Foreign government officials, VIPs, and celebrities were in the crowd as the first World Cup staged in the Arab world opened at the Bedouin-tent-inspired Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, 50 kilometres (31 miles) outside of Doha. The hosts lost the first game to Ecuador.
Ecuador supporters cheer ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Ecuador supporters cheer ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 20, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Defending champions thrashed Australia 4-1 in the final game for today.
France’s forward #09 Olivier Giroud (L) celebrates with France’s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe (C) and France’s defender #22 Theo Hernandez after he scored during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Australia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on November 22, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France’s forward #09 Olivier Giroud (L) celebrates with France’s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe (C) and France’s defender #22 Theo Hernandez after he scored during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Australia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on November 22, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
18:58: The third match of the day, Poland vs Mexico, has ended in a draw. Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski, had a penalty saved in the 58th minute.
Mexico’s goalkeeper #13 Guillermo Ochoa (bottom) saves a penalty shot by Poland’s forward #09 Robert Lewandowski (C) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 22, 2022. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)
Mexico’s goalkeeper #13 Guillermo Ochoa (bottom) saves a penalty shot by Poland’s forward #09 Robert Lewandowski (C) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 22, 2022. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)
FULL-TIME: Denmark 0-0 Tunisia.
The match ends in stalemate after 98 minutes of action. And that makes it first game to end in a draw in this tournament so far.
90+5′ NO PENALTY. After going to the monitor the referee rules against penalty after the ball appeared to have touched a Tunisian player on the hand inside their box.
We have reached the 90 minutes mark in this game and five extra minutes is added.
86′ Yellow card. Yellow card for Tunisia’s Kheneisi for clattering into Jensen.
78′ Yellow card. Mathias Jensen is booked for a bad tackle on Tunisian player.
69′ Save! Dahmen denies Denmark to keep score at 0-0.
56′ OFFSIDE! Denmark have the ball in the net but it won’t count as Olsen is ruled offside.
50′ Big chance for Tunisia. Jebali chips the ball to Laidouni who breaks down the Denmark defence only to be eventually stopped.
Welcome back for the second half as referee blows the whistle for resumption.
Referee blows the half-time whistle. It remains a stalemate.
45+1′ Substitution. Denmark coach withdraws Thomas Delaney for Mikkel Damsgaard.
43′ Big Save by Schmeichel. The former Leicester number one flipped over a chip from Jebali after finding himself one-on-one with the Tunisian forward.
38′ Corner to Tunisia. Jebali gets the ball in the Danish box but hits it against Kjaer.
24′ Disallowed goal. Jebali has the ball in the net but he is ruled offside.
24′ Yellow card. Denmark’s Rasmus Kistensen enters book for late challenge on Tunisia’s Laidouni.
14:00: Referee signals resumption of the match with his whistle.
Welcome to the Group D encounter between Denmark and Tunisia.
FULL-TIME: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Unbelievable upset here. Saudi Arabia hold on to their lead to record a shocking 2-1 victory over Argentina.
90+2′ Yellow card. Mohammed Alowais enters the referee’s book.
90 minutes regular time completed. There will be a minimum of 8 minutes additional time.
89′ Another substitution for Saudi. Haitham Asiri replaces Feras Albrikan.
88′ Substitution by Saudi. Al Amri replaces Alabid.
82′ Yellow card. Saud Abdulhamid for reckless challenge.
79′ Yellow card. Salem Aldawsari.
78′ Substitution for Saudi.
Al-Ghannam replaces Alsherhi.
75′ Yellow card. Albulayhi is booked for taking too long to take a free-kick.
71′ Substitution for Argentina.
Marcos Acuna replaces Tagliafico in defence.
67′ Yellow card. Saudis Almalki enters referee’s book for a reckless challenge.
63′ What a save! Owais make an incredible save to deny Martinez an equalizer.
59′ Substitution for Argentina
Julian Alvarez replaces Papu Gomez as well as Enzo Fenandez replacing Leandro Parades.
54′ GOOOAAALLL!
Suadi Arabia get their second goal.
It is a great strike by Saudi Arabia’s talisman Salem Al Dawsari. He thumps a shot into the far corner to shock Argentina. it’s all to do for the Soth Americans now.Ias he sidesteps a challenge inside the box before thumping a shot into the far corner. Emi Martinez gets a hand to it but not enough to keep it out.
48′ GOOOAAALLL!
Saudi Arabia equalises
HALF-TIME
45+4′ Saudi substitution.
Al Faraj can’t continue and is replaced by Nawaf Alabid.
45′ Five minutes added time to be played.
30′ Al Faraj takes a corner for Saudi Arabia but it amounts to nothing.
29′ A goal by Argentina is ruled out by the VAR. The scorer Lautaro Martinez was adjudged to be offside.
10′ GOOOAAALLL (Penalty)
Messi scores for Argentina from the spot after Al Bulyahi’s foul on Parades.
Welcome to our FIFA World Cup live coverage today as Messi’s Argentina begin their campaign against Saudi Arabia.
Full-Time: Senegal 0-2 Netherlands.
Referee blows full-time whistle to signal the end of this game. Netherlands are up and running and Senegal have it all to do now.
90+8′ GOOOAAALLL
Klaassen doubles Netherlands lead.
90+6′ Another yellow card for Senegal and this time it’s Idrissa Gueye.
90+4′ Yellow card. Nempalys Mendy gets into the referee book for reckless challenge.
90′ Eight minutes of added time to be played now. Can the Africans reply?
84′ GOOOAAALLL!
Cody Gakpo Breaks the deadlock for Netherlands. The PSV striker meets a cross from De Jong and beats Mendy to head home.
79′ Teun Koopmeiners replaces Steven Beghuis in Netherlands midfield.
79′ Davy Klaassen replaces Steven Bergwijn for Netherlands.
74′ Nicholas Jackson replaces Krepin Diatta in midfield for Senegal.
73′ Substitution. Pape Gueye replaces Kouyate in midfield for Senegal.
69′ Another substitution foe Senegal.
Bamba Dieng replaces Boulaye Dia in the attack.
62′ Substitution Senegal.
Ismail Jakobs replaces Abdou Diallo in defence.
56′ Yellow card for Matthijs de Ligt for a silly challenge on Ismaila Sarr.
53′ Netherlands miss big chance. Van Dijk rises high to connect with a corner but can’t keep his header down. Relief for the African champions.
49′ The game is still 0-0. Both teams appear to be too cautious.
45′ Second-half resumes
45+2 Half-Time
Netherlands seem to have finished the latter part of the half stronger.
32′ Gakpo swings a free-kick into the box with Mendy caught in between the ball and his defence but Kouyate gets good head on the ball to clear.
29′ Still 0-0 but Senegal are enjoying a better possession than their opponents. Frenkie De Jong’s poor clearance almost gifted Senegal a goal but Idrissa Gueye’s attempt was blocked.
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
27′ Senegal make attempt on Netherlands goal but treat defending by Virgil van Dijk denies them. Ismaila Sar shoots from outside the box but the Liverpool defender headed over the bar. It looked like it was heading for the net.
17:00: Referee signals kickoff of the match with his whistle.
Welcome to the group A game between Senegal and Netherlands.
90+14′ The referee blows the final whistle for the Group B encounter! England have now recorded the biggest win so far in the 2022 World Cup. Join us later for the Group A clash between Senegal and The Netherlands!
90+13′ Iran Mehdi Taremi scores a late consolation from the spot!
90+10′ After a VAR check, Iran are given a penalty!
90+8′ Pickford makes a point-blank save to deny Iran!
90+7′ Iran pour forward, looking for a late consolation goal!
90+1′ Into the first 10 minutes of added time for the tie!
89′ The Three Lions are on fire! Manchester City’s Jack Grealish scores their sixth goal!
85′ England still probing with Foden and Rashford combining but the Manchester United man’s effort was blocked!
71′ Marcus Rashford makes it five for the Three Lions!
65′ Mehdi Tarem pulls one back for Iran!
63′ Iran makes a change!
62′ Saka scores again to make it four for England.
58′ England seem to be taking things slower, unlike the first half.
48‘ Morteza Pouraliganji booked for a tackle on Kane.
46’ Second half begins! The Asian team make three changes to their side.
45+13′ The referee blows the whistle for half-time.
45+7′ Saka is still causing problems for the Iranian defence.
45+3‘ 14 additional minutes were added due to the delay when the Iranian goalkeeper was injured!
45+1′ England make it three! Raheem Sterling served on a plate before slotting the ball home.
45′ The Iranian players are complaining about a foul in the build-up to Saka’s goal.
39‘ Bukayo Saka doubles England’s lead!
35′ Jude Bellingham scores for the Three Lions following an assist from Shaw.
25‘ Alireza Jahanbakhsh gets a yellow card for a challenge on Luke Shaw.
15′ Iran’s goalie Alireza Beiranvand is stretchered off and replaced by Hossein Hosseini.
10′ Iran’s keeper clashes head with his defender Hossein. The defender gets up but the keeper is bleeding and requires treatment.
8′ CHANCE: Trippier’s quick free-kick meets Kane whose cross into the box was kept away by the Iran keeper’s fingertips before crashing into one of his defenders. Maguire tries to score but fires into the side netting.
6′ England goes on the attack with Shaw on the left but his cross is cleared by Iran’s defender just before it gets to Saka.
14:00: Referee blows his whistle to kickstart the game.
13:15: Team list for both England and Iran:
13:00: Welcome to our live coverage once again as England open their 2022 World Cup Campaign in Qatar against Iran. The match kicks off at 14:00.
Thanks for joining us for today’s live coverage of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, join us again tomorrow.
90+6 Referee blows the full-time whistle as the first game of the Qatar 2022 World Cup ends in a 2-0 defeat for the host nation Qatar, with Ecuador grabbing the first three points of the tournament.
90+2 Ecuador have not been able to increase their lead but have comfortably protected their two goals, very solid at the back.
90′ Referee adds five extra minutes.
90′ Substitution
Ecuador brings in Cortez for Estrada.
Alan Franco for Caicedo.
86′ Muntari makes an attempt on goal in what is Qatar’s best effort so far in the game.
84′ Ecuador’s Jhon Cifuentes fouls a Qatari player.
82′ Foul by Qatar’s M. Waad
78′ Yellow card for Qatar’s Akram Afif.
77′ Substitution
Scorer of double for Ecuador Enner Valencia makes way for Jose Cifuentes.
75′ Afif makes attempt on goal for Qatar.
72′ Substitution
Mohammed Muntari replaces Almoez Ali for Qatar.
71′ Substitution
Mohammed Waad A Albayati replaces Hassan Al-Haydos for Qatar.
68′ Substitution
Sarmento replaces Ibarra who had a strong performance for Ecuador.
56′ Yellow card
Medez goes into the book after catching Afif with a late boot.
18:10: Second half begins!
17:50: It’s half-time in Qatar with the hosts two-nil down. Can they stage a comeback?
17:45: Five minutes of extra time have been added.
17:31: Valencia scores a header to double the lead for Ecuador.
17:16: Enner Valencia scores the first World Cup goal in Qatar after converting from the spot.
17:15: Saeed Al Sheeb becomes the first player to be booked in the tournament after he brought down Valencia in the penalty area.
17:05: Enner Valencia heads in a goal but VAR cancels it for an offside against the forward.
17:00: The opening game of the competition kicks off between Qatar and Ecuador.
