Billions of fans around the world will be offered a prime opportunity to witness four matches a day during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament thanks to convenient kick-off times.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and FIFA yesterday released the official schedule for the first World Cup to be played in the Middle East, with kick-off times for group matches have been set for 13:00, 16:00, 19:00 and 22:00, with the simultaneous kick-offs for the last round of group games and knockout-stage timings being 18:00 and 22:00.
Following the official announcement of the match schedule of the tournament yesterday, Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 told beIN SPORTS that it will be a great opportunity for fans to have a remarkable experience.
"The opening match on the 21st of November will be played at the Al Bayt Stadium. It is a beautiful stadium which fits 60,000 spectators and shows Qatar’s and the Arab worlds great hospitality as its design comes from the traditional houses in Qatar. We look forward to welcoming the fans in 2022. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will also host four games a day in the group stages – which is a great opportunity for fans to have a remarkable experience as they will be able to watch more than one game a day," Al Khater said.
Khaled Al Naama, Official Spokesperson for the SC said, "the 2022 FIFA World Cup will give players and staff more time to rest and relax – as stadiums, training pitches and hotels are so close to one another. It will also be great for fans who can watch more than one game per day by using the new metro system and other transportation options."
Colin Smith, FIFA Chief Tournaments and Events Officer and Qatar 2022 Managing Director, said, "the World Cup is always a festival of football, a real celebration for the fans who come on-site and watch. In Qatar, with the compact nature, this is going to be amplified even more with 32 teams and 32 sets of supporters all in and around Doha, with Qatar fully embracing the experience of hosting the World Cup.
The four matches a day during the group phase, the two matches during the round of 16 and the quarters, also provides much greater access and opportunities for fans to see not only their favourite teams but also other best teams in the world, be that in the stadium or at the FIFA Fan Fest taking place in Doha."
