Soccer World Cup in Qatar is scheduled to start a day earlier on November 20th

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One of the World Cup stadiums in the desert state of Qatar

Photo: MUSTAFA ABUMUNES / AFP

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is expected to start earlier than originally planned.

This was reported by "The Athletic" and the news agencies AFP and Reuters with reference to sources from the World Cup organization.

Accordingly, the new start date is November 20, a Sunday.

The final date, December 18, should remain unchanged.

Previously, the game between hosts Qatar and Ecuador in Group A was supposed to take place on November 21, so the official "opening game" and ceremony would not have been the first game of the tournament.

Earlier on the same day, Senegal would have played the Netherlands (Group A) and England played Iran (Group B).

Since the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the hosts have always played the opening game.

Previously it had been the defending champion.

According to media reports, the decision to postpone the opening game by one day still has to be approved by the Executive Committee.

Accordingly, it is to be expected that the application will be approved.

The committee is chaired by Fifa President Gianni Infantino.

Due to the climatic conditions in the country on the Arabian peninsula, the World Cup in Qatar will be the first not to take place in the summer.

The professional leagues will take extended winter breaks for this.

The Bundesliga will pause from November 13th.

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