Qatar v Ecuador – what the stats say

Qatar and Ecuador have met three times previously, all matches taking place in Qatar – their head-to-head record is perfectly balanced with one win each and one draw (six goals each).

Their last encounter saw Qatar win 4-3 in a friendly in October 2018.

Qatar are taking part in their first-ever Fifa World Cup, while also being the first nation from the Arab world to host the tournament. They’ll attempt to avoid becoming only the second hosts to be knocked out in the first round of a Fifa World Cup, after South Africa in 2010.

The last four opening matches of a Fifa World Cup have produced a total of 17 goals, at an average of 4.25 per game. This is the first time the tournament is kicking off on a Sunday since the 1982 edition, with Belgium beating holders Argentina 1-0 in Barcelona.

Senegal are the last Fifa World Cup debutant to win their first-ever match at the tournament, beating defending champions France 1-0 in the 2002 edition.

Qatar have won all three of their previous matches played at Al Bayt Stadium, with an aggregate scoreline of 9-0.

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Qatar are looking to become the first nation from the AFC confederation to win their first-ever Fifa World Cup match. 10 of the previous 11 such sides have lost (including Israel in 1970), with Kuwait in 1982 the only side to avoid defeat (1-1 v Czechoslovakia).

Ecuador’s best performance at the Fifa World Cup to date came back in 2006 when they reached the round of 16. That tournament marks the only occasion that they have won their opening group match, beating Poland 2-0.

Only one of Ecuador’s 10 matches at the Fifa World Cup has ended in a draw (W4 L5), a goalless draw with France in their last group game in 2014.

The average age of Ecuador’s starting XIs during Conmebol World Cup qualifying was 25 years and 334 days, comfortably the youngest of any South American side. They scored 27 goals in the process, their highest tally in a single qualifying edition for the World Cup.

Qatar striker Almoez Ali was the top scorer in his side’s victorious 2019 AFC Asian Cup campaign, netting nine goals (from 10 shots on target) in seven games. It’s the most a player has scored in a single edition of the tournament.

Ecuador left-back Pervis Estupiñan created 22 chances for teammates during South American World Cup qualification, the most of any defender.