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The opening match between Qatar and Ecuador takes place at Al Bayt Stadium
Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach / REUTERS
Since the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the host country has played the official opening game of a tournament.
At that time, Germany won 4: 2 (2: 1), against Costa Rica, in 2010 hosts South Africa separated from Mexico 1: 1 (0: 0), in 2014 Brazil defeated Croatia 3: 1 (1: 1) and four years later Russia started with a 5-0 (2-0) against Saudi Arabia in the home tournament.
It will be the same in Qatar in 2022, but the organizers were surprised when the game plan was presented one day after the group draw: The encounter between Qatar and Ecuador will still be called the opening game, but will only be the third game of the first World Cup matchday.
According to the match schedule, Senegal meets the Netherlands on November 21 at 11 a.m. (1 p.m. local time).
Only after the duel in Group B between England and Iran (14:00 CET) will Qatar make their World Cup debut against Ecuador at 17:00 CET in the Al Bayt Stadium.
The fourth game will follow at 20:00 CET between the USA and a European representative who has yet to be determined.
Germany plays once at 2 p.m., twice at 8 p.m
The German national soccer team begins its World Cup mission in Qatar on November 23 at 2 p.m. CET with the first group game against Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The top game in Group E against Spain on November 27th and the final against Costa Rica or New Zealand on December 1st will take place during German prime time.
Both matches start at 20:00 CET at the Al Bayt Stadium.
The tournament runs until December 18th.
The final will take place in Lusail.
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