The Qatar 2024 FIFA world cup will be the first world cup hosted during winter. Most football fans have reservations about the world cup in Qatar, especially as it will cause a suspension in league football. But if you thought these were the only odd things about the world cup, you probably did not know that there has been a change in the opening schedule of the FIFA world cup in Qatar.
According to the latest World Cup 2024 odds from oddspedia.com, the hosts do not have a high chance of winning the opening match in Qatar. However, the decision to organize the tournament’s opening ceremony right before Qatar’s opening match may boost their chances of emerging victorious on the night.
Qatar 2024’s original schedule was slated for Monday 21st, November, with the game against Senegal and The Netherlands scheduled to be the tournament’s first match. The opening ceremony was scheduled to follow, and the host, Qatar, will play against Ecuador.
Opening ceremonies usually serve as the curtain raiser for every FIFA world cup tournament. They are followed by the first game of the host nation or defending champion. This arrangement didn’t meet conventional FIFA world cup schedule arrangements.
FIFA aims to finish the tournament in 28 days against the standard 32 days. Since the opening ceremony tradition caused a shift in the opening schedule, the tournament duration will be longer.
What the World Cup Opening Ceremony Means for Qatar
FIFA world cup opening ceremonies are not trivial ceremonies. They serve as the official curtain raiser for the tournament. They also offer a huge opportunity for the host nation to showcase their rich culture to the whole world with thousands of fans in the stadium. Billions of people glued to their TV screens will also see the display.
There is no bigger occasion to showcase a country’s rich culture and the beauty of her people than the FIFA world cup opening ceremony. Qatar is not a big tourist destination, and many football fans will visit the oil-rich nation for the first time.
Qatar’s government is highly committed to using the FIFA world cup tournament to open up Qatar to the rest of the world. It recognizes the opportunity that the FIFA world cup will offer them. They can easily sell the true story of the country and the beauty of the Qatari people.
Different high-level preparations and investments have gone into the world cup tournament in Qatar. The excellent preparations suggest that the opening ceremony in Qatar will be one of the most outstanding FIFA world cup opening ceremonies ever witnessed.
Another Chance to Promote Football on Asian Soil
Since Korea/Japan 2002, the FIFA world cup has returned to Asian soil 20 years later. Although several Asian countries have hosted other categories of FIFA world cup tournaments, this will be the second edition of the men’s FIFA world cup on Asian soil. So, this tournament is not just Qatar’s tournament. However, it is important for all of the Middle East and the Asian Confederation.
The 2002 world cup contributed significantly to the growth of football on the Asian continent. The local football leagues are now really strong and are attracting huge investments. The fans are also filling stadiums, and the clubs can sign top talents worldwide.
Qatar 2024 is another chance to propel Asian football to greater heights. Qatar has already invested in some of the best modern football infrastructures that football experts worldwide have lauded. These high-quality infrastructures will be gradually replicated in other Asian countries. This may make Asia the best destination for football within the next decade.
What to Expect from The First Match of the Qatar 2024 FIFA World Cup?
The hosts, Qatar, will now host Ecuador in the first game of the Qatar 2024 FIFA world cup. The match will take place right after the opening ceremony. Qatar has never qualified for a FIFA world cup tournament, and very few countries get the chance to begin their FIFA world cup sojourn on home soil.
Their opponents, Ecuador, will make their 4th appearance at the FIFA world cup. Ecuador made their world cup debut at Korea/Japan 2002 and are the favourites heading into this match.
Qatar may be the underdogs heading into this encounter, but the backing of their home crowd can make a huge difference in their first FIFA world cup match.
As the experienced side, Ecuador will look to get the maximum possible points from the game to advance beyond the group stage. Ecuador has only managed to qualify from the group stage at the 2006 world cup in Germany. Securing a win against Qatar will help them set the right tone for the tournament, but that will be very tough against a vibrant Qatari crowd.
What Will Be the Impact of the Qatar 2024 FIFA World Cup On Football in General?
The football world will witness many firsts in Qatar. From air-conditioned stadiums to hotels cited within stadiums, green stadiums, etc., many exciting innovations will positively improve the application of technology in football. To some extent, Qatar has made serious forays into implementing technology in its football infrastructure. The whole world will be watching and eager to measure the success of Qatar’s experiments.
The innovations introduced by Qatar have so far received positive reviews. The rest of the football world will find it easy to build on Qatar’s strides. Football fans should be excited about Qatar and know that the tournament’s success will bring more brilliant innovations to football.
Conclusion
The additional date to the FIFA world cup tournament in Qatar will guarantee that the traditional opening ceremony will take primary focus before the tournament begins proper. This is Qatar’s chance to welcome the world to its shores. Given the amount of preparation placed into this tournament, fans should expect an epic opening ceremony.
Because of the competitive nature of the world cup, fans should be ready to witness miracles at the tournament.