Surprise date-change overshadows World Cup 100-day countdown
FIFA and Qatar organisers on Friday counted the cost of bringing forward the start of the World Cup by a day as they launched the 100-day countdown to the event. Football's ruling body and the wealthy Gulf state both promised action to help fans, sponsors and broadcasters hit by the change, announced late Thursday, but did not give details. The sudden move to bring forward Qatar's match against Ecuador by 24 hours -- to make it the gala opening match -- has only added to the public relations concerns as the conservative host country counters criticism of its rights record and fan worries about what to expect when they arrive.
