Before the World Cup opening game on Wednesday (November 23, 2022) against Japan, the German national team has a program that looks different from previous tournaments. Despite the short distances, a move is pending.
The day before the match is abbreviated as “MD-1” in FIFA diaries – Matchday minus one. For the German national team, as well as for all other teams, the program at the World Cup in Qatar differs from that of previous tournaments. Due to the busy schedule and only eight stadiums in and around Doha, teams will train at the “MD-1” at their base and not at the stadium where the upcoming match will be played.
Moved to Doha despite short distances
The elite selection of the German Football Association (DFB) will be on the pitch relatively early on Tuesday (November 22, 2022) in Al Ruwais, a good 100 kilometers north of Doha on the Persian Gulf. The training begins at 10 a.m. local time, i.e. at 8 a.m. German time. In the afternoon, the German entourage will move to the hotel in Doha. From there, the journey to the Khalifa International Stadium, where the game will be played on Wednesday (2 p.m. CET, live on Erste and streamed on sportschau.de), will only take a good 20 minutes.
For a transfer from the luxury resort on the northern tip to the Khalifa Stadium, the bus would need more than an hour, even with a police escort.
Flick and Kimmich at match day PK
The press conferences at “MD-1”, always held at the venue at other tournaments, will take place in Qatar at the International Broadcasting Center (IBC). The extensive media center with several large halls for such conferences is housed in a trade fair complex. From 4.15 p.m. German time, national coach Hansi Flick and Joshua Kimmich will answer questions from the media.
The participation of the head coach and at least one player is required by FIFA. Because of the debate about the withdrawal of the DFB and other European football associations on the “One Love” captain’s armband, the press conference is guaranteed to also deal with political issues.
Faeser and Neuendorf meet with German fans
Another date that was added to the program by the DFB at short notice is therefore also interesting. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser, who is traveling to Qatar on Tuesday and will also be in the stadium for the game against Japan, will visit the contact point for German fans, the so-called “Mobile Fan Embassy”, together with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf from 5 p.m.
It should also be about the “One Love” bandage. On Monday, during a visit to Turkey, the social democrat Faeser was critical of FIFA, whose threat of sporting consequences for wearing the bandage sparked an escalation in the long-standing dispute between President Gianni Infantino and the European association UEFA.