FIFA 2022 World Cup host Qatar lost in the opening game
The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off with a bang. Although it was reported before the game that Ecuadorian players were suspected of bribery and kick-fixing, the opening game was a sensation. The host team, Qatar, was expected to continue the tradition and become the 22nd host team to win in the opening game. But things didn’t go as expected. Ecuador, who was a guest, controlled most of the offense throughout the game, and Qatar was still unable to break through the opponent’s defense. In the end, they lost 0-2 and became the first home team to lose in the World Cup opening match.
Before the official start of the game, although Ecuador, which is ranked 44th in the FIFA world ranking, was slightly higher than Qatar, which was 49th, the latter was actively preparing for the game when it won the right to host in 2010, and even won the Asian Cup in 2019, which was favored by the outside world and may successfully win the first battle. But only 3 minutes into the opening game, Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia scored with a big kick into the net. Although the goal was ruled offside with the help of VAR, the goal was invalid.
Subsequently, Ecuador scored 2 points with a 12-yard free throw and a header in the 16th and 31st minutes of the first half, but Qatar never had a chance to score. In the end, Ecuador relied on these two goals to win the game. Many fans and sports gamers who were optimistic about Qatar’s successful start were not only extremely surprised but also miserable.