Despite the controversy surrounding Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, the state put on a spectacular opening ceremony. The emir welcomed the world to the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East. Qatar has spent $200 billion preparing for the tournament, which is being staged in seven stadiums. But while the ceremony was a dazzling advert for the state, it was also criticized for the state’s human rights record. During the ceremony, hundreds of dancers performed a traditional dance to the song “Welcome World Cup” and tens of thousands of fans cheered for the state.
The stadium is called Al Bayt Stadium and is located in the north of Doha. It has a capacity of 60,000 people. According to organisers, the stadium is currently at half capacity. The stadium was designed in the shape of a bedouin tent. It has a tapestry ceiling and strobe lights. There are also wraparound sunglasses and shirtless drummers.
The opening ceremony was hosted by the Qatari emir and featured seven acts. The Emir addressed the crowd in various languages. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and the Qatari royals attended the ceremony alongside other Arab leaders. They also signed the official World Cup shirt.
A video sequence featuring a dream to kick a soccer ball was also shown. It led to a tent-shaped Al Bayt Stadium. During the ceremony, a mascot named La’eeb (Arabic for’super-skilled player’) was revealed. This is Qatar’s 2022 mascot and looks like a cross between a Casper the Friendly Ghost and Pillsbury Doughboy.
BTS singer Jungkook performed for the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Jungkook is the first Korean to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony. He also released a new song, “Dreamers”, which is the official song for the tournament. The singer has five Grammy nominations.
Another highlight of the ceremony was a performance by Qatari artist Fahad Al Kubaisi. Al Kubaisi is a singer, model, human rights activist, and producer. His performance is expected to be the highlight of the show.
The opening ceremony also included a speech by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Guterres spoke in Spanish and Arabic. He was one of the many world leaders who attended the ceremony. Other leaders who attended include Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Senegalese President Macky Sall, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The ceremony also featured a studio orchestra and flying LED screen. A drone was also spotted in the sky, creating a visual splash with fans. It also featured a giant gold trophy at the center of the pitch. The ceremony lasted approximately 30 minutes.
The ceremony was followed by an opening match between Qatar and Ecuador. Ecuador managed to score three goals before the half. The opening game was won by Ecuador, which dominated the second half. But Ecuador keeper Enner Valancia missed a free kick in the box. Ecuador’s keeper also flubbed a penalty kick during the match.
