The sporting weekend in pictures
The World Cup began with a spectacular opening ceremony but hosts Qatar stumbled, while Novak Djokovic and Max Verstappen were celebrating elsewhere.
Qatar became the first hosts to lose an opening match in the World Cup’s 92-year history as the tournament finally got underway.
In Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen claimed victory at Formula One’s season-ending Grand Prix – as Lewis Hamilton’s record of winning in every season of his career went up in smoke with a forced retirement.
In the absence of the Premier League the domestic focused shifted to the Women’s Super League, where Chelsea returned to the summit of the table and welcomed Emma Hayes back to the dugout with a 3-0 win over Tottenham.
The Autumn internationals continued with a shock defeat to Georgia for Wales while England came back to draw against New Zealand.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best images from an action-packed weekend of sporting action.
![The World Cup finally got underway in Qatar with an opening ceremony ahead of the first game](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/0661ed00beed734e0514b6a83fd7e84fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYyMTMw/2.69866733.jpg?w=640)
![Morgan Freeman even formed a part of the opening ceremony](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/a741c977e02e750233839153e6dfcecaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYyMjE5/2.69866284.jpg?w=640)
![Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scored as his side beat Qatar 2-0](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/c08f70245539530f479b41638eb35823Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYyMjk3/2.69872637.jpg?w=640)
![Verstappen capped off a Championship-winning year with victory in the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/f3bfc0a9b09427a61295515f66301d82Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYyMzUz/2.69866690.jpg?w=640)
![England snatched an incredible draw, holding New Zealand to a 25-25 result in the final seconds](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/167b4a87134b966649432d669b075839Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYyNDU0/2.69856061.jpg?w=640)
![Wales suffered an embarrassing 13-12 defeat to Georgia at the Principality Stadium](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/4fdfbdedb15d94aa42e4f1f70fe95a4eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYyNjA1/2.69851321.jpg?w=640)
![Emma Hayes returned to the dugout as Chelsea reclaimed top spot in the Women’s Super League table with a 3-0 win over Tottenham](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/087efa445d2ab470b73628f74bba7ee3Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYzNDgy/2.69866795.jpg?w=640)
![Rachel Furness scored a last-gasp equaliser as Liverpool drew 3-3 with 10-woman Brighton](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/550e17324f610fcbaad645884f283c28Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYzNTg2/2.69868493.jpg?w=640)
![Novak Djokovic beat Casper Ruud to win a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/f2f66955d4c9f02ccebab89e54505a08Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYzNjkw/2.69873077.jpg?w=640)
![Ireland overcame the loss of captain Johnny Sexton to cap the year with a 13-10 win over Australia](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/5f1c26c52b1b9e38883266fb2f2df674Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjY5MDYzODE4/2.69857301.jpg?w=640)