Panafrican News Agency

Hosts Qatar confirm dates for the 2022 World Cup

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The final phase of the next football World Cup will take place from 21 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar, the hosts confirmed on Wednesday

Qatar has announced that the opening match will be played at the Al Bayt stadium, which is being built as a 60,000-seat tent. And the final at the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium.

The day before the finals, 17 December, the Khalifa International Stadium will host the third-place match.

According to the schedule, published on the FIFA website, the group stage matches will start at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m., with simultaneous kick-offs on the final day. The knockout phase matches will be played at 18:00 or 22:00.

Four matches will be played per day in the group phase to ensure that teams have optimal rest periods.

The "Qatar 2022" football World Cup will not take place during the current period (June - July) due to the scorching temperatures in the Emirates at that time.

It will, therefore, be in November - December when "the weather conditions are ideal in Qatar".

It said that the concept of organization of this competition means that no air travel will be necessary between the different sites selected, due to their proximity.

-0- PANA BKN/BEH/MTA/VAO 15July2020