dpa/tnn
Doha
Hosts Qatar play the official opening match of the World Cup on November 21 against Ecuador but two other games are actually scheduled for earlier that day.
The match schedule released by the world governing body FIFA says that the other teams in Group A, Senegal and the Netherlands, will play the first match of the tournament at the Al Thumama Stadium at 1pm local time (1000 GMT).
Group B then open with England v Iran at 1300 GMT before Qatar play Ecuador at 7pm Doha Time (1600 GMT) at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor in the formal tournament opener which is to be preceded by a short opening ceremony.
The second Group B game between the United States and either Ukraine, Scotland or Wales is also played on the opening day, at 4pm Doha Time while USA take on Wales or Ukraine or Scotland at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan at 10pm.
Qatar’s second Group A match will be against African champions Senegal on November 25 at 4pm at the Al Thumama Stadium, with the hosts finishing their group stage engagements on November 29 with a clash against three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands at 6pm at the Al Bayt Stadium.
France start their title defence the next day against the United Arab Emirates, Australia or Peru.
Record five-time winners Brazil open against Serbia in the late game on November 24, three hours after Cristiano Ronaldo is set to start his fifth World Cup for Portugal against Ghana.
Other big group games are the duel of former champions Spain and Germany on November 27, the game with political undertones between Iran and the United States on November 29, and the meeting of World Footballers Lionel Messi of Argentina and Robert Lewandowski of Poland on November 30 - all three 1900 GMT kick-offs.
If Qatar do make it to the last 16 as Group A winners or runners-up, they could run into any of England, US and Iran, who are all in Group B. One of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine will take up the last spot in the Group B after the European play-offs in June.
An action-packed group stage will run until December 2, when 16 sides will make their way through to the knockout rounds. The last-16 fixtures are due to take place between December 3-6, with the quarter-finals being held on December 9 and 10.
Semi-final showdowns are pencilled in for December 13 and 14, with the final at the Lusail Stadium to be held on December 18 – the day after a third place play-off.
The group stage runs until December 2 with the final Group G and H matches Cameroon v Brazil, Serbia v Switzerland, South Korea v Portugal and Ghana v Uruguay.
The knockout phase will begin the following day, with two rest days each after the last 16, the quarter- and the semi-finals, and the final on December 18 set for 1500 GMT.
The Qatar World Cup is slightly shorter than previous editions, mainly because the group stage will have four games every day to complete it in 12 days instead of 15 in the past.
For the first time the match schedule was not made before the draw, but rather after it, in order to find the best kick-off times for the teams’ fans at home, the media and the global audience.
Meanwhile on Friday after the draw, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said, "You have to see the FIFA ranking or the history of each of the teams that are here. We are proud to be here today in the draw ceremony. We now know our opponents, so now we’re going to start preparing for these three games in our best way and try to be as competitive as we can.
"We have played Ecuador before. So we’re going to try to prepare and to show our best level in front of our people. I think that’s the most important.
"The first game in a tournament is always the most important because it gives you the feeling how the team will perform during the competition,” the Spaniard added.
The last time Qatar faced Ecuador in a friendly on October 12, 2018 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Annabi won a thriller 4-3.
It was just a year since Sanchez had taken charge of Qatar. Twelve players who took part in that match are key members of the current Qatar squad. However, Ecuador have been in terrific form lately, having finished fourth in the hugely competitive South American qualifiers to seal a place for the World Cup.
Doha
Hosts Qatar play the official opening match of the World Cup on November 21 against Ecuador but two other games are actually scheduled for earlier that day.
The match schedule released by the world governing body FIFA says that the other teams in Group A, Senegal and the Netherlands, will play the first match of the tournament at the Al Thumama Stadium at 1pm local time (1000 GMT).
Group B then open with England v Iran at 1300 GMT before Qatar play Ecuador at 7pm Doha Time (1600 GMT) at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor in the formal tournament opener which is to be preceded by a short opening ceremony.
The second Group B game between the United States and either Ukraine, Scotland or Wales is also played on the opening day, at 4pm Doha Time while USA take on Wales or Ukraine or Scotland at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan at 10pm.
Qatar’s second Group A match will be against African champions Senegal on November 25 at 4pm at the Al Thumama Stadium, with the hosts finishing their group stage engagements on November 29 with a clash against three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands at 6pm at the Al Bayt Stadium.
France start their title defence the next day against the United Arab Emirates, Australia or Peru.
Record five-time winners Brazil open against Serbia in the late game on November 24, three hours after Cristiano Ronaldo is set to start his fifth World Cup for Portugal against Ghana.
Other big group games are the duel of former champions Spain and Germany on November 27, the game with political undertones between Iran and the United States on November 29, and the meeting of World Footballers Lionel Messi of Argentina and Robert Lewandowski of Poland on November 30 - all three 1900 GMT kick-offs.
If Qatar do make it to the last 16 as Group A winners or runners-up, they could run into any of England, US and Iran, who are all in Group B. One of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine will take up the last spot in the Group B after the European play-offs in June.
An action-packed group stage will run until December 2, when 16 sides will make their way through to the knockout rounds. The last-16 fixtures are due to take place between December 3-6, with the quarter-finals being held on December 9 and 10.
Semi-final showdowns are pencilled in for December 13 and 14, with the final at the Lusail Stadium to be held on December 18 – the day after a third place play-off.
The group stage runs until December 2 with the final Group G and H matches Cameroon v Brazil, Serbia v Switzerland, South Korea v Portugal and Ghana v Uruguay.
The knockout phase will begin the following day, with two rest days each after the last 16, the quarter- and the semi-finals, and the final on December 18 set for 1500 GMT.
The Qatar World Cup is slightly shorter than previous editions, mainly because the group stage will have four games every day to complete it in 12 days instead of 15 in the past.
For the first time the match schedule was not made before the draw, but rather after it, in order to find the best kick-off times for the teams’ fans at home, the media and the global audience.
Meanwhile on Friday after the draw, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said, "You have to see the FIFA ranking or the history of each of the teams that are here. We are proud to be here today in the draw ceremony. We now know our opponents, so now we’re going to start preparing for these three games in our best way and try to be as competitive as we can.
"We have played Ecuador before. So we’re going to try to prepare and to show our best level in front of our people. I think that’s the most important.
"The first game in a tournament is always the most important because it gives you the feeling how the team will perform during the competition,” the Spaniard added.
The last time Qatar faced Ecuador in a friendly on October 12, 2018 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Annabi won a thriller 4-3.
It was just a year since Sanchez had taken charge of Qatar. Twelve players who took part in that match are key members of the current Qatar squad. However, Ecuador have been in terrific form lately, having finished fourth in the hugely competitive South American qualifiers to seal a place for the World Cup.