How to watch Qatar v Ecuador: Watch the 2022 World Cup opener on free TV live in 4K

How to watch Qatar v Ecuador: The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off this weekend as host country Qatar take on Ecuador. Here's how to watch on TV and online for free.

Qatar versus Ecuador. Hmm. It's not exactly the most exciting opening match of the World Cup, is it? It hardly has the potential of an Argentina v Cameroon in 1990, or a France v Senegal in 2002… or even Brazil's close race against Scotland in 1998.

Anyway, for some reason FIFA has decided that holders should no longer play the first game. We are not happy with it, but it is a bit the norm for this World Cup, which seems to be suffered rather than appreciated. The time of year is wrong, the politics are wrong…

To be honest, we don't really have much to say about the 51st (yes, yes) and 46th best teams in the world, respectively, but the game itself will be interesting in terms of management, the number of people who actually come to the game, and what kind of show the host country can put on amid all the controversy over who awarded the tournament in the first place.

Here's how to watch Qatar vs Ecuador on the best TV, smartphone or laptop you have at home.

Kick off time Qatar vs Ecuador

Qatar v Ecuador kicks off at 16:00pm UK time on Sunday 20 November. The match will be played at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. The stadium, which has a capacity of 60 and a retractable roof, will be used for the first time during the World Cup. The less said about its construction, the better.

How to watch Qatar vs Ecuador live on free tv online?

Every match of the 2022 World Cup will be able to be watched on TV or streamed live online for free in the UK. The BBC and ITV again share the rights, but the Beeb has the honor of opening the tournament. Coverage begins at 15:00 p.m. UK time on BBC One HD. You can join Gary Lineker and co. in the host country.

You can also watch the live stream on the BBC website or watch on the BBC iPlayer app.

Is Qatar v Ecuador available to watch in 4K?

The 33 games the BBC has the rights to will be streamed in 4K via the BBC iPlayer app for smart TVs. The resolution comes with the high dynamic range HLG format, which means a premium viewing experience will be available for free for Qatar vs Ecuador.

You will need a TV compatible with the latest version of the iPlayer app to tune in to content marked "UHD". Live coverage can be found on the iPlayer homepage or in the Sports category. Here are the supported TVs. If you bought a 4K TV within the last 4 years or so, you should be able to access it.

Watch securely with a VPN

If you regularly watch live sports online, you can boost your online privacy with a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It works by hiding your IP address from potential spies and malefactors. You can read our guide to the best VPNs before streaming the games. If you are looking for a safe and secure VPN, we recommend Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection for high-level sports streaming.