Qatar 0-2 Ecuador: Enner Valencia's first-half brace sees South Americans cruise to victory in 2022 World Cup curtain-raiser - as tournament hosts get off to a poor start on their competition debut
- Ecuador emerged victorious from the opening game of the 2022 World Cup after beating hosts Qatar 2-0
- Enner Valencia scored both of Ecuador's goals and even had one goal disallowed in the first half of the game
- Valencia, 33, found the back of the net after Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb made a mess of his clearance
- But, the goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check as they felt Michael Estrada's right leg made him offside
- Valencia was awarded a penalty in the 16th minute of the game after keeper Alsheeb took him out in the box
- He slotted it into the bottom right corner before scoring against in the 31st minute of the World Cup game
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
An hour north of Doha by a straight, featureless road and the vast Al Bayt stadium takes shape on the horizon. Hazy at first, through the heat and the desert sand swept up by the swirling wind.
Then its details take shape. An enormous Bedouin tent surrounded by slopes of freshly sprinkled lawns and twisting access roads. Like a very expensive and stylish big top in the desert. Roll up roll up to the strangest World Cup of your lives.
One where Marcel Desailly delivers the trophy on behalf of holders France in an ostentatious Louis Vuitton travel case because the beautiful game has sold its soul and it's all about the look.
![Ecuador emerged victorious from the opening game of the 2022 World Cup after beating hosts Qatar 2-0 on Sunday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64749901-11439779-image-a-74_1668967664513.jpg)
Ecuador emerged victorious from the opening game of the 2022 World Cup after beating hosts Qatar 2-0 on Sunday
![Ecuador dominated the game from the first minute and never looked like they were under any real pressure from the hosts](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64749889-11439779-image-a-75_1668967664521.jpg)
Ecuador dominated the game from the first minute and never looked like they were under any real pressure from the hosts
![Enner Valencia scored both of Ecuador's goals and even had one goal disallowed in the first half of the game on Sunday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64749893-11439779-image-a-76_1668967664523.jpg)
Enner Valencia scored both of Ecuador's goals and even had one goal disallowed in the first half of the game on Sunday
One where the president of the governing body feels the need to lecture the West on morality on the eve of a tournament after asking everyone else to stick to the football.
One where the opening game was between Qatar, broadly accepted to have bribed its way to host nation status, and Ecuador, guilty of playing an ineligible player through the qualifiers and had to fight legal claims to reach these finals.
Byron Castillo, the player in question, who was born in Colombia and has no Ecuadorian citizenship despite playing most of his career there, was then left out of the World Cup squad while FIFA's sanction was to deduct three points from the next campaign.
![Valencia, 33, found the back of the net after Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb made a mess of his clearance (above)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64750079-11439779-image-a-85_1668968226769.jpg)
Valencia, 33, found the back of the net after Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb made a mess of his clearance (above)
![But, the goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check (above) as they felt Michael Estrada’s right leg made him offside](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64750077-11439779-image-a-87_1668968229024.jpg)
But, the goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check (above) as they felt Michael Estrada's right leg made him offside
They keep bending the rules to protect the image of the competition, blissfully unaware of the irony. No surprise then when conspiracy theories exploded as the Italian officials intervened to rule out what appeared to have been a good goal by Ecuador with only three minutes on the clock.
Saad Alsheeb, Qatar's experienced goalkeeper, rushed from his line to punch a high free-kick.
Twice, he flapped at the ball without making any contact before Enner Valencia headed in an acrobatic, scissor-kick cross by Felix Torres.
There was no hint of an offence. Ecuador celebrated and Qatar fell silent until FIFA's new semi-automated offside technology kicked in, using artificial intelligence, a sensor in the ball and a dozen cameras to find an accurate 'kick-point' and offside line for the VAR officials.
The new system did not deliver on a promise to keep those inside the stadium better informed as referee Daniele Orsato performed his rectangle mime and ruled no goal.
More than 67,000 present were utterly nonplussed. Those watching at home on television were equally bewildered until the animated still appeared with Michael Estrada's right leg breaking the 'offside line' as Saad went through his comedy goalkeeping routine.
Doubt remained. Ecuador boss Gustavo Alfaro joked afterwards about cutting Estrada's toenails but ultimately it didn't matter and he was soon celebrating again, with 33-year-old Valencia running rings around Qatar's shambolic back five.
The former West Ham and Everton forward, now playing his club football for Fenerbahce, was felled by Saad on another ill-judged excursion from his goal.
Valencia coolly sent the hapless 'keeper the wrong way from the spot and added Ecuador's second with a change of pace and header from a cross by Angelo Preciado.
'I dreamt about this opening match many times,' said Valencia, seemingly unperturbed to have been denied a hat-trick. 'I dreamt about winning this match with my national team. This is a dream to score and get three points.'
It was almost half-time, by the time Qatar created the slightest threat. Almoez Ali found in space and headed wide from a cross by his captain Hassan Halhaydos. It was a good chance and a bad miss and it might have been offside.
![Valencia was awarded a penalty in the 16th minute of the game after keeper Alsheeb took him out in the box (above)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64750107-11439779-image-a-89_1668968284955.jpg)
Valencia was awarded a penalty in the 16th minute of the game after keeper Alsheeb took him out in the box (above)
![Homam Ahmed was the only threatening player for Qatar - he tore down the left-hand side and broke through the lines](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64750147-11439779-image-a-90_1668968593752.jpg)
Homam Ahmed was the only threatening player for Qatar - he tore down the left-hand side and broke through the lines
Nobody looked too closely because it didn't seem to matter. 'Nervousness,' said Qatar boss Felix Sanchez, trying to explain. 'This is our first time in the World Cup, playing in Qatar in front of our people.
'We had too many doubts. We didn't have a good beginning. We did not pass the ball. We let them breach our final third too easily. It became impossible to reach the performance we wanted.'
Ecuador coasted through the second half, a complete non-event. Thousands of supporters did not return to their seats and many who did teemed out as game reached its inevitable conclusion at a pedestrian pace.
![Qatar substitute Mohamed Muntari came on to provide his side with one of their best opportunities of the evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64750183-11439779-image-a-93_1668968777120.jpg)
Qatar substitute Mohamed Muntari came on to provide his side with one of their best opportunities of the evening
![He struck the ball brilliantly but sent it skimming over the bar - it would have been a good consolation goal for them to cheer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/20/18/64750185-11439779-image-a-96_1668968853961.jpg)
He struck the ball brilliantly but sent it skimming over the bar - it would have been a good consolation goal for them to cheer
The atmosphere vanished until the Al Bayt resembled a big tent on the moon as much as the desert. By the time five minutes of stoppage time had been endured, the place was empty but for a yellow blaze of Ecuadorians and the small maroon slice of boisterous Qataris at the other end.
'We are sorry we couldn't contribute to this great atmosphere,' said Sanchez. 'We were backed by our fans and we hope in the next game people will feel prouder.'
Qatar became the first hosts to lose the opening game. On this form, they will not progress from a group also involving Holland and Senegal. At least the ball is finally rolling.
Relive the action with Sportsmail's live blog for the World Cup opener between Qatar and Ecuador, including coverage of the opening ceremony beforehand.
90+6mins: THE FULL TIME WHISTLE GOES! Ecuador have emerged victorious from their Group A clash with Qatar. As a result, Qatar become the first ever host nation to lose the opening match.
90+5mins: Qatar get a corner (which could be the final play of the game). Afif plays the ball into the middle of the box but Ecuador deal with it comfortably.
90+5mins: Here we go. Sarmiento has injected a bit of pace back into the game. He break down the left and plays in Plata. Plata tries to dink it into the box but Qatar clear it for a corner.
Ecuador doe little with the corner and Qatar regain possession. Can't be long until the final whistle goes now.
90+2mins: Ecuador are playing the ball around the back. They don't appear to have much intent. They are simply running down the clock. Can't say it's the most interesting thing to watch...
90+1mins: There may be five minutes on the clock but there is no chance Qatar are getting back into this game. They needed more from their star-man Akram Afif but he couldn't get into the game. It's a disappointing one for the home fans to take, with the majority of them leaving the stadium as we speak.
90 mins: Late double change for Ecuador. Estrada comes off for Rodriguez. While, Caicedo comes off for Franco. Additionally, five minute of extra time has been added.
88mins: Ecuador earn themselves corner. It is Plata who delivered it in. However, Boualen Khoukhi cleared it away from the near post - sending the ball out for a throw in.
87mins: We are heading into the final three minutes of normal time. Qatar have only really started to look dangerous. Perhaps they should have made those subs sooner! I think it's a little too late for the host nation now...
85mins: Huge change for Qatar! Muntari runs in behind the defence and receives a wonderful ball over the top. He takes his shot first time and it skims the top of the bar. Great chance.
84mins: Homan Ahmed has been Qatar's best player this afternoon. He just cut through two Ecuador players on the left-hand-side before playing the ball to Hatem in the middle of the pitch. But, little comes of it.
83mins: Mendez goes down on the right-hand-side after getting a hand to the face. As a result, Ecuador are awarded a free-kick. Plata is the one to deliver it but puts way too much on it. Qatar ball.
81mins: Qatar's backline are far too slow on the ball. They are inviting pressure and putting themselves in a difficult spot. They need to be sharper. Félix Sánchez is fuming.
79mins: Oh wow! How did they not score that. Ecuador overload on the left-hand-side, playing the ball to Estrada. The forward did well to break past the Qatar backline and enter the box. He then tried to slip it to Cifuentes. However, it was just behind him.
The ball then dropped to Sarmeinto about 12 yards out. But, he sent it flying over the bar. Thankfully for the forward, the flag went up to save him the embarrassment.
77mins: Afif is handed a yellow card for a clumsy foul on Plata. That was totally unnecessary. His frustrations are certainly getting the better of him.
76mins: Finally, Valencia has been replaced. It is Cifuentes who comes on to replace the goal scorer in the last 15 minutes of the game.
75mins: Valencia is down again holding his knee. Surely it's time to sub him off? I can't see Qatar getting back into this game and Ecuador will need him for the rest of their group games.
74mins: More good footwork from Ahmed. He beats two players before bursting forwards. He is the only player on the Qatar team that looks threatening and looks like he actually wants to go forwards.
73mins: Ecuador earn themselves a free-kick in a dangerous area on the corner of the box. Estupinan tries to curl the ball into the middle of the box but fails to beat the first man. Wasted opportunity and really... you should be doing better than that at a World Cup.
71mins: Alhaydos and Ali are replaced by Waad and Muntari. Qatar will be hoping their fresh legs and fresh ideas help get them back into this game.
70mins: Free-kick to Ecuador. The ball is played deep into the box to Estrada. However, he is muscled off the ball and Qatar clear the danger.
69mins: Plata does well to advance down the left-hand-side. He cut in past Bassam Al Rawi and played it to Valencia. Valencia tried to tee him up with a nice little back heel but failed to connect with it. As a result, Qatar regained possession.
67mins: Ecuador make the first substitution of the game. Sarmiento comes on to replace Ibarra. As a result, he will receive his 10th cap for Ecuador.
66mins: Great feat from Homam Ahmed gets him out of a difficult situation on the right-hand-side. He plays to it Hatem and darts forward to receive it back. However, Hatem decided to play it back to Hassan instead. Ahmed is fuming.
64mins: The Qatar fans are stilling enjoying themselves regardless of the score line! They are up, singing and dancing, while their team struggle to get a foothold in this game.
61mins: Chance for Qatar! Pedro launches himself towards a cross-field ball into the box. He managed to connect with it via his head but couldn't keep it on target from 19 yards out.
61mins: Preciado is back on the pitch and seems to be okay to continue. Much to the relief of the Ecuador fans. Nevertheless, the Ecuador subs continue to warm-up.
Preciado is down injured. He looks in pain after falling funny. The medical staff are on and appear to be treating his hip.
58mins: Great game management from Ecuador. They are keeping possession and drawing the fouls. This time it was Abdulaziz Hatem that committed the foul on Plata after his quick footwork beat the Qatar midfielder.
56mins: Mendez is handed a yellow card for a foul on Akram Afif. He arrived late to the challenge and clipped Qatar's star-man on the shin.
54mins: Chance for Ibarra! Ibarra picked the ball up in motion on the corner of the box. However, he decided to cut back inside and strike the ball. He should have continued into the box and shot off his left foot. As a result, Saad palmed it clear.
53mins: Great footwork from Plata in the middle of the pitch! He picked up the ball in the middle of park, cut past Bassam Al Rawi and Boualem Khoukhi and managed to stay on his feet after they clipped him on the way through. He then played a fantastic cross into the box for Valencia and Estrada but they couldn't quite connect with it.
51mins: What waste from Preciado. I think he was looking to cross the ball into the box but shanked it and sent it straight into the stands. He immediately held up his hands and apologised.
50mins: Ibarra breaks down the left for Ecuador. He cuts in and drives towards the box. He almost had too many options and ended up giving the ball away after struggling to decide what to do.
49mins: Preciado tried to play a long ball forward to Valencia but over cooked it and sent it out for a Qatar throw in. Qatar need to keep hold of the possession now. They work so hard to get hold of it and then give it straight back.
47mins: Mendez gives away the first free-kick of the second half, making a clumsy foul right next to his own manager's box. Gustavo Alfaro was less than impressed and put his head in his hands.
47mins: Ecuador are enjoying a lot of joy down their left-hand-side. Estrada is getting on the ball and causing the Qatar backline issues.
46mins: Qatar are firing the ball around the pitch. However, they need to take a little bit more care on their final pass. They are turning it over too easily and leaving themselves open to a potential counter-attack.
It is Ecuador in the all-yellow that get us underway in the second half. Ecuador will be looking to build on their lead while Qatar will be eager to get on the scoresheet.
Good news for Ecuador, Valencia is back out on the pitch so he must be okay despite hurting his knee in the first half.
The players are back on the pitch and we are just moments away from action in the second half. But, do Qatar have what it takes to pull it back? Only time will tell...
You would not expect to not regret bringing a coat to the first match of a World Cup in the desert but that is the case.
I’ve managed to get a ticket to sit with supporters for this game between Qatar and Ecuador and I’m sat here feeling very cold: the high-powered air conditioning vents under every seat in Al Bayt Stadium make you feel like it’s a fresh autumn afternoon rather than a baking Qatari night: the players will certainly feel the benefit.
It’s a strange experience as there is none of the atmosphere you would expect in Europe or South America and the hosts will be fortunate if they don’t lose by five goals.
The stadium is absolutely fantastic, that must be said. But it has been a challenge to get refreshments and it was a laborious process getting into stadium with checks and double checks. The advice for anyone who has got tickets for forthcoming matches is to be patient - and wear the right clothing!
Half-time: And... just like that the whistle has gone! Qatar could have gone into the break with a bit of momentum if Ali converted that opportunity. However, the score line stands at 2-0 to Ecuador.
50mins: Huge chance for Alomez Ali! Qatar broke down the right-hand-side after the free-kick and fired the ball into the box. Ali, who was practically unmarked, didn't have to do much, just head it in the general direction of the goal. However, he chested it instead and missed his chance to get Qatar back into the game.
50mins: Another foul. This time is it Abdelkarim Hassan who is taken out by Mendez. No card was given but Qatar are given a free-kick.
49mins: Ecuador are simply keeping control of the ball. They are in now rush to advance forwards. If anything, they look like they are running down the clock.
47mins: This is by far the longest spell of possession Qatar have had. Granted, they aren't making much progression but it's definitely building their confidence in the game.
45mins: Five minutes of additional time has been added. No surprise considering the VAR check and the number of stoppages we've had from injuries and fouls.
45mins: The intensity has been completely zapped from this game. It's safe to say both teams are waiting for the half-time break to regroup and go again.
44mins: Valencia is back on the pitch but he still looks in pain. However, half time is fast approaching so if he can make it through the next few minutes he can get some more treatment in the break.
44mins: Valencia is up on his feet. He is limping off the pitch with the help of the medical staff but they are hoping he will be able to continue.
42mins: This doesn't look good for Valenica. He is down on the floor clutching his knee after hyper-extending it. The stretcher is being brought onto the pitch.
41mins: Qatar have started to settle into the game. They are building possession and playing their star-man Akram Afif into the game. However, they just can't connect on the final pass.
39mins: Great strength from Akram Afif. He picked up the ball on the left-hand-side and carried it hard down the wing while going shoulder to shoulder with Preciado. However, the ball ended up going off the backline.
35mins: Valencia is back on his feet (just). Ecuador failed to make the most of their free-kick, playing it long and straight into the hands of goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb.
Another yellow card for Qatar! Karim Boudiaf came flying into a challenge with Valencia. He didn't get anywhere near the ball and took the goalscorer out. Valencia is down clutching his knee. Hopefully it's nothing too bad.
33mins: Ecuador earn themselves a free-kick in the middle of the park after Pedro Miguel elbows Mendez in the side of the head. He is awarded a yellow card but it wasn't anything too serious.
GOAL! Valencia finds the back of the net again. Caicedo does well to get on the ball on the edge of the box. He keeps possession and plays it back to Ibarra. Ibarra then fires the ball into the middle of the box. Valencia launches himself into the air and heads it past goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb.
28mins: Yellow card for Caicedo - who committed a foul on Alhaydos in the middle of the pitch. Not going to lie, I think that was a little harsh.
26mins: Estupinan is looking to push up on the left-hand-side but he struggling to make any real ground when he gets on the ball. Instead of breaking the line, he is cutting back every time and playing it to Hincapie.
26mins: Ecuador are dominating possession again. The fans are cheering every time they complete a pass. Meanwhile, Karim Boudiaf is raising his arms in the air asking for more from the Qatar supporters.
24mins: Akram Afif is doing well to pop in and out of the pockets for Qatar. He seems to be the only player that look comfortable on the ball at the moment.
23mins: Qatar just can't settle into this game. They are arriving late to challenges and struggling to keep hold of the ball. They are simply too indecisive. That probably comes from the nerves of opening a home tournament.
22mins: Almoez Ali is handed the first yellow card of the game after committing a foul on Caicedo on the right-hand-side of the pitch. I have a feeling plenty more will follow.
19mins: Huge clash between Goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb and Estrada. The ball was played into the box and Estrada launched himself into the air to get his head on the ball. However, Alsheeb came flying out and took the striker out. They both look in a lot of pain but they should be okay to continue.
Some are calling for another penalty... but it's not going to come.
18mins: Torres has been fantastic this afternoon. He has been building Ecuador's possession and playing the ball around with ease. I know it's early days but I just can't see Qatar getting back into this.
GOAL! Fantastic composure from Valencia. He trotted up to the ball before slotting it into the bottom right corner. He has now scored more goals than any other player for Ecuador. (well deserved considering his last one was ruled out for offside).
14mins: PENALTY TO ECUDAOR! Goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb is having a nightmare. Valencia was through on goal and Alsheeb came flying out to tackle him. However, he went to ground and grabbed Ecuador captain's instead shin instead of the ball. He hesitated, that was the issue! If you're going to go, you need to go!
10mins: Ecuador earn themselves their first corner of the game. They play it into the box. There is a lot of pushing and shoving in the middle of the box but Khoukhi does well to clear it away from danger.
6mins: Ecuador are all over Qatar. They are dominating possession. The only time Qatar get near the ball is when they clip a player or make a foul. I feel like the ref is going to be heavily involved in this game as it goes on.
VAR RULES THE GOAL OUT FOR OFFSIDE! I am shocked... the goal has been ruled out for offside. But, there is no clear reason for them to change their decision? I've watched the replay and I can't see what they're talking about. Neither can the commentators. Very controversial.
3mins: Wow, where to even begin with that one! Terrible start for Qatar. They give away a free-kick inside their own half by committing a foul on Caicedo in the middle of the park.
Goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb came flying off his line to punch the ball away but failed to do so. As a result, it bobbled around the area and Ecuador's captain Valencia headed it into the back of the net.
2mins: Couple of big challenges in the opening minute and a half. The ref initially waved for play to continue but pulled it back for an Ecuador free-kick near the half-way line.
1min: Qatar get the game underway and fire the ball forward from the get go. However, Ecuador gain possession and begin to play out from the back.
And just like that, the 2022 World Cup is underway.
The players exchange their pendants and embrace each other before taking part in the toss. It is Qatar who will start with the ball this afternoon.
Qatar's anthem has finished and the players are shaking hands before we get underway! Remember... a host nation has NEVER lost an opening game. Qatar will be hoping to keep that record going this afternoon.
The players are out on the pitch and the national anthems are starting. It is Ecuador's national anthem that is played first and wow that crowd are really getting behind the team!
Gianni Infantino takes the microphone before the game gets underway to address the fans in the stadium. He said: 'Dear friends, welcome to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Welcome to celebrate football, because football unites the world. Let's welcome the teams and let the show begin.'
The warm-ups are done! The players are in the tunnel, ready to make their way out onto the pitch for the opening game of the 2022 World Cup.
We are just moments away from the action so make sure you stay tuned for all the live updates from the game!
Qatar (5-3-2) Saad Alsheeb; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Bassam Hisham, Abdelkarim Hassan, Homam Ahmed; Abdulaziz Hatem, Hassan Alhaydos, Karim Boudiaf; Akram Afif, Almoez Ali.
Subs: Waad, Salman, Alaaeldin, Asad, Muntari, Khoder, Mohammad, Muneer, Al-Hajri, Yousef Hassan, Barsham, Madibo, Al-Hadhrami, Gaber, Mashaal.
Ecuador (4-4-2) Galindez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Plata, Mendez, Caicedo, Ibarra; Valencia, Estrada.
Subs: Arboleda, Cifuentes, Pacho, Gruezo, Ayrton Preciado, Ramirez, Arreaga, Mena, Sarmiento, Palacios, Franco, Dominguez, Reasco, Porozo, Rodriguez.
It is worth remembering this 60,000 seater stadium will play host to England's game with the USA on Friday. They will be hoping for a full stadium just like the below!
Felix Sanchez has selected a relatively settled side. Qatar's top goal scorer Almoez Ali and fellow striker Akram Afif lead the line against Ecuador in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar midfielder Hasan Al-Haydos, who can also play on the wing, has been handed the captain's armband for this afternoon's fixture. He will be eager to secure a win for the home crowd.
Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro has also gone for a predictable starting XI. Moises Caicedo will dominate the middle of the pitch while Enner Valencia will front-up the attacking line.
Now it's starting to feel like a World Cup. The fans are making their presences known inside the stadium. The sea of yellow will definitely play a role in this afternoon's fixture.
'A whole heap of fans from LGBTQ+ communities are not travelling here. On Infantino, you are not gay. You will never understand what it is like to travel to somewhere out of fear. I have conversations about whether I should have stayed at home.
'Sitting here and having the harder conversations and that is why I am here. Four years ago I was the first female BBC pundit at a World Cup.'
Speaking before the game, he said: 'It's weird, strange, knowing that there was a league programme on only seven days ago and there’s been a lot spoken about it.
'But I’m hoping once the football gets underway it starts to feel like a world cup and we can sit and hopefully enjoy what’s going to be a great spectacle'.
The players are finally out on the pitch warming up. They were given a heroes welcome by the fans inside the stadium. It's clearly given them a boost as they appear to be full of energy.
However, there is some nail biting going on. The nerves are definitely starting to sink in as the 60,000 seater stadium roars on.
Ecuador (4-4-2) Galindez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Plata, Mendez, Caicedo, Ibarra; Valencia, Estrada.
Subs: Arboleda, Cifuentes, Pacho, Gruezo, Ayrton Preciado, Ramirez, Arreaga, Mena, Sarmiento, Palacios, Franco, Dominguez, Reasco, Porozo, Rodriguez.
Qatar (5-3-2) Saad Alsheeb; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Bassam Hisham, Abdelkarim Hassan, Homam Ahmed; Abdulaziz Hatem, Hassan Alhaydos, Karim Boudiaf; Akram Afif, Almoez Ali.
Subs: Waad, Salman, Alaaeldin, Asad, Muntari, Khoder, Mohammad, Muneer, Al-Hajri, Yousef Hassan, Barsham, Madibo, Al-Hadhrami, Gaber, Mashaal.
And... just like that, the opening ceremony is over. The focus switches back to the football now and the players are in the tunnel, waiting to go out onto the pitch to start warming up.
You can see the players going through various emotions. They are going from smiling and joking around to serious and composed. It must be nerve wracking to say the least...
He said: 'It’s the most controversial world cup in recent history and a ball hasn’t even been kicked. Ever since FIFA chose Qatar back in 2010, the smallest nation to host footballs greatest competition has faced some big questions.
'From accusations of corruption in the bidding process to the treatment of migrant workers who’ve built the stadiums where many lost their lives.
'Homosexuality is illegal here and women’s rights are also in the spotlight. Also the decision to switch the tournament from summer to winter.
'Against that back drop, there is a tournament to be played here that will be watched and enjoyed around the world. Stick to football say FIFA, well we will for a couple of minutes at least.'
The opening ceremony is underway and fans seem to be loving it! The atmosphere inside the stadium is picking up and the general consensus on social media is that Qatar have pulled it out of the bag. Here's a little look at the ceremony.
Starting to sink in now, eh? Here's a sneak peak inside Ecuador's changing room ahead of their opening Group A game against the hosts, Qatar. It's all to play for...
It's a big moment for the players and the fans! It looks like they are all soaking it up. Not long until we get underway. Just under an hour until the 2022 World Cup officially starts.
Qatar have arrived at the Al Bayt Stadium ahead of their game against Ecuador. They are all smiles and it's no surprise as they are about to kick-off their 2022 World Cup campaign on home soil.
Qatar's World Cup ambassador David Beckham is in the house ladies and gents! The former England captain and globally recognisable figure signed a controversial £10million deal with Qatar to be an ambassador for this year's World Cup.
Beckham has faced criticism for agreeing to fill the role on account of Qatar's poor human rights record, amid accusations that the country is using the tournament to sportswash its global image.
Here we are!! The opening ceremony is underway after a slight delay! The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has begun.
Lights, speeches and performances to come ahead of the opening match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at 4pm.
Khalid Muneer has been given the nickname ‘Al Fanan’, which translates to ‘the artist’. I’m sure you can guess why he’s been given that title.
Yes, it’s because of the way he creates things on the pitch. However, he’s relatively inexperienced at international football.
He was only recently called up to the senior national team but he did manage to score in a friendly against Jamaica in August.
If he scores in the 2022 World Cup, you will see him perform his trademark celebration - backflips by the corner flag.
Qatar fans will be hoping to see Ismaeel Mohammad this afternoon given he is regarded as a favourite.
He spends a lot of time meeting fans and giving away signed shirts when he’s not playing football. The midfielder is also known for his theatrics on social media.
On the pitch, Mohammad operates as either a wing-back or winger in Felix Sanchez’s 3-5-2 formation. He will look to advance up the pitch and get himself in and around the goal scoring area.
Should he find the back of the net, it is likely he will do his signature 'glasses' celebration.
Belgium will reportedly be without Romelu Lukaku for the first two games of the Qatar World Cup after the Inter Milan striker failed to recover from a thigh injury.
His absence will be keenly felt by Roberto Martinez's side, as Lukaku is Belgium's record scorer with 68 international goals, and their most senior striker by a distance.
The fans seem to be in good spirits as they head into the stadium over two hours before the opening game of the 2022 World Cup starts.
They are dressed head-to-toe in the nations colours and have been seen waving flags and holding up banners.
This is the first time the tournament has kicked off on a Sunday since the 1982 edition, with Belgium beating holders Argentina 1-0 in Barcelona.
However, if history is anything to go by, we should get a fair few goals this afternoon!
The last four opening matches of a FIFA World Cup have produced a total of 17 goals, at an average of 4.25 per game.
Qatar are looking to become the first nation from the AFC confederation to win their first FIFA World Cup match when they take on Ecuador this afternoon.
10 of the previous 11 such sides have lost (including Israel in 1970), with Kuwait in 1982 the only side to avoid defeat (1-1 vs Czechoslovakia), according to Opta.
Qatar are sweating over the fitness of Ahmed Alaaeldin, who came off in last week's friendly with an unspecified injury. They will be hoping he is fit enough to feature in this afternoon's fixture. However, only time will tell!
Alaaeldin has typically played back-up roles. At club level, he had to compete for the centre-forward spot with Mehdi Taremi - who now plays for Porto.
He has also played a secondary role to Almoez Ali in the national team. However, he is someone that encompasses the squad goals and when called upon, excels.
Expected weather conditions for this afternoon's fixture between Qatar and Ecuador. It's set to be clear with a temperature of 26 degrees. There will also be 34 Km/h winds with 57 per cent humidity.
Not good for Wales! Rob Page has all but ruled midfielder Joe Allen out of tomorrow's game against the USA.
Page: 'We said from the start we're going to give him every chance, but he's probably not going to make it to be honest.'
Enner Valencia became the most expensive Ecuadorian player sold abroad in 2013 when he signed for Pachuca in Mexico for $4.5million (£3.79m). He hit the ground running as soon as he arrived at the club and went on to thrive in the Mexican league.
Valencia - who used to sell milk until he was drafted into the football world - played a starring role at the 2014 World Cup for Ecuador. At just 23 years old, he was arguably one of the best strikers in the group phase.
Valencia's life off the pitch has also been a major talking point. He has been married twice and has seven children. His sister was also kidnapped due to his sudden rise in stardom! And he's been involved in a child support lawsuit.
However, his focus will remain on football for the next month as he has been given the captains armband for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
There has been a lot of information flying around about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It can get a little confusing. So, if you’re looking to simplify things and learn about what you need to know… follow the link below.
Sportsmail have outlined how the tournament works, what teams will be playing when, how to watch the games and so much more.
READ MORE BELOW…
And so the issues begin! It's gridlock outside the Al Bayt stadium. Those that are arriving via car for the Qatar vs Ecuador game have been sitting in standstill traffic for hours - according to reports.
The chief sports reporter at the Guardian wrote: 'Our taxi moved 400m in about 40 minutes before bailing. And this is was around four hours before kick off. Lots of hooting cars and anger'.
The Qatari royal family pressured Fifa for a complete ban on selling alcohol at all World Cup stadiums, just two days ago.
The host nation - where alcohol sales are typically restricted to foreigners drinking in licensed hotels and restaurants, or non-Muslim residents with special permits in their homes - put significant pressure on FIFA to stop selling beer at the eight World Cup stadiums.
READ MORE BELOW…
Preciado of Ecuador hasn’t had it easy. He was just 16 years old when his father was arrested and put in prison. He had to work for everything he has achieved and suffered a series of setbacks along the way.
But, they do say those that had to fight for it are more resilient and have more skin in the game!
Preciado is also a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo so will be hoping to bump into him at the tournament.
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Qatar vs Ecuador - Monday, November 20
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Senegal vs Netherlands - Monday, November 21
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Qatar vs Senegal - Friday, November 25
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Netherlands vs Ecuador - Friday, November 25
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Netherlands vs Qatar - Tuesday, November 29
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Ecuador vs Senegal - Tuesday, November 29
Carlos Gruezo is so defensively solid. His composure on the ball is unmatched when it comes to the Ecuador national team. He is also determined and relentless - qualities any coach or team-mate loves.
Therefore, he would pose a real threat to Qatar. They will have to find a way to shut him out of the game or they could be in trouble this afternoon.
Qatar will be looking to build on their 12-goal tally from the FIFA Arab Cup. Therefore, they will come out of the blocks flying against Ecuador this afternoon.
Not only are they looking to pick up points in their opening game, they are also looking to entertain the home crowd.
Almoez Ali was the top goal scorer at last year’s Golf Cup. He is regarded as a dynamic goalscorer that finds the back of the net for fun.
Little fun fact for you… he became the first player in history to score in three different continental tournaments after bagging the first of his four goals in the Gold Cup against Panama.
Ali also carried Qatar in the 2019 final. He scored an absolutely worldie (an overhead kick!) during their triumph over Japan
Not only was his goal a delight to watch, it broke the record set by Iran footballer Ali Daei. So, it’s safe to say, Ali is one to watch!
Well, that's interesting! They have combined the use of drones and camels to help with security at the World Cup. Talk about mixing the old and the news! Check out the video below...
Pedro Miguel was actually born in Portugal (plot twist) but he moved to Qatar in 2011. It took Miguel five years to make his debut for the national team but he never looked back once he did.
He is a mainstay in the team. He is a versatile player that can operate as a right-back, centre-back and even as a defensive midfielder when Felix Sanchez thinks it necessary.
Every opponent's worst nightmare if you ask me.
It's not looking good for James Maddison. He has missed England’s final training session ahead of their opening games of the 2022 World Cup against Iran.
English fans will be waiting on the edge of their seats to see if the 25-year-old is deemed fit enough to feature for the Three Lions.
He was on fire during the 2019 Asian Cup. He kept six clean sheets from seven games and only let in one goal! Which to be honest, he came close to saving after pulling a series of other good saves prior to that.
His club team-mate Meshaal Barsham did threaten his spot on the national team for a second… but Al Sadd did what he needed to prove why he deserved the N0.1 spot.
The 32-year-old is starting to get on, so Qatar will need to start thinking about the future soon… but for now, he will be pretty hard to bypass.
With all the fixtures, kick-off times and dates, this is your essential at-a-glance guide to the impending festival of football ahead of the big kick-off on Sunday, November 20.
Simply click on the link below to download and print Sportsmail's wallchart to make sure you don't miss a single match throughout.
DOWNLOAD YOUR WALLCHART BELOW…
Having failed to qualify for the previous World Cup in Russia, Ecuador are back in what is only their fourth finals tournament - although all of those have occurred within the last two decades.
Their first appearance came at Korea/Japan 2002 where despite a final day win over Croatia they were still eliminated from the group stage as the bottom side following defeats by Italy and Mexico. Their most recent appearance came in 2014, when they put up a strong fight before being pipped to a last-16 spot by Switzerland on their way to tumbling out of the group.
Reaching the last-16 in Germany back in 2006 has been their best run but they were stopped in their tracks by England and David Beckham, whose free-kick denied them a quarter-final spot.
This is the first time ever that Qatar have qualified for the World Cup and while it may be as host nation they look fairly equipped to be able to tackle the tournament with one of their strongest sides, ranking a respectable 50th.
Despite their failure to qualify before it's worth noting that up to and including the 1970 tournament in Mexico they were still under British rule and after withdrawing from the qualifiers during the 1974 edition in West Germany didn't complete a qualification round until their failure to reach Argentina in 1978.
They are often within the hunt of qualifying for the World Cup right up until the latter stages though and before hosting this year's tournament had previously been just one point away from reaching Italia '90.
The fans are outside the stadium and full of excitement. The Qatar fans have been seen waving their flags in the air as they have been making their way to the Al Bayt Stadium - which is located in Al Khor City, 35km north of Doha.
Ecuador’s place at the World Cup came under threat in June this year. There were claims that defender Byron Castillo falsified his birth documents and he was actually Colombian - which means he would have been ineligible for their qualifying campaign.
The country's FA had been investigated by FIFA over the allegations raised by Chile, who finished seventh in South American qualifying and missed out on a place at the Qatar tournament.
Chile claimed they had proof that Castillo was born in Tumaco, Colombia in 1995, and not in the Ecuadorean city of General Villamil Playas in 1998 as stated on his official documents.
However, FIFA’s legal ruling rejected a complaint by Chile about Castillo being an ineligible player. FIFA said its disciplinary committee closed the proceedings in the claim on June 10.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport registered Chile’s appeal soon after. But, the CAS then decided that Ecuador could play at the World Cup in Qatar after dismissing Chile’s claim.
Nevertheless, coach Gustavo Alfaro decided not to call up Castillo after Ecuador got a three-point deduction for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs (£90,000) for the 'use of a document containing false information'.
Nothing like a good video montage to get the fans in the spirit! So, that's exactly what Qatar have done ahead of the opening game of the 2022 World Cup...
Ecuador's qualification wasn’t plane sailing… to say the least!
Ecuador's place at the 2022 World Cup came under threat after they lost their first two games. However, they pulled things back by beating Chile and Paraguay before drawing to Argentina and Brazil.
As a result, they finished in fourth place, ahead of Peru in fifth, and the likes of Colombia, Chile and Paraguay.
However… Ecuador were at risk of being kicked out of the tournament just 10 days ago. Chile and Peru felt that Ecuador should forfeit the games in which Byron Castillo played on the grounds he had not been born in Ecuador and relied on false documents to gain his passport.
Well… let’s just say there are some perks of hosting the World Cup.
Qatar's qualification was guaranteed given they are the host nation. Had that not been the case, they may have struggled to secure a place at the tournament. They lost to the likes of Argentina, Colombia and Brazil in the Copa America.
However, this month's international window brought a win over Bulgaria and a draw with Slovenia so maybe they are starting to show some form at the right time.
England fans remain unconvinced by Gareth Southgate's Three Lions after under-par performances against Italy and Germany in the Nations League, but despite their recent poor results they travel to Qatar as strong contenders to end their 56-year wait for a second triumph.
Brazil, meanwhile, are the bookies' favourites to win the tournament for a sixth time while questions persist over the reigning world champions, France, after they narrowly escaped relegation from their Nations League group.
And now, as fans across the world pick their favourites, dark horses and surprise packages among the minnows, SofaScore has raised the stakes in the pre-tournament discussion with an exciting predictor game - and it's FREE!
TRY IT OUT BELOW…
Qatar and Ecuador have faced each other once and it was the impending hosts who emerged victorious - winning 4-3 at home in 2018.
Both sides will be looking to make an impact in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup. Ecuador will be eager to get some points in the bag considering their second game is against Holland on November 25.
There are three and a half hours until kick-off but that hasn't stopped the Ecuador fans from flocking to the stadium to soak up the atmosphere before the opening game of the 2022 World Cup!
Qatar's fixture against Ecuador will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium - which is located in Al Khor City, 35km north of Doha.
The Al Bayt Stadium has a capacity of around 60,000, divided over three tiers. The venue - which was purposefully built with the World Cup in mind - also has a retractable roof.
During the World Cup, the stadium will host several group stage matches, of course including the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador.
The stadium will also host a round of 16 tie, a quarter-final clash, and a semi-final showdown. However, the final will not take place at the Al Bayt.
Not long to go now until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar begins! Al-Bayt Stadium is ready to host the opening game of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador...
It could be a battle of the 'star men' this afternoon. But, who will challenge Afif’s poster boy status? Enner Valencia.
Valencia is regarded as Ecuador's star man. He has experience of playing in the Premier League with West Ham and Everton.
The 33-year-old is also regarded as a goal threat - having found the back of the net 35 times in 70 appearances.
Valencia - who now plays in Turkey for Fenerbahce - scored four goals through qualification, while team-mate Michael Estrada of MLS side DC United scored six goals.
So, who is Qatar’s poster boy for the tournament? Well, that’s simple… Akram Afif.
The 26-year-old will play a starring role for Qatar in the 2022 World Cup. He is relatively unknown but he will be looking to impress on the international stage.
The winger - who can also play up front - played for Belgian side Eupen in 2015 before becoming the first Qatari-born signing in LaLiga history when he moved to Villarreal in 2016.
However, things didn't go according to plan for Afif in Spain. As a result, he returned to Qatar to play for Al Sadd. Since then, he has scored 75 goals and registered 62 assists in 118 games.
The prize for the tournament's top scorer is always fiercely contested - with each country's talisman looking to add the individual accolade to their list of honours.
England's star striker Harry Kane won the Golden Boot following the World Cup in Russia in 2018. He will be looking to defend his title during the tournament in Qatar.
However, he will face stiff competition from the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Neymar and more.
As a result, Sportsmail have decided to look at those who will be in contention for the Golden Boot following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
REAL MORE BELOW…
Gustavo Alfaro took charge of Ecuador's national team in 2020 and guided them to a fourth place finish in the South American qualification standings - not bad eh?
The 60-year-old manager definitely won the fans over as they were automatically awarded a place at the World Cup in Qatar.
Domestically, Alfaro has previously managed the likes of Boca Juniors, Tigre and Al-Ahli - enjoying spells of success with each of them.
However, he will have a big job on his hands at the 2022 World Cup considering the last time Ecuador played in the showpiece tournament was in 2014.
Felix Sanchez will be responsible for guiding Qatar through the 2022 World Cup - and what a big responsibility that is. Taking charge of the home nation is never easy.
Sanchez - who began his career as a coach within the youth system at Barcelona - will be expected to pull something out of the bag. However, even the best magician would struggle.
Sanchez has been in charge of the national team since 2017 and oversaw their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
But in 2019 he led them to the AFC Asian Cup title for the first time in the country's history and has taken them to various other international tournaments - like the 2019 Copa America and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, neither ended well for Qatar.
Goalkeepers: Alexander Dominguez, Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez.
Defenders: Pervis Estupinan, Angelo Preciado, Piero Hincapie, Xavier Arreaga, Diego Palacios, Jackson Porozo, Robert Arboleda, Felix Torres, William Pacho.
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Jose Cifuentes, Alan Franco, Jhegson Mendez, Carlos Gruezo, Gonzalo Plata, Angel Mena, Ayrton Preciado, Romario Ibarra, Jeremy Sarmiento.
Forwards: Enner Valencia, Michael Estrada, Djorkaeff Reasco, Kevin Rodriguez.
Goalkeepers: Saad Alsheeb, Meshaal Barsham, Yousef Hassan
Defenders: Pedro Miguel, Musaab Khidir, Tarek Salman, Bassam Al-Rawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Homam Ahmed, Jassem Gaber
Midfielders: Ali Asad, Assim Modibo, Mohammed Waad, Salem Al-Hajri, Moustafa Tarek, Karim Boudiaf, Abdelaziz Hatim, Ismail Mohamad
Forwards: Naif Alhadhrami, Ahmed Alaaeldin, Hassan Al-Haydos, Khalid Muneer, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Mohamed Muntari
One performer we are sure of is Jung Kook of South Korea, who is one of seven members of the boy band BTS. His performance was confirmed on the band's official Twitter account.
But, who performed at the 2018 edition of the tournament in Russia?
The 2018 World Cup in Russia kicked off with a ceremony in Moscow headlined by British pop star Williams and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino also gave speeches at the opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony will take place later today and don’t worry… Sportsmail will be bringing you lots of live updates!
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2pm UK time, which is two hours before Qatar vs Ecuador’s 4pm kick-off.
The ceremony was initially scheduled to take place before Qatar's first game on November 21, with Senegal vs Holland the original opening match of the tournament.
That would have meant two games - being Senegal vs Holland and England vs Iran - would have taken place before the opening ceremony.
The decision to change the opening fixture, which was made only in August, came after pleas from the hosts, allowing Sanchez's men to take part in the curtain-raiser.
If you’re interested in getting stuck into the minute-by-minute coverage of the opening ceremony… check out our other live runner here!
Hello and welcome to Sportsmail’s coverage of Qatar’s fixture against Ecuador! We will be bringing you all the build-up, team news and live updates from the game.
The home side are the underdogs for the opening match of Group A. Felix Sanchez and his side remain relatively unknown. They were guaranteed qualification given they are the host nation.
However, they did register a win over Bulgaria and a draw with Slovenia in their recent fixtures.
Therefore, they will be looking to make a splash in front of their home crowd and pick up some points early on before facing Senegal and Holland.
Meanwhile, Gustavo Alfaro's side finished fourth in the CONMEBOL qualifying tournament and showed they were defensively solid by keeping six consecutive clean sheets.
Ecuador even managed to secure a 1-1 draw against both Argentina and Brazil during the qualifying stages. Therefore, they will be looking to assert their dominance against Qatar early on.
Make sure you stay tuned!
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