WORLD CUP 2022 will start a day EARLY after Fifa agreed to let hosts Qatar kick off the tournament this winter.
The World Cup hosts have played the opening game since 2006.
Before that, it tended to be the defending champion who set the wheel in motion.
But this year the competition was going to be started by Senegal vs Holland on Monday November 21.
The second game belonged to England vs Iran.
And hosts Qatar were then going to play later that day as the third game against Ecuador.
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But Qatar chiefs wanted to be the first team in action.
And the match against Ecuador will now be brought forward by a day to Sunday November 20.
The game will kick off at 7pm UK time, and there will also be a formal opening ceremony beforehand.
England vs Iran will continue to be in the second slot the next day at 1pm, with Senegal vs Holland becoming the third match in the evening. There will be no morning game.
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The decision is still yet to be formally adopted and agreed to by the Bureau of the Council, which is comprised of the six confederation presidents plus head Gianni Infantino.
However, it is just a procedure and the decision has indeed been made for Qatar to kick off the World Cup a day earlier than planned.
The winter tournament will see the Premier League take a break from November 12/13 until Boxing Day.
That gives players about a week to prepare for the start of the tournament.
And they’ll have just a similar amount of time after the final to rest before the Prem season resumes.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
