Between 1974 and 2002, the defending champions were always involved in the opening match. However, from 2006 to 2018, the previous winners no longer qualified automatically and so it was decided that the host nation should be involved in the opening match.
Russia thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 at the last World Cup back in 2018, extending the unbeaten run of tournament hosts when playing on their home soil in the first fixture. The last time the…
QATARNEWS.Club™ publishes and aggregates business, cultural, socio-economic, Tech and industrial news on UAE, Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Press release distribution services
We provide press release distribution to media in Qatar, the Arab world and the GCC/MENA regions. Submit a press release today or contact us.
QatarNews.Club™ is part of GroupWeb Media Network. © 2025 GroupWeb Media LLC
