Saturday, October 17, 2026

FIFA Moves Up World Cup Start Date To Accommodate Qatar

  • At the last minute, FIFA has moved the commencement date of the tournament up one day.
  • The World Cup will now start on November 20, with Qatar playing Ecuador.
World-Cup
Shutterstock

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

For the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar, the controversies continue.

At the last minute, FIFA has moved the commencement date of the tournament up one day, according to The Athletic. 

Qatar wants its home team to play the first match, as is tradition — though the schedule was previously set to have the Netherlands and Senegal playing first. The World Cup will now start on November 20, with Qatar playing Ecuador.

The timing of the entire World Cup, of course, is already unorthodox — it will be played in the winter as opposed to summer due to the harsh local climate.

The host nation has also been heavily criticized for its alleged human rights violations. Workers who built infrastructure for the tournament were reportedly not only underpaid, but put in extremely unsafe working conditions.

Human rights groups like Amnesty International have demanded that Qatar compensate workers for these alleged abuses.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

FIFA to Reconsider Peace Prize After Trump Received Inaugural Award

FIFA’s Football Social Responsibility Committee will assess the prize’s future.

Jessica Berman Says Failed Victory+ Deal Was Risk Worth Taking

The NWSL had a deal with failed streamer Victory+.

MLS Not Looking Into NYCFC Owners Over Man City Violations

Manchester City was found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.
FOS Tuned In

Jessica Berman: It’s ‘My Job’ to Solve NWSL Louisville Problem

Louisville falling behind “shows you how quickly this league has changed.”
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/16/26 – Aikman Eyes Free Agency, CFP Nears 24 Teams, Stoudemire Becomes Cop

0:00

Featured Today

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
Jul 30, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of the official NFL balls on the field during Los Angeles Rams training camp at University of California Irvine.

Saudi Arabia Wants to Bring American Football to the Middle East

The Middle Eastern nation wants to host major football events.
Noah Lyles (USA) wins the men’s 100m final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.
September 22, 2025

Summer Olympics Face a Climate-Induced Heat Check

The World Athletics president says the status quo is not sustainable.
Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; British and United States flags on the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
September 29, 2025

From Dublin to London: Vikings on NFL’s First Multi-Country Road Trip

The Jaguars have previously played consecutive games in the U.K.
Sponsored

The State of AI in Sports 2026

Front Office Sports and Teamworks reveal how AI is reshaping sports in the first industry-wide report on adoption, investment, and impact.
January 13, 2025

Newsom Adamant About L.A. Hosting 2028 Olympics

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.