It has been a four-year wait for England. For Wales, it’s a little too late. Over sixty years in fact.
The opening day of the 2022 World Cup featured just one match – Ecuador’s low-key win over hosts Qatar – but the action begins on Monday when Group B rivals England and Wales begin their respective campaigns.
The Three Lions, who face Iran (13:00 GMT), are desperate for another crack at football’s biggest prize since crashing out at the semi-final stage in Russia four years ago. .
But when Wales take on the USA at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium (19:00), it will be a 64-year-old dream come true.
Simply put, it’s going to be a big day for both countries.
The World Cup has the power to bring a country to a standstill.
On Monday, lunch breaks will definitely be taken. The office television is likely to have football on. And yes, some school kids might be lucky enough to watch a match between lessons.
No one will want to miss England’s opener against Iran.
While Gareth Southgate’s side came under fire after being relegated to the Nations League, England have captured the nation’s imagination in their last two tournaments.
After finishing fourth at the 2018 World Cup, they came close at last summer’s European Championships, losing to Italy on penalties in the final at Wembley.
“We’ve taken our supporters on a fantastic journey over the past few years,” Southgate said.
Now, Southgate and his players want to take England fans on another journey as they look to end 56 years of World Cup suffering.
“Our country is going through a difficult time as we speak,” Southgate added. “Life has become difficult for our people – we are going through an economic recession – and we want a journey that brings them real joy.”
