The opening match and ceremony are set for the 60, 000 capacity Al Bayt Stadium in the capital, Doha.
Here is everything you need to know about the first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador.
The two sides are ranked 50 and 44 respectively- they are the lowest-ranked teams in Group A which also has Senegal and Netherlands.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two have met three times – all matches taking place in Qatar. Each has won once and they have drawn one in matches that saw both score 6 goals each.
The last meeting ended 4-3 in favour of Qatar in a friendly match played in October 2018.
Qatar are unbeaten in their last three matches at the Al Bayt Stadium, scoring nine goals without allowing a single goal.
COACHES
Led by Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, the Maroons of Qatar will be making their first-ever appearance at a World Cup and will be hoping to make it to the next round from a tough group of some serious contenders.
Ecuador on the other hand has one of the youngest teams in the tournament with an average age of 25. They qualified behind Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay and lost only once at home during the qualifiers.
They are going into the tournament under the guidance of Argentinian coach Gustavo Alfaro, favoring a 4-4-2 formation as they look to ensure they go past the round of 16 which they reached in 2006.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Akram Afif – Qatar
The 25-year-old left-winger plays in his home country for Al Sadd. He was named Asian footballer of the year in 2019 as he provided 10 assists and scored 1 goal to help Qatar win the Asian Cup for the first time.
Moises Caicedo – Ecuador
At only 21 years of age, the Brighton box-to-box midfielder is known for providing balance and defensive solidity to the new-look young Ecuadorian team. He also possesses the ability to make effective passes and penetrating runs in the opponent’s area.
