau today, the opening ceremony and game of this year’s tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been moved up one day. This has resulted to the match between Senegal and the Netherlands being moved from 13:00 to 19:00 on Monday, November 21.
The modification guarantees the continuation of a long-standing custom that sees an opening ceremony mark the beginning of the FIFA World Cup on the occasion of the first game involving either the hosts or the reigning champions. Following an evaluation of the competition and its operational ramifications, extensive engagement with key stakeholders, and agreement with the host nation, the decision was made.
Beginning on November 14, 2022, the release period will continue to be governed by the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, as previously decided and decided. Tickets will remain valid regardless of the revised date/time, and ticket holders will get proper notification via email that the relevant matches have been rescheduled. FIFA will also work to rectify any problems brought on by this modification on a case-by-case basis.