World Cup Draw: Qatar to Take on Ecuador in the Opening Match
Coaches pose in front of the World Cup trophy during the draw for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center on April 1, 2022. Photo: AFP
- By Ken Gadaffi
- April 2, 2022 11:36 AM
Draw, which took place in Doha on April 1, also pits Iran against the US; holders France will take on Denmark in Group D.
Host Qatar was drawn to take on Ecuador in the Tournament’s Opener of the World Cup 2022.
The final draw ceremony was held in Qatar’s capital Doha on Friday with 29 of the 32 teams confirmed already. The remaining three, winners of the playoffs, are expected to be confirmed by June this year.
The World Cup takes place across eight stadiums in Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec.18. Group A also includes African champions Senegal, who saw off Egypt in the qualifying playoffs, and the Netherlands.
In other groups, the United States will face England and Iran in Group B where the fourth team will be decided from Wales, Scotland and Ukraine.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina is in Group C along with Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Poland. Holder France will meet Denmark and Tunisia in Group D.
Spain will take on Germany in a clash of former winners in Group E. Japan and Winner Costa Rica and New Zealand complete the group.
Current World Number 1, Belgium was drawn in Group F together with Canada Morocco and Croatia. Group G was one of the toughest, pitting five-time World Cup winners Brazil against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.
Ghana who edged out Nigeria in the Qualifying Playoffs is drawn in Group H alongside Christiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.
The draw came after a 45-minute musical and video show as FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised the event would “simply be the best tournament ever”.
He also welcomed the world to Qatar and a plea to stop conflicts around the world.
“We want this to be the World Cup of unity, of peace,” he said before stepping off the stage.
Although Cambodia was not in the Draw Pot, two delegates from the Football Federation of Cambodia, Vice President Khiev Sameth and FFC Liason officer Sothea Lay attended the World Cup Draw held on the sidelines of the 72nd FIFA Congress.
“It was a great event, the Congress was quite successful and we learned a lot from it,” said the FFC vice president. “The Show was good and there were good preparations for the draw.”
