Ecuador are confident that Enner Valencia, who got both goals in their 2-0 win over hosts Qatar on Sunday, will be fit to play despite some concerns over a knee sprain.

Van Gaal was joined at the news conference by man of the match Gakpo, who was happy to shoulder some of the creative burden caused by Depay's absence by making the most of seeing Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy coming off his line.

The first half of Monday's World Cup Group A match between Senegal and the Netherlands ended 0-0 at Al Thumama Stadium as the Dutch were left to rue missed chances.

Taking selfies from the stands and sitting on the grassy pitch, thousands of migrant workers gathered in a Doha stadium to watch the opening match of the first World Cup in the Middle East.

Thousands of euphoric Ecuadoreans celebrated on Sunday in various cities around the South American nation after the country's historic victory against host nation Qatar in the opening game of the soccer World Cup.

Valencia, who was taken off for the last 15 minutes of Sunday's Group A game, has had a decade-long career in the Ecuador side, starting off as a winger but being converted to a striker in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.

Valencia double gives Ecuador 2-0 halftime lead against hosts Qatar

The venue has a capacity of 40,000 but at least double that number of people tried to make their way in

The biggest fan party has started in Qatar, take a look:

Ecuador mints commemorative coin to mark World Cup participation.

Here's what you need to know about the opening ceremony of the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup in Qatar

Romanian Itsvan Kovacs will be the fourth referee.

Though many outsiders expect Qatar to be soundly drubbed in all three games, home fans know forwards Akram Afif and Almoez Ali have both talent and experience and pray they can penetrate an Ecuador team themselves struggling to score of late.

Just a few days back it seemed like Qatar, which has strict controls on alcohol, would relax their laws for the football extravaganza as consuming alcohol in public places is illegal in the Gulf country.

Sadio Mane injured his right fibula playing for German club Bayern Munich.

Spectators have been urged to respect Qatar's legal and cultural norms, including its restrictions on drinking, drugs, sexual activity, and attire.

The decision to award Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup has been marred by controversy, including allegations of corruption and human rights violations, since it was first announced 12 years ago, ensuring how the host country treats visitors will be heavily scrutinised.

Here's what you need to know about the opening ceremony that will take place ahead of the November 20-December 18 World Cup in Qatar:

World Cup 2022: start date, schedule, teams, venues and final

Eight stadiums in Doha will host 64 matches at the World Cup.

Following are the teams in eight groups for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Qatar from November 20-December 18.

Why will JioCinema live-stream the FIFA World Cup 2022 games for free?

The winners of the Natural History Museum's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced at an awards ceremony in London. American photographer Karine Aigner was announced as this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Senegal's best World Cup performance was its debut in 2002 when it beat defending champion France in one of the tournament's great upsets and became only the second African team after Cameroon in 1990 to reach the quarterfinals.

The trend has generated a wave of social media memes and satire, and even the creation of an app that allows you to track where to get the coveted stickers. New stock has been selling out in a matter of hours.

Normally the ceremony is conducted before the kick-off of the first game of the tournament.

List of French Open men's singles champions:

The extradition case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, wanted in the US over the alleged leak of classified documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sent to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel on Wednesday.

The US has realised that China is cutting lucrative deals in South America as more nations are joining Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.

Following is reaction to the 2022 FIFA World Cup draw, which was held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Qatar on Friday.

The football world gathered in the Qatari capital on Friday as the draw ceremony for the World Cup finals got under way with music and dance.

The South American Football Confederation said Suarez's 29 goals came in 62 games, two games more than Messi, and his latest was typically spectacular, a bicycle kick from four meters out with 11 minutes remaining.

Images and a round-up of all the World Cup qualifiers played across continents on Tuesday.

Friday's game marked Messi's return to the national side after being rested for Argentina's previous two World Cup qualifiers

Uruguay and Ecuador secured their spots at the World Cup, joining Brazil and Argentina as qualifiers from the South America

Quaison fires Sweden to extra-time World Cup playoff win over Czechs

The 50-year-old's lawyers had argued that he should not be taken to the US because of a real and 'oppressive' risk of suicide and won the right to appeal in Britain's highest court.

France, who were 2-0 up courtesy of Arthur Rinderknech and Adrian Mannarino, faced little resistance from Ecuador as wins for Benjamin Bonzi and the doubles pair of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicholas Mahut secured victory for the 10-times champions.

Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said cryptocurrencies are a "threat to macroeconomic and financial stability" and cautioned investors against punting on them, days after the Union government's move to tax the gains made from cryptocurrency trades. In the Union Budget for 2022-23 presented in Parliament on February 1, the government proposed levying a 30 per cent tax on gains made on cryptocurrency trades by investors and the announcement was welcomed by cryptocurrency industry players, saying it legitimises their trades. Das invoked the 17th century 'tulip mania', widely considered to be the first financial bubble, to caution investors, saying the cryptocurrencies do not even possess the value of the exotic flower.

Brazil scored twice in the last four minutes, the second a first international goal from Real Madrid striker Rodrygo, to cap a comfortable 4-0 win over Paraguay in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Belo Horizonte.