World Cup 2022 updates: Qatar loses to Ecuador in opening match
Brace by Enner Valancia condemns hosts to a 2-0 defeat, as the first World Cup played in the Middle East kicks off.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Qatar World Cup 2022 on Sunday, November 20.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Qatar World Cup 2022 on Sunday, November 20.
- Hosts Qatar lose 2-0 to Ecuador in the opening World Cup match, as Enner Valencia scores both goals.
- Morgan Freeman, Jungkook and several others star in spectacular opening ceremony that delivered a message of unity and inclusivity ahead of the first-ever World Cup held in the Middle East.
- More than a decade of work went into preparing the country, with large parts of the capital Doha reimagined to cater to the fans.
- FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has accused the West of double standards in their criticism of the tournament.
- New to the game? Check out our explainers on the basics of the beautiful game here and this year’s tournament here.
BBC relegates World Cup opening ceremony to online coverage
The United Kingdom’s public service broadcaster has been criticised for choosing not to air the Qatar World Cup 2022 opening ceremony on its main coverage programme.
The BBC relegated coverage of the opening ceremony on Sunday to its second-tier streams, including its “red button” service, its online iPlayer app and its sports website.
Viewers tuning in to its flagship coverage on BBC One, however, were not able to watch the inclusivity-themed opening from the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, and missed highlights such as a performance by BTS star Jung Kook and Qatari singer Fahad al-Kubaisi.
Read more here.
Photos: All the action from Ecuador’s World Cup win over Qatar
Hosts Qatar have found no joy on the pitch during Sunday evening’s opening encounter against Ecuador.
Two goals from captain Enner Valencia eased the South American side to victory, sending a small but vocal contingent of Ecuadorian fans present at the Al-Bayt Stadium into rapture.
Click here to see our photos of the game.
Reflecting on a modern Qatar during a World Cup game with friends
A group of friends and family gather daily at the majlis in a building that is walking distance from their homes in Al-Rayyan, just west of Doha.
It is a tradition that has been going on for years and is part of daily life here in Qatar. A majlis is an area in a house or a separate building used for all sorts of gatherings, from everyday lounging to more important events.
But now, with the World Cup in town, it has taken on a different theme: a football watch party.
Read more here.
Injured Senegal star Mane thanks fans for support, urges side on
Injured Senegal star Sadio Mane has thanked fans for their “support” after he was ruled out of the World Cup with an injury at the last minute, dealing a major blow to the African side’s hopes.
“I wanna take this opportunity to thank and show my appreciation to you all,” Mane said in an Instagram post.
“This Monday, our dear country will compete in the World Cup, Qatar 2022. I am sure the Lions will transcend and approach every game as a true finale. I am also convinced that all Senegalese will be in front of the small screen to support and encourage our valiant national team,” he added, citing the Senegal team’s nickname.
“Like all fans, I am convinced that my teammates will fight as one man and as they are used to doing in order to honour our dear Senegal.”
In blockaded Gaza, World Cup fans watch from the sidelines
Hundreds of fans gathered at a sports hall in Gaza City, which Qatar prepared for the Palestinian residents of the impoverished territory to watch the World Cup matches for free.
The fans looked attentively at the large screen as the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador kicked off.
The event was a gesture by the Qatar Committee for Reconstruction of Gaza, an arm of the wealthy Arabian Peninsula state’s foreign affairs ministry.
“We could not go to Qatar and watch the World Cup because of the siege first, the economic condition second. Many things prevent us from going there to attend the matches, but the main factor that blocked us from going there is the [Israeli] occupation and its siege,” said Anas Snounou, a resident of occupied Gaza.Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza when the Hamas movement seized the territory in 2007. The blockade and wars with Israel have worsened living conditions in Gaza, and travel outside the densely populated territory is severely restricted.
Lovren jokes ex-Liverpool teammate Salah is ‘jealous’ over World Cup appearance
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren has jokingly claimed that his former Liverpool teammate Mo Salah is “100 percent” jealous that he is at the World Cup while the Egyptian star watches from afar.
Egypt failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 after Salah missed a crucial penalty in a shootout against Senegal during a March play-off to decide who progressed to the Middle East’s first World Cup.
Lovren, who struck up a close relationship with Salah before leaving Liverpool in 2020, told reporters the 30-year-old would be visiting Qatar to support him “with a Croatia flag”.
Hajsafi becomes first Iranian player at World Cup to back protests at home
Defender Ehsan Hajsafi has become the first member of Iran’s national team to speak out from the World Cup in apparent support of anti-government protests at home, saying players should be the voice of those suffering.
More than two months of protests in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody of the country’s morality police, have created one of the boldest challenges to its religious leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran’s national team has been in the spotlight in the run-up to the World Cup in Qatar with anticipation over whether players will use football’s showpiece event as a platform to show solidarity with the protest movement.
“They should know that we are with them and we support them and we sympathise with them regarding the conditions,” Hajsafi, who plays for AEK Athens, said at a news conference.
“We have to accept the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy,” he said. “We are here, but it does not mean we should not be their voice or we should not respect them.”
Canada aim to surprise at World Cup, midfielder Osorio says
Canada aim to surprise their opponents when they make their first appearance at the World Cup finals in 36 years, midfielder Jonathan Osorio said after a training session.
Canada will face second-ranked Belgium, an ageing but still impressive team, on Wednesday in their first World Cup match since 1986. Their other Group F opponents are 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and Morocco, who were unbeaten in African qualifying.
“We want to show that we are a football nation, that we can compete with the best in the world,” said Osorio, who plays for Toronto FC in the MLS.
“We want to surprise people because I think people still see us as underdogs. ‘It’s the World Cup. They should just be happy to be here.’ But that’s not our mentality.”
Biden urges ‘underdog’ US to ‘go shock them all’
President Joe Biden has urged the US team to disregard the FIFA rankings and go for glory in Qatar, calling on the players to “go shock them all”.
“I know you’re the underdog, but I tell you what, … you have got some of the best players in the world on your team and you’re representing this country and I know you’re going to play your hearts out,” Biden told the American players during a telephone call from his White House office.
“Keep trusting one another, play as hard as you can for you and your families and your teammates – the whole country is rooting for you,” he said.
The US begins its campaign on Monday against Wales at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. The Group B game will kick off at 10pm (19:00 GMT).
Please hold, the President is on the line… 📞 pic.twitter.com/N6CxwOhqgN
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 20, 2022
Uruguay’s Rochet says speedy World Cup balls put keepers to the test
Goalkeepers are facing an ever tougher task at World Cup tournaments as the balls travel increasingly fast and the new model being used in Qatar is no exception, Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet says.
“Year after year, it gets better for the strikers, and for us goalkeepers, it gets very tough,” Rochet told reporters ahead of the South Americans’ first match of the 2022 World Cup against South Korea on Thursday.
FIFA has said that the new ball – named Al Rihla, or “The Journey” in Arabic – travels faster than any other in the tournament’s history.
“This is a very fast ball,” Rochet said. “We are in a process of adaptation.”
World leaders who attended FIFA Qatar World Cup opening ceremony
Arab leaders dominated the list of world leaders who attended the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Sunday.
Prominent among those who attended were Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a close ally of Qatar, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the presidents of Egypt and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, were also in attendance at the glittering ceremony to open the first World Cup in the Middle East.
Read more here to see the complete list of world leaders in attendance.
Japan’s Mitoma prepares to hit Germany on the counter
Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma says he believes Germany could be vulnerable to counterattack when they meet a Samurai Blue side stacked with pacy, attacking talent in their World Cup opener on Wednesday.
The lively left winger is not underestimating the challenge that faces Japan against the four-time World Cup winners at Khalifa International Stadium but thinks they have a chance of making a winning start if they prepare well.
“Of course, Germany is [one of the] best teams in the world, but they have weaknesses, so we have to get ready to play against them,” Mitoma told reporters after training on Sunday. “If we are together, we can win.”
“They put many players in front of the attacking space, so they have a weakness against the counterattack, so we are preparing for this,” he added.
Elation for the fans of Ecuador
Ecuadorian fans are celebrating their team’s dream start to the World Cup campaign, after overrunning Qatar’s Maroons.
“Incredible game. We did excellent. We were really excited,” Sarahi Dominguez said, as she came out of Al Bayt stadium. “This is a very good start to our world cup. Time to celebrate now.”
The Ecuadorians have started to dream that their team might go further than the first round for the first time since 2006.
“It was a crucial match. We had to win if we are to come out of the group,” Francisco Castellanos said. “Maybe now we can go to the second round.”
Hosts Qatar overwhelmed by Ecuador in opening World Cup match
World Cup hosts Qatar have had a disappointing start to their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador, leaving them facing an uphill struggle to make it out of their group in their first ever World Cup.
It looked as though Qatar had conceded a goal within three minutes of kickoff in the match on Sunday evening at Al Bayt Stadium. But the header from Ecuador’s Enner Valencia from a long-distance free-kick attempt from Pervis Estupinan close to the halfway line was struck off by VAR moments later.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Qatar, who were playing in front of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, other Qatari royals and several foreign leaders in a crowd of 60,000 people.
Read the full match report here.
India fan rues Qatar loss
Pradeep from Bombay, India, said the night would have ended better with a win for the hosts.
“We would have been celebrating on the streets,” the 20-year-old said.
Since India is not in the World Cup, he says many of his countrymen are supporting Qatar.
Nevertheless, the food delivery worker said he “properly enjoyed” himself.
“It took long to get in but the setup inside was very organised. There were enough places to sit and the food was good … I could afford it.”
This was Pradeep’s second straight day at the fan zone and he says he intends to come again every chance he gets despite a gruelling 6-day work week and 12-hour shifts.
Ecuador beat hosts Qatar 2-0 in opening World Cup match
Qatar has crashed to a 2-0 defeat against Ecuador after a brace from Enner Valencia and has become the first host nation to lose an opening match at a World Cup.
Striker Valencia had a third-minute effort disallowed for offside in the build-up on Sunday but then converted a penalty in the 16th and headed the second in at the 31st minute of a lopsided affair.
Read more updates about the opening World Cup here.
Who is in action on Monday?
After Sunday’s opening fixture, six teams will be in action on Monday as the 2022 World Cup picks up pace.
The first game will see England take on Iran at 4pm (13:00 GMT) in Khalifa International Stadium. England, who reached the semi-finals in 2018, will expect to begin with a win.
Later on Monday, Senegal and the Netherlands will go head-to-head from 7pm (16:00 GMT) at Al Thumama Stadium before the day’s final fixture between the US and Wales begins at 10pm (19:00 GMT) at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
Cisse’s men get set for Netherlands test
Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse says Sadio Mane’s absence from the World Cup will be felt by fans across the world as the team prepares for its opening match without its star player.
Mane was ruled out of the tournament on Thursday after picking up a leg injury playing for Bayern Munich against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
Cisse admitted his absence is a huge blow to Senegal’s World Cup ambitions ahead of their opening game against the Netherlands at Al Thumama Stadium on Monday.Senegal forward Krepin Diatta reiterated Cisse’s concerns and described Mane as the team’s leader, saying, “He is our best player.”
The African champions will also face Ecuador and hosts Qatar in Group A.
Qatari fans say World Cup is ‘more than just a sporting match’
Qataris say they are excited for the world to see their country as they spoke to Al Jazeera ahead of the opening match between the host nation and Ecuador.
“Qatar is more than ready and feels so excited and proud,” a Qatari woman said.
England players to take the knee before games
England manager Gareth Southgate confirms his players will take the knee before games during the World Cup.
Southgate says he hoped the gesture, which has become associated with anti-racism and the Black Lives Matter movement, would send a “strong statement” to onlookers.
“We feel we should,” he told reporters at a news conference. “… We think it’s a strong statement that will go around the world, for young people in particular, that inclusivity is important.”
🗣 "We feel this is the biggest. A strong statement that will go around the World."
Gareth Southgate confirms England will take the knee before kick-off against Iran pic.twitter.com/TZduNDCoua
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 20, 2022
Tyler Adams named USA captain for World Cup
Midfielder Tyler Adams has been named captain of the US team for the World Cup in Qatar.
Adams, 23, will wear the armband when the US opens play in Group B on Monday against Wales.
Adams, who plays professionally for the Premier League’s Leeds United, has been the American captain for nine of his 32 previous caps. Seven of those games were during World Cup qualifying.
“We’re proud to announce Tyler is the captain for the World Cup,” coach Gregg Berhalter said on Sunday. “We think he has great leadership capabilities. He leads by his actions and his words.”
Adams is the youngest captain for the US team at a World Cup since 22-year-old Harry Keough in 1950.
Is VAR the villain of the World Cup?
It only took three minutes for VAR to take centre stage at this year’s World Cup, giving hosts Qatar a temporary reprieve by ruling out an Ecuador goal for offside.
Relentless debate over the technology and its pros and cons are a mainstay of modern football. Want to know more? Listen to Al Jazeera’s The Take podcast below.
‘Qatar needs to attack’: Thousands at cricket ground to watch opening game
At the Asian Town Cricket Stadium on the outskirts of Doha, thousands of people are watching the World Cup’s opening game.
A group of Ghanaians is deep in discussion, debating and predicting the unfolding spectacle.
“Qatar needs to attack, take more possession,” Joseph Asante, a labourer, told Al Jazeera. “They seem more nervous when they have the ball. … Maybe it’s the occasion.”
Ecuador’s Valencia scores second goal
Ecuador is leading 2-0, thanks to a second goal by Valencia.
Qatar are in real trouble now as they haven’t even touched the ball inside Ecuador’s box.
The jubilation in the stadium is coming from the righthand side – the Ecuadorian stand. There is an eerie silence from the home section. This was not part of the game plan.