New Delhi: The start date of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to be moved forward by one day to allow hosts Qatar to be involved in the first match against Ecuador.

The tournament had originally been scheduled to get underway on Monday, November 21, with African champions Senegal taking on The Netherlands in Group A. However, FIFA now plans to move host nation Qatar’s opening clash against Ecuador who is also in Group A to Sunday 20 November as the curtain-raiser.

This has yet to be confirmed with approval being sought from the Bureau of the FIFA Council but it is thought to be almost confirmed, according to multiple reports. It will mean that the tournament will now be staged from 20 November to December 18.

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The host nation has participated in the opening game of each of the last four editions of the tournament. The games include Germany beating Costa Rica in 2006, South Africa were held 1-1 by Mexico in 2010, Brazil defeating Croatia in 2014, and Russia easing past Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the last FIFA World Cup.

The last tournament in which the hosts did not begin the tournament was in 2002 when Senegal memorably beat defending champions France in the opening game of the tournament held in South Korea and Japan. Tradition in the tournament subsequently changed from the competition holders playing in the first game to the host nation.

Football’s most prestigious tournament, the FIFA World Cup is traditionally held over the summer months but it is being played in November and December this year due to the weather in Qatar having excessive heat over summer.

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