With three months to go FIFA has formally brought the World Cup forward by one day and given host nation Qatar an exclusive Sunday evening slot with a global audience.
Qatar will now play Ecuador in Doha on November 20 stretching the World Cup to 29 days from the 28 agreed seven years ago after a June-July tournament was pushed back to avoid the searing desert heat in midsummer.
The surprise late switch was signed off on Thursday by a FIFA committee comprising its president Gianni Infantino and presidents of the six continental soccer bodies. FIFA said the vote was unanimous.
The plan was revealed on Wednesday after several rounds of ticket sales to fans worldwide since last year.
“FIFA will seek to address any issues arising from this change in a case-by-case basis,” soccer’s world body said Thursday regarding fans whose travel plans are affected.
The date change was said to be supported by tournament organisers in the tiny gas-rich emirate, South American soccer body CONMEBOL and the two teams’ national soccer federations.
Qatar will now make its World Cup debut kicking off against Ecuador at 7 pm local time on November 20 after an opening ceremony on the field at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium.
The opening game until Thursday’s decision was Netherlands-Senegal in Qatar’s Group A, starting at 1 pm local time on November 21, a Monday. That game is pushed back six hours to the 7 pm Monday slot vacated by Qatar-Ecuador.
The decision will disadvantage Ecuador who have several players based with European teams, and will now have one day’s less preparation with them. It also means a clash with the climax of the Formula One season at the nearby Abu Dhabi grand prix.
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