FIFA and Qatar organisers on Friday counted the cost of bringing forward the start of the World Cup by a day as they launched the 100-day countdown to the event. Football’s ruling body and the wealthy Gulf state both promised to help fans, sponsors and broadcasters hit by the change but did not give details. The organising committee said “huge excitement” was building for the World Cup, which will now start on November 20, but only a small group of migrant workers gathered at the main countdown clock on the Doha seafront to see the 100 days tick over.
The sudden move to bring forward Qatar’s match against Ecuador — to make it the gala opening match — has added to Qatar’s public relations battle as it counters criticism of its rights record and fan worries about what to expect when they arrive.
