Kickoff — Qatar vs Ecuador

4 min readNov 20, 2022

On Sunday, the hosts Qatar and Ecuador will begin the most unusual World Cup in history. Even without taking into account the setting in which it will be played, the biggest tournament in the game has never before taken place in the Middle East or during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Obviously, there are more important matters at hand, but even the most knowledgeable football fans would doubtless find it challenging to discuss in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the Qatari national team.

Ecuador, meanwhile, do have a more visible reputation strewn across Europe’s major five leagues, though are still hard to truly judge given the national side’s struggles to play anyone outside of their continent due to the advent of the UEFA Nations League.

The 2022 World Cup’s opening group game is scheduled for 4pm GMT on Sunday November 20, 2022, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

The veteran Akram Afif and Almoez Alli have been the line leaders for the hosts’ 5–3–2 formation for the majority of the game. It would be a great surprise to see coach Felix Sanchez Bas depart from the stability and coherence on which his team has been formed since his hiring.

In contrast, Ecuador has a midfield that many other teams in the competition will be envious of. Moises Caicedo of Brighton is exceptional, and Angel Mena, Jeremy Sarmiento, and Ayrton Preciado add to the caliber.

Ecuador coach, Gustavo Alfaro, uses a variety of formations, including 4–2–3–1, 4–3–3, and 4–4–1–1, placing a high value on his full-backs.

Akram Afif, Qatar

The perfect moment has come for Akram Afif to regain his form. Despite injuries and falling out of Xavi’s plans in the past, the recent friendlies have shown he is ready for the World Cup. Afif is an electrifying forward who, on his best day, can outduel any defender and prove why he’s one of the greatest in Asia.

Moises Caicedo, Ecuador

Without a doubt, Moisés Caicedo, or “Nio Moi” as he prefers to be called, is the team’s star player. Brighton’s box to box midfielder serves as a crucial member in the team’s defensive framework and balance. He assists his backline while also contributing to the offense with his stamina and strength. Caicedo differs from other star quality players. Although he won’t get the crowd going mad with his dribbling ability, Ecuador’s hopes of moving forward may depend on his efficient passing, excellent positioning, and game-reading intelligence.