Italian Daniele Orsato will referee Sunday's opening World Cup match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador in Group A, FIFA said on Friday.

Spain coach Luis Enrique has said that if his team cannot triumph at the World Cup in Qatar he would like to see Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez crowned with Argentina and Uruguay respectively.

Brazil's former midfielder Ze Roberto said criticism of Dani Alves' call-up for the World Cup in Qatar was due to a cultural taboo on veterans that was still present in Brazilian football, something that he experienced in his last finals in 2006.

FIFA World Cup 2022 will be the shortest ever -- only 28 days.

This is the first time that the FIFA World Cup is being held in the winter. Breaking the tradition of being held from mid-June to mid-July, the World Cup in Qatar will be held from mid-November to mid-December. 

FIFA WORLD CUP Fixtures (Group Stage)

Belgium were beaten 2-1 by Egypt in a friendly international on Friday in a sobering defeat that belied their status as one of the fancied teams for the World Cup in Qatar.

Robert Lewandowski said on Friday that Poland's World Cup squad had been left in shock earlier this week after the missile strike in his homeland that left two people dead.

Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand said Friday his team will not be silenced over the issue of human rights at the Qatar World Cup and hopes the tournament can spark reforms in football.

Spain dropped injured left-back Jose Gaya from their World Cup squad on Friday, with teenager Alejandro Balde replacing him.

After much discussion and speculation, for the first time in history, the football World Cup is going to be held in November-December. In the last of the four-part series 'Road to QATAR', The Daily Star discussed the strength and potential of the Group  'G' and 'H' teams.

Defending champions France are hoping Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane will be fit enough to feature in their opening World Cup match against Australia, with teammate Adrien Rabiot insisting both are "determined to play".

In a reversal, World Cup organisers will announce on Friday that no alcoholic beer will be sold to fans at Qatar's stadiums, a source with knowledge of the decision told Reuters.

Vinicius Jr. is the symbol of Brazil's outstanding new generation of talent that looks to be peaking at the perfect moment as they arrive in Qatar as favourites to lift a record sixth World Cup.

The Central Bank of Ecuador (CBE) has minted a commemorative coin to mark the South American country's participation in the World Cup in Qatar

Alphonso Davies is on his way to Qatar to join his Canada team mates for the World Cup, coach John Herdman said on Thursday, but may not be fit to play in the team's opener against Belgium.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes his country has an excellent group of players and they are capable of doing well in the World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina's Joaquin Correa and Nicolas Gonzalez have been ruled out of the World Cup due to injuries, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Thursday.

Bruno Fernandes scored twice in the first half and debutant Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario added late goals as Portugal crushed Nigeria 4-0 in a World Cup warm-up in Lisbon on Thursday.

Senegal star Sadio Mane has lost his race to be fit for the 2022 World Cup and has been withdrawn from their squad, the country's football federation announced on Thursday.