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FIFA 2022 World Cup opening match - How to bet on? Read here!

Dave Kuzio

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Last Updated on 12/03/2026

Fact checked by: Jordan Noble

Your World Cup opening match between Qatar and Ecuador is the first chapter of a saga which will see memories made, hearts broken, and champions crowned on the biggest and most prestigious stage in the world of football.

It also offers lots of interesting betting markets. But, in order to make the most of wagering on the World Cup 2022 opening match, you’ll need to know the important details of when and where it is, as well as what you can actually wager on. This page has all that covered so you can just focus on having fun.

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Table of Content

Everything you need to know about the World Cup 2022 opening match
Can I bet on the World Cup opening match?
Conclusion: The opening match for the World Cup 2022 sets the stage

Everything you need to know about the World Cup 2022 opening match

The World Cup tournament will begin at 4pm on 20th November at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, when hosts Qatar take on Ecuador. Fans in the UK can watch the event live on the BBC iPlayer.

Originally, the inaugural match did not include Qatar. However, the opening ceremony was moved a day earlier to allow the host nation to play the opening match of the World Cup 2022, in keeping with tournament tradition.

Both teams are part of Group A. At this stage, each team plays three matches, with a win being worth three points, and a draw being worth one. The top two teams from each group will make their way to the knockout stages.

The other teams in Group A include Senegal and the Netherlands, with the latter being the favourite of the group. Qatar is actually considered to be the underdog in their group, so their performance in this FIFA World Cup 2022 opening match will be very illuminating.

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Can I bet on the World Cup opening match?

Yes! You can bet on every World Cup fixture, including the opening clash between Qatar and Ecuador. There’s plenty of different markets to choose from, including the popular Win markets, where you decide who you think will emerge victorious. Keep in mind too that a draw is also possible, with no extra time or penalty markets in the group stages.

Despite having the home field advantage and besting Ecuador 4-3 back in 2018, Qatar are considered underdogs in the Win market. Additional popular World Cup markets, to give a few examples, include the following:

To Win To Nil

Your pick must win with a clean sheet.

Draw No Bet

Remove the impact of the draw market from your odds.

Both Teams to Score

No matter the result, if both teams taste the back of the net, you’re a winner.

Total Goals Over/Under

Predict whether the total amount of goals scored will be over or under an amount set by the bookmaker.

Team to Score First

For better or worse, your wager is over the moment the first goal is scored.

To be clear, these are just a handful of popular World Cup betting markets. When it comes to FIFA World Cup betting, it’s not uncommon for a betting site to have several dozens of markets per fixture. Do note too that live betting markets will also become available once the game begins.

Conclusion: The opening match for the World Cup 2022 sets the stage

Make no mistake, the World Cup opening match is going to be one you don’t want to miss. It sets the tone for the whole tournament, and like a grand sporting starter, gives a flavour as to what’s to come. Plus, it’s easy to watch, kicking off at 4pm on the BBC.

On top of that, there’s lots of great betting markets available from all good sportsbooks that cover football, with competitive odds and an abundance of markets.

So, if you want to check out the opening match of the World Cup but don’t know who to back, there’s plenty of other wagering options to suit you. And if you’re lucky, you may see a decent return. It’s the perfect welcome back to what is arguably football’s finest tournament.

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