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Qatar and Ecuador lock horns in the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Catch all the latest and live updates here.
FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar vs Ecuador Live Blog: FIFA World Cup 2022 officially kicks off today in Qatar. The host nation is facing South American side Ecuador in the opening game of the mega sports event on Sunday. But before the real football action begins, a World Cup opening ceremony is being staged at the Al Bayt Stadium to declare the tournament 'open.'
Jungkook, the singer of South Korea's popular band BTS, is among those scheduled to perform at the opening ceremony. The stadium can house 60,000 people, so it will be a spectacular occasion. It will be followed by the inaugural match.
32 teams are competing in eight groups of 4 each in Qatar. The group stage will be followed by the knockout stage which will have the round of 16, quarter final, semi final and final. A total of 64 matches will be played between November 20 and December 18, 2022. The matches will be played at eight state-of-the-art world class stadiums across Qatar which have been built from scratch exclusively for the FIFA World Cup 2022. The tournament has seen several controversies even before it has begun.
FIFA World Cup 2022 match 1, Qatar vs Ecuador live updates
Qatar and Ecuador lock horns in the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at 9:30 pm (IST) on Sunday, November 20 at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor. Both the teams are in Group A. The second match day on Monday is a triple header - England vs Iran at 6:30 pm (IST), Senegal vs Netherlands at 9:30 pm (IST), and US vs Wales at 12:30 am (Tuesday in India).
FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar vs Ecuador Live Streaming details
In India, the FIFA World Cup 2022 live streaming is available on the JioCinema mobile app and website. The first match of the competition, Qatar vs Ecuador will begin at 9:30 PM. Persons looking to livestream the match online can register with their mobile number on the website and the mobile app.
Follow all the latest updates from the opening ceremony and the Qatar vs Ecuador, Match 1 at FIFA World Cup 2022 with this live blog.
Ecuador have been propelled to the top of Group A by their captain and record goal scorer Enner Valencia. Hosts Qatar start their historical first FIFA World Cup campaign wih a night to forget.
QAT 0-2 ECU
Enner Valencia 16' (pen), 31'
Moises Caicedo and Michael Estrada are withdrawn. Kevin Rodriguez and Alan Franco come in for Caicedo and Estrada. Five minutes of extra time added at the end of 90 minutes.
QAT 0-2 ECU
Enner Valencia 16' (pen), 31'
Enner Valencia appears to be having trouble with his knee and Ecuador have no need to take any risks with their in-form captain. The likely match-winner is replaced by Jose Cifuentes.
QAT 0-2 ECU
Enner Valencia 16', 31' (pen)
Another chance! Good play by Ecuador leads to an opportunity for Romario Ibarra. The winger tries to bend a goal into the far bottom corner but Qatar keeper Al Sheeb makes a fine save. Earlier, another Ecuador chance went begging full-back Preciado shot it way off the mark from distance.
QAT 0-2 ECU after 60'
Both teams are back to the field at the Al Bayt Stadium. Ecuador in yellow, Qatar in maroon. The South American side gets the second half underway.
QAT 0-2 ECU (2nd half begins)
Odds are heavily on Ecuador's side after the first half. Qatar need to find an early breakthrough if they hope to turn things around.
Win probability
Ecuador: 95.7%
Qatar: 0.6%
Draw: 3.7%
Possession: QAT 46%-54% ECU
Corners: QAT 0-0 ECU
Free Kicks: QAT 9-9 ECU
Offsides: QAT 2-2 ECU
Shots: QAT 1-3 ECU
Shots on Target: QAT 0-2 ECU
Shot accuracy: QAT 0%-67% ECU
Fouls: QAT 9-8 ECU
Yellow cards: QAT 3-1 ECU
Red cards: QAT 0-0 ECU
Penalties scored: QAT 0-1 ECU
Penalties missed: QAT 0-0 ECU
Qatar star striker Almoez Ali has not had any decent delivery but that was a great cross into the Ecuador penalty box. Almoez rose to meet the ball but couldn't connect properly. Heads it wide as the referee blows the whistle. That's then end of the first 45.
Ecuador are in a comfortable position going into half time. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez needs to give the team a pep talk in the dressing room if they are to turn the match around.
Ecuador captain Enner Valencia received treatment after picking up a knock but appears to be limping. The South American side await half time whistle and will look to sort out the injury scare to the skipper who has already scored a brace.
Watch Ecuador forward Enner Valencia's cracking header to double the lead against Qatar in the opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
GOAL: Qatar 0 - 2 Ecuador. ENNER VALENCIA AGAIN! WHAT A PLAYER! #FIFAWorldCup2022
— FootballArenaTV (@FootballArenaTV) November 20, 2022
pic.twitter.com/FhhNQDKrvp
FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar vs Ecuador Live Streaming details & match score updates: Valencia DOUBLES the lead, brilliantly heads it home
A fine cross into the box from the right flank is met perfectly by Ecuador skipper Enner Valencia who heads it into the ground and the out of the reach of the keeper into the side netting. Qatar need to find a way back. The night is turning into a forgettable one for the hosts.
QAT 0-2 ECU
Enner Valencia 16' (Pen), 31'
Captain Enner Valencia has become the first Ecuador footballer to score four goals at FIFA World Cup after scoring from the spot against Qatar.
Composed pic.twitter.com/d1pBPGmePJ
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
Enner Valencia slots it low and to the right of the keeper and into the net. Ecuador SCORE! Not a great start to the World Cup for hosts Qatar.
QAT vs ECU: 0-1 (Valencia 16' pen)
The VAR decision against Ecuador and in favour of Qatar is raising some eyebrows on social media. Internet is not sure if an Ecuadorian was really offside. Have a look:
Semi-automatic offside makes its debut inside five minutes. It’s close though #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/XA9L5h9e4I
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) November 20, 2022
How was that offside? What happened to SAOT?xmb #QatarWorldCup2022 #QATECU
— Mark Bosnich (@TheRealBozza) November 20, 2022
Ecuador celebrated as skipper Valencia scored but the VAR has disallowed the goal. An Ecuador player was offside in the run up to the goal.
Ecuador captain Enner Valence has scored in the third minute of the match. A littly messy affair inside the Qatar penalty box. Ecuador players take multiple touches and a bicycle assist to Valencia who heads it home.
QAT vs ECU: 0-1 (Enner Valencia 3')
Qatar kick the ball into action and we are underway. All eyes on Ecuador's star man Moises Caicedo who makes his World Cup debut.
QAT vs ECU: 0-0 (1st half kicks off)
The referee for Qatar vs Ecuador match is Daniele Orsato from Italy. Assistant referees are Ciro Carbone and Alessandro Giallatini. The fourth official is Romanian Istvan Kovacs. Players are coming on to the ground.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 is set to get underway with the exciting opening clash between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. The match kicks of in 5 minuts at 9:30 pm (IST). Stay tuned for all the live updates.
Huge clashes in the first week of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Netherlands vs Senegal, Germany vs Japan, England vs USA, Argentina vs Mexico and France vs Denmark. Check out the full schedule, including venues, below:
Here's your first course of #FIFAWorldCup action! #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/6z3ccXkDen
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
The stage is set and the starting lineups have been announced. Video shows Qatar footballers getting off from the team bus inside the Al Bayt Stadium ahead of kickoff.
Fully focused #Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
BTS fame Jung Kook’s highly-anticipated performance at the FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony has begun. Here’s how to watch:
Jung Kook in the house!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
How to watch FIFA World Cup 2022 Opening Ceremony | READ here
FIFA World Cup 98 winning former France captain Marcel Desailly holds the trophy aloft in Qatar ahead of the opening fixture between Qatar and Ecuador.
#Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/M12SGs8tXp
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
The atmosphere is building with a sea of yellow in the stadium. Fans of Ecuador are in quite contrast to the ones of Qatar. The red and maroon flags are giving their opponents a match. Here are glimpses from inside stadium. Just an hour left for the big curtain raiser
The atmosphere is building! pic.twitter.com/jpH28QL2Ze
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
The hosts are also making their FIFA World Cup debut and can script history by winning their first match against Ecuador. They have the home advantage and will be hoping to be behind some upsets. Ecuador presents an important match that Qatar would need to win. Their next two group stage opponents are tricker - Senegal and Netherlands.
Apart from South Africa, every other host nation has gone beyond the group stage at the FIFA World Cup. Qatar will be betting to continue that tradition. Coach Felix Sanchez will have a Qatar team which has never seen such talent before. The attacking duo of Akram Afif and Almoez Ali are key players for Qatar.
Surprise qualifiers Ecuador have the perfect opportunity to script an upset and become the first team to get three points at the World Cup. Hosts Qatar are not an unbeatable side and Ecuador have a talented group of youngsters. The next two matches against Netherlands and Senegal will be tougher.
20-year-old Moises Caicedo, the engine room in the midfield, will be key to their fortunes. More. Veteran forward Enner Valencia will hope to hit the ground running. Another player who might turn out to be the star for Ecuador is Gonzalo Plata.
60-year-old Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro has had a remarkable stint, taking charge after Ecuador failed to qualify for Russia World Cup 2018 and beating the likes of Chile to earn a spot in Qatar.
This is the fourth time that Ecuador will feature in FIFA World Cup.
South Korean sensation BTS’ Jungkook headlines the lineup of performers at the ceremony. Others include J Balvin, Black Eyed Peas, Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, Lil Baby (creator of World Cup 2022 official anthem) and Indian actress Nora Fatehi.
Hosts Qatar are up against footballing giants Netherlands in Group A. The other big team is Senegal. However, the African champions are without their starman Sadio Mane. The Bayern star was injured right before the tournament. Ecuador also cannot be ruled off from making an upset.
Players to watch out include Akram Afif for Qatar, Moises Caicedo and Enner Valencia for Ecuador, Virgil van Dyjk, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay for Netherlands, and Kalidou Koulibaly for Senegal.
Qatar and Ecuador have previously faced each other three times, with each winning one of the three meetings. The first meeting between the teams occurred in February 1996 and ended in a 1-1 tie. The South American Giants, Ecuador, won the second game 2-1 a week later. Qatar won their most recent meeting 2-1 in an entertaining contest in October 2018. Ecuador received two red cards throughout the game, but they responded strongly and finished second.
The FIFA Fan Festival opening was a proper carnival #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/iqkke9I9fy
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar left on a two-day trip to Qatar on Sunday, where he will represent India at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. Dhankhar is in Doha at the request of Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Hon'ble Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar emplane for Doha, Qatar to attend the inauguration of the FIFA World Cup 2022. @MEAIndia @IndEmbDoha @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/rFN5snMPNN
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) November 20, 2022
Al-Bayt Stadium is all decked up and ready for our fans #Qatar2022 #AlAnnabi #AllForAlAnnabipic.twitter.com/xoqEvGAHNX
— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) November 20, 2022
The temperature in Qatar is forecast to hover between 21 - 26 degrees Celsius. In comparison to the summer, conditions would be extremely difficult to play football in, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees on certain days.
Ecuador: Alexander Dominguez, Robert Arboleda, Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Pervis Estupinan, Jhegson Mendez, Ayrton Caicedo, Gonzalo Plata, Jose Cifuentes, Romario Ibarra, Enner Valencia
The Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 will feature 32 teams from five confederations competing for football's ultimate prize. Only the top two teams will advance to the knockout stages after being sorted into eight groups of four (A to H).
There will be up to 64 matches played over the span of 29 days, making it the shortest 32-team FIFA World Cup in history.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony will begin at around 7:30 PM IST. BTS's Jungkook and Indian actress Nora Fatehi are among the celebs likely to steal the show during the opening ceremony.
Following the opening ceremony, Qatar will face Ecuador in the first game of the tournament at the Al Bayt Stadium. Both teams will be hoping to start the rivalry on a high note.
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