|
Post by rugbytoffee on Aug 10, 2022 13:09:05 GMT
2022 World Cup start date changed to give Qatar first game
FIFA will move the start date of the 2022 World Cup one day earlier to allow host nation Qatar to play in the first match.
The tournament had been due to kick off on Monday 21 November, with Senegal facing Netherlands at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha. But competition hosts have always played in the first game of the last four tournaments since 2006 and Qatar do not want to be an exception.
As such, they will now play against Ecuador to open the 2022 World Cup on Sunday 20 November, with kick off at 7pm GMT. The decision still needs to the ratified by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, but no issues are expected.
The winter World Cup is the first of its kind, with the tournament usually taking place during the European summer months. The decision to award hosting rights to Qatar has resulted in a number of logistical problems, as well as criticism over the nation's human rights record and corruption allegations.
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Aug 18, 2022 14:00:49 GMT
With less than 100 days to go until the start of the greatest show on Earth, a total of 2.45 million tickets have now been sold. The first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab world will kick off on 20 November, bringing fans from the region and across the world together in a compact and modern setting, with Qatar, the USA, England, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the UAE, France, Argentina, Brazil and Germany leading the ranking of ticket sales by country of residence.
In the last sales period alone, which ran from 5 July to 16 August when fans were able to buy tickets on a first-come, first-served basis via FIFA.com/tickets, a total of 520,532 tickets were sold. The biggest number of allocated tickets were for group-stage matches such as Cameroon v. Brazil, Brazil v. Serbia, Portugal v. Uruguay, Costa Rica v. Germany, and Australia v. Denmark. Fans living in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Mexico, the UAE, England, Argentina, Brazil, Wales and Australia led the way – and the digital queues – by securing the biggest number of tickets.
Fans who now hold confirmation for one or more matches in their FIFA ticketing account are encouraged to start planning their trip as soon as possible by booking their accommodation, if living outside of Qatar, and by applying for their Hayya (the Fan ID for the tournament) via qatar2022.qa or the Hayya to Qatar 2022 app (available on iOS and Android). An approved Hayya application, alongside a valid match ticket, will grant spectators access to stadiums, provide entry to Qatar for international fans, and offer free public transport on matchdays, along with a host of other benefits.
Those who have not yet secured their seats, or those who would simply like to take advantage of Qatar’s compact nature by adding more matches to their programme, should keep an eye on FIFA.com/tickets from late September onwards when the launch date of the last-minute sales phase will be communicated. During the last-minute sales phase, which will run until the end of the tournament, tickets will also be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and confirmed immediately after payment. FIFA.com/tickets is the only official channel for the general public to buy tickets, with fans urged to stay away from unauthorised websites. Over-the-counter sales will also start in Doha following the launch of the last-minute sales phase.
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Sept 3, 2022 18:43:38 GMT
Beer will not be sold inside stadiums during World Cup matches in Qatar, where alcohol is severely restricted, but FIFA said Saturday that drinking will be allowed in the stadium zone before and after games.
The global body gave first details of beer sales after months of sensitive talks with authorities in the conservative Muslim Gulf state.
The issue is important for FIFA as beer-maker Budweiser has been a major sponsor for three decades while foreign fans have also questioned what to expect at the November 20-December 18 tournament.
A source with knowledge of the plans said beer stands would open in zones around stadiums when gates open for a match and close 30 minutes before each game starts.
The source said stands would reopen for a short time after the game
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Sept 13, 2022 9:00:51 GMT
Ecuador could reportedly face shock elimination from the 2022 World Cup over a bizarre incident involving one of their players using a fake passport.
According to the Daily Mail, documents show that Ecuador right-back Byron Castillo was actually born in Colombia, which was covered up by the Ecuadorian FA. The report claims to have received evidence of an interview from a few years ago in which Castillo admits to being given a new identity, including an Ecuadorian passport and even a slightly different name.
As well as that, it’s thought that the defender was actually born in 1995, as opposed to 1998 as stated on his current passport.
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Sept 15, 2022 12:35:35 GMT
|
|