The 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup is unique in more ways than one. For the first time ever we have a winter World Cup. That of course has meant that the pause button had to be pushed on domestic leagues and other fixtures, especially in Europe.
There are many firsts this time, including the use of the first ever temporary stadium in the history of the World Cup. Stadium 974 in Doha is made of 974 recycled shipping containers and will be dismantled after the World Cup.
This is also the first time since 1982 that the tournament is beginning on a Sunday and the first time that it is being staged in the Middle East.
As is the norm, the hosts kick-off the tournament and on Sunday the 2022 edition will begin with a Group A fixture between Qatar and Ecuador.
Here is everything you need to know about the two teams ahead of the opening game of this edition, that will see 32 countries fight it out to win football's holy grail:
Venue: Al Bayt Stadium
Kick-Off Time: 9:30 PM IST
Head to Head:
Matches: 3 (All in Qatar)
Won by Qatar: 1
Won by Ecuador: 1
Drawn: 1
Total Goals scored: 6
Last Encounter: Qatar beat Ecuador 4-3 in a friendly in October, 2018
QATAR
FIFA Ranking: 50
Coach: Felix Sanchez
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Saad Al Sheeb, Yousuf Hassan, Meshaal Barsham
Defenders: Pedro Miguel, Mohammed Waad, Tarek Salman, Mussab Khidir, Homam Ahmed, Bassam Hisham, Boualem Khoukhi, Ismail Mohamad
Midfielders: Abdelkarim Hassan, Abdulhaziz Hatem, Ali Hassadalla, Hassan Alhaydos (Captain), Karim Boudiaf, Salem AL Hajri, Asim Madibo, Naif AbdulRaheemJassem Gaber, Mostafa Tarek Meshaal
Forwards: Ahmed Alaaeldin, Mohammed Mungtari, Akram Afif, Khalid Muneer, Almoez Ali
Key Talking Points:
Qatar are making their World Cup debut
They will be hoping they don't become just the second hosts to fail to make it out of the group stage. A similar fate met South Africa when they hosted the 2010 edition
A win for Qatar vs Ecuador would make them the first AFC nation to win their first ever World Cup match. The last World Cup debutants to win their first ever match were Senegal - they beat defending champions France 1-0 in the 2002 edition
Qatar have won 3 of their previous matches at the Al Bayt stadium
Recent Performances:
Won their last 4 warm-up friendlies since October this year
2019 AFC Asian Cup champions - Beat Japan 3-1 in the final
Striker Almoez Ali was the top scorer in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, scoring 9 goals from 10 shots on target. This is also the most number of goals ever scored by a player in a single edition of the tournament
Last 6 games: L, D, W, W, W, W
Possible Starting Line-up:
Al Sheeb --- Miguel, Al-Wari, Salman, Hassan, Ahmed -- Boudiaf, Hatem --- Al-Haydos --- Afif, Ali
ECUADOR
FIFA Ranking: 44
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Full squad:
Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez, Alexander Dominguez
Defenders: Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Robert Arboleda, William Pacho, Pervis Estupinan, Xavier Arreaga, Angelo Preciado, Diego Jose PalaciosJackson Porozo
Midfielders: Jose Cifuentes, Carlos Gruezo, Eduar Preciado, Romario Ibarra, Angel Mena, Jeremy Sarmiento, Gonzalo Plata, Jhegson Mendez, Alan Franco, Moises Caicedo
Forwards: Michael Estrada, Enner Valencia, Djorkaeff Reasco, Kevin Rodriguez
Key Talking Points:
Ecuador are making their return to the World Cup finals after 8 years
They were reportedly facing a threat of expulsion after fielding an ineligible player in the qualifying rounds
Ecuador have played in three previous editions - 2002, 2006 and 2014 - But have progressed beyond the group stage only once.
Their best performance at the FIFA World Cup was in 2006, when they reached the Round of 16
Out of the 10 FIFA World Cup matches they have played so far, only 1 ended in a draw - 0-0 with France in 2014. They have so far won 5 and lost 4 FIFA WC games
Left-back Pervis Estupinan created as many as 22 chances during the South American leg of the WC qualification - the most by any defender
Recent Performances:
6 clean sheets in 6 games since June this year
Since June they have scored only twice. 4 Of those 6 games finished with a 0-0 scoreline
Last 6 games: W, D, W, D, D, D
Possible Starting Line-up:
Dominguez -- Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan --- Cifuentes, Gruezo, Caicedo, Plata --- Valencia, Estrada
