World Cup 2022: England fans DELAYED into the stadium for opening game

Local England Fans during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
(Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

England will start World Cup 2022 without a large proportion of their fans in the stadium.

According to the BBC, England fans have been held up outside the stadium queueing with the ticketing app failing for Three Lions supporters. The game has not been delayed as a result. 

The Khalifa International Stadium is the only stadium that had existed prior to Qatar winning the bid to host the tournament. It holds 45,000 spectators but the ground is only half full today.

The England player Harry Kane during the match Italy-England at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium. Milan (Italy), September 23rd, 2022

England begin their World Cup 2022 campaign at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha but only have a percentage of their fans within the stadium to see it begin (Image credit: Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

England began the game with a controversial decision, as Iran saw themselves get away with a potential penalty within three minutes. 

Harry Maguire was pulled to the ground within the six-yard box after a corner but the Brazilian referee and Uruguayan video assistant referee both decided that it wasn't a penalty. 

The noise within the stadium has increased as the game has gone on. 

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.