World Cup 2022 Qatar vs Ecuador Tips and Predictions

The opening match of the 2022 World Cup sees hosts Qatar face Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium on November 20th 2022. This will be Qatar’s first ever appearance in the competition and they will begin their Group A campaign at 16:00 local time with a tough-looking contest against the South American nation.

It is the third time that Ecuador have competed in this international extravaganza and having failed to qualify for Russia 2018, they will be determined to get off to a good start. They finished fourth in the South American qualifying section, although they won just one of their final five matches.

10Bet are one of the top World Cup betting sites in the UK and they have priced up Ecuador at the 23/20 favourites. Despite playing the role as hosts, Qatar are considered outsiders at 23/10 in the betting odds due to their inexperience at this elite level of competition.

• These two sides have faced one another on just one previous occasion. Qatar ran out 4-3 winners in a thoroughly entertaining international friendly back in October 2018.
• Qatar – Finished top of Group A at the 2021 Arab Cup and conceded just once during the group stage.
• Ecuador – Narrowly beat Honduras at the 2014 World Cup in their second group game. They finished third in Group E and failed to progress to the knock-out stages.

Ecuador competed admirably during the qualifying stages and conceded just 19 times. Coach Gustavo Alfaro has lost just eight of his 29 matches in charge and they should have too much quality for Qatar.

ECUADOR TO WIN

Only four of the last 12 World Cup opening matches have featured three or more goals and this is unlikely to be a high-scoring 90 minutes. Qatar lack quality going forward, but they are stubborn at the back and Ecuador aren’t as effective outside of South America.

UNDER 2.5 GOALS

Veteran striker Enner Valencia scored a 90th minute equaliser in Ecuador’s 1-1 with Argentina at the end of the qualifying stage. He’s enjoyed a prolific start to the season for Fenerbahce and could be the man to unlock the Qatar defence.

ENNER VALENCIA – ANYTIME GOALSCORER

Qatar

This will be Qatar’s first World Cup appearance and their primary target will be to qualify for the knock-out stage. With in-form Netherlands and the potentially tricky Senegal also drawn in Group A, this contest will be viewed as potentially their most winnable group stage contest.

Key Players: Akram Afif and Almoez Ali

Team News: Qatar have virtually a full squad to select from. Abdullah Al-Ahrak is the only player to miss out. Felix Sanchez will be relying upon the firepower of Almoez Ali and Akram Afif, who have formed a deadly partnership.

Predicted Lineups: Meshaal Barsham, Boualem Khoukhi, Tarek Salman, Homan Ahmed, Abdulaziz Hatem, Ismaael Mohammed, Assim Madibo, Abdullah Abdulsalam, Mohammed Waad, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif.

Ecuador

Ecuador will be competing in their fourth World Cup and have only won one of their three opening group games (vs Poland in 2006). They finished above Peru, Chile and Colombia during the qualifying and having held Argentina to a 1-1 draw in their final match, they will fancy their chances of success here.

Key Players: Michael Estrada

Team News: Ecuador are sweating over the fitness of both Robert Arboleda and Ayrton Preciado, who have both been injured since the summer. Gustavo Alfaro could give them chance to improve their fitness in a friendly against Iraq on November 12th. If they can come through that game unscathed, they are likely to play some part in this opening fixture.

Predicted Lineups: Hernan Galindez, Robert Arboleda, Pervis Estupinan, Byron Castillo, Piero Hincapie, Carlos Gruezo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Plata, Moises Caicedo, Romario Ibarra, Michael Estrada.

Ecuador proved to be more than a match for many of their fellow South American outfits during qualifying and they will be expected to win this contest. They may have to settle for a narrow victory as Qatar can be tough to break down and will be keen to avoid an opening day defeat.

Bet on Ecuador to Win