The first match of the 2022 World Cup takes place at the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as hosts Qatar lock horns with Ecuador in Group A.

Qatar

Felix Sanchez Bas men are competing on the biggest international stage for the first time in their history, while Ecuador make their return to the World Cup finals after an eight-year absence.

Facing Senegal and 2010 World Cup finalists Netherlands is truly a difficult set of fixtures for the world’s 50th-ranked nation, but they have taken part in four warm-up friendlies since October and have won all four of them.

Sanchez Bas’s will be hoping for his side to avoid being just the second World Cup hosts to fail to make it out of the group stage, like South Africa did in 2010 but victory here would also see Qatar make history as the only AFC nation to win their first-ever World Cup showdown.

Qatar vs Ecuador Match to be played at the incredible Al Bayt Stadium

Ecuador 

Ecuador have already appeared at three editions of the competition in 2002, 2006 and 2014, but only once have they progressed beyond the group stages, being eliminated in the last 16 16 years ago, which also represents the sole time that they have won their first match of the tournament. They will be hoping to upset the hosts and begin the tournament on a high.

Qatar possible starting lineup:
Al-Sheeb; Miguel, Al-Wari, Salman, Hassan, Ahmed; Hatem, Boudiaf; Al-Haydos; Ali, Afif

Ecuador possible starting lineup:
Dominguez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Gruezo, Caicedo, Cifuentes; Plata, Valencia, Ibarra

Betting Tip & Possible Outcome

Ecuador to Win or Draw @1.31 will be a wise pick. Although, Qatar will be looking to score at least to liven things up in a monumental match. Another wise, but a little risky pick would be the Both teams to score pick which is @2.20

Predictions

LeagueTimeHomevAwayTipOddOutcome
17:00QatarvEcuadorC.score 1-15.80
17:00QatarvEcuadorBTTS 2.20
17:00QatarvEcuadorX21.31
2022 FIFA World Cup Football Qatar