The wait is over and this Sunday, November 20, the Qatar 2022 World Cup officially began: first, with the opening ceremony and then, with the first match, in which Ecuador beat the team from the host country of the tournament 2-0. curious is that it is the most atypical Cup in history given that in this edition there are many novelties such as, for example, the fact that this competition had never been played in the Arab world and that this time it is out of the calendar: due to the extreme temperatures of the Middle Eastern country, this year it is played in the middle of the club season.

Similarly, the number of changes that can be made during each encounter is also different from other editions. This was a modification made by FIFA as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with which the number of substitutions that can be made in professional football matches was expanded. Since then, there are no longer just three variants that can be done at most, but now there are five in total. However, as established by the official regulations of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, player changes can be made in only three moments, not including halftime.

On the other hand, in the knockout stage, if extra time is played because the match in question was drawn, one more substitution will be possible there even if the teams have already made all the allowed substitutions. In this way, for the first time in history, it will be possible to make variations to more than half of the 11 players on court in a World Cup.

It is important to point out that this modification generated another one that is closely linked. Due to the fact that more substitutions are allowed, the substitute bench will now be able to count on more players than in other editions of the competition. This is how, until the last World Cup, which was Russia 2018, up to 12 substitutes were admitted and this year 15 are allowed, so now the squads are made up of 26 soccer players.

It should be remembered that, when this measure was announced, in May 2020, it was not well received by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), who protested that decision. So much so that its president, the Paraguayan Alejandro Domínguez, spoke of the “surprise” that the South American entity felt at the decision without consultation emanating from Switzerland. “This measure takes us by surprise, which was not consulted with our Confederation,” the Paraguayan leader wrote on his Twitter profile.

After the game between Qatar and Ecuador, how is the first date of the group stage going?

Group A

  • Qatar 0 vs. 2 Ecuador – Sunday, November 20 at 1 pm at the Al Bayt stadium (DSports and Public TV).
  • Senegal vs. The Netherlands – Monday, November 21 at 1 pm at the Al Thumama stadium (DSports and Public TV).

B Group

  • England vs. Iran – Monday, November 21 at 10 a.m. at Khalifa Stadium (DSports and TyC Sports).
  • United States vs. Wales – Monday, November 21 at 4:00 p.m. at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (DSports and TyC Sports).

Group C

  • Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia – Tuesday, November 22 at 7 at Lusail Stadium (DSports, Public TV and TyC Sports).
  • Mexico vs. Poland – Tuesday, November 22 at 1 pm at the 974 stadium (DSports and TyC Sports).

Group D

  • Denmark vs. Tunisia – Tuesday, November 22 at 10 at the Ciudad de la Educación stadium (DSports and TyC Sports).
  • France vs. Australia – Tuesday, November 22 at 4:00 p.m. at Al Yanub Stadium (DSports and Public TV).

Group E

  • Germany vs. Japan – Wednesday, November 23 at 10 at Khalifa Stadium (DSports and TyC Sports).
  • Spain vs. Costa Rica – Wednesday, November 23 at 1 pm at the Al Thumama stadium (DSports and Public TV).

Group F

  • Morocco vs. Croatia – Wednesday, November 23 at 7 at Al Bayt Stadium (DSports and TyC Sports).
  • Belgium vs. Canada – Wednesday, November 23 at 4:00 p.m. at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (DSports and Public TV).

Group G

  • Switzerland vs. Cameroon – Thursday, November 24 at 7 at Al Yanub Stadium (DSports and Public TV).
  • Brazil vs. Serbia – Thursday, November 24 at 4:00 p.m. at Lusail Stadium (DSports and TyC Sports).

Group H

  • Uruguay vs. South Korea – Thursday, November 24 at 10 at the Ciudad de la Educación stadium (DSports and Public TV).
  • Portugal vs. Ghana – Thursday, November 24 at 1:00 p.m. at Stadium 974 (DSports and TyC Sports).

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