FIFA set to change 2022 World Cup start date after Qatar request - are England affected?

Between 1974 and 2002, the defending champions were always involved in the opener. However, from 2006 to 2018, previous winners no longer qualified automatically and so it was decided that the host country should be involved in the opening game.

Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 at the last World Cup in 2018, extending the tournament hosts' unbeaten streak when they played at home in the first game. The last time the opener was between non-host nations was in 1998, when Brazil beat Scotland 2-1 at the Stade de France.

The revised schedule means the World Cup would start on November 20, not the next day.

Thus, there will be a match to be played that day between Qatar and Ecuador. On November 21, there will now be three games to play instead of four.

While England's game against Iran will technically become the second game of the tournament, the changes won't affect their plans. Instead, their match will start at the same time as originally scheduled at 4:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. GMT).