A general view during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center, yesterday.
Doha: Hosts Qatar will take on Ecuador in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium on November 21 as draw for the football showpiece event was held in a spectacular ceremony in Doha, yesterday.
The Asian champions are pitted alongside Ecuador, African champions Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A as Al Annabi received an easy draw relatively.
The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomed the guests at the spectacular ceremony held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) as 29 teams knew their path to the final. The remaining eight teams will fight for the last three spots at the play-offs in June.
The ceremony, presented by award-winning actor Idris Elba and renowned sports broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury, dazzled the audience with stunning references to the Arab culture and surprising acts that included the unveiling of the Official Mascot La’eeb and the launch of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack, with the first live performance of the single Hayya Hayya (Better Together) by Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha.
The draw itself, attended by 2,000 guests and led by Carli Lloyd, Jermaine Jenas and Samantha Johnson, was assisted by the likes of Cafu (Brazil), Lothar Matthaus (Germany), Adel Ahmed MalAllah (Qatar), Ali Daei (IR Iran), Bora Milutinovic (Serbia/Mexico), Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Rabah Madjer (Algeria) and Tim Cahill (Australia).
Qatar will make their debut in the World Cup after years of preparations and head coach Felix Sanchez said the team will give their best in front of home fans.
“These three games are the best way and we will try to be as much competitive as we can,” Sanchez told reporters after the draw yesterday, adding the opening match against Ecuador will be crucial.
“I think that’s the most important. The first game in a tournament is always the most important one because it gives you the feeling how is the team during the competition,” he said.
Commenting on the draw, the Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal said Group A sides will be new for his team.
“Those are opponents we know nothing about. At least, I don’t and I assume our analysts don’t either so they have a lot of work to do in the coming period,” said Van Gaal.
“In 2014 we ended up in the toughest group, with world champions Spain, Chile, which was the number three in South America at the time, and Australia’s fighting team,” he added.
While the opening match is confirmed, the remaining schedule will be announced after games have been assigned to a stadium and kick-off time for each match day.
The World Cup will take place from November 21 to December 18, with the group stage lasting 12 days and featuring four matches per day.
Coaches of the 2022 World Cup teams.
Defending champions France in Group D with Denmark
Meanwhile, defending champions France have been placed in Group D and will face Denmark, Tunisia and an intercontinental play-off winning side (UAE or Australia or Peru).
Four-time winners Germany were placed in Group E with 2010 winners Spain, while the United States were pitted against Iran along with England, and potentially Ukraine, in Group B.
Favourites Brazil – the five-time champions – are placed in seemingly toughest Group G with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.
“It is neither (the group of) death nor life, every group has a degree of difficulty. Portugal have Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana,” said Brazil coach Tite.
In Group C, Saudi Arabia will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Mexico and Poland.
“This is a World Cup and there are no easy matches or groups. We will come well prepared for this global tournament,” said Saudi Arabia’s coach Hervé Renard.
United States are drawn with Iran along with England, and potentially Ukraine in Group B.
World No.2 Belgium are pitted in Group F along with Canada, Morocco and Croatia while Group H includes Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.
