A breathtakingly stunning opening ceremony for the 2022 World Cup took place on Sunday at Al-Bayt Stadium before the competition’s opening game between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.
Morgan Freeman, the legendary American actor, participated in the festivities alongside Ghanim Al-Muftah, a popular Qatari YouTuber.
Together with Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi, South Korean pop star Jung Kook sang Dreamers, the tournament’s theme song, in the Al Khor stadium.
With just under 90 minutes remaining until the opening match of the tournament, the ceremony kicked off with Oscar-winning actor Freeman narrating a video about football’s ability to unite.
During the first dance routine, Freeman was greeted by cheers as he appeared in the stadium alongside Al Muftah, who was born with the rare Caudal Regression Syndrome.
“Everyone is welcome,” Freeman told the crowd.
One of the dance routines featured giant walking kits of the 32 teams competing in the tournament and the mascots of previous World Cups alongside La’eeb, the 2022 mascot.
Jung Kook and Fahad Al Kubaisi performed together before Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani delivered the opening speech in Arabic.
“People of different races, nationalities, creeds and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens on all continents to share the same exciting moments,” the emir told the crowd.
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations secretary general, were among world leaders in the tent-shaped stadium ahead of the opening match.
The 30-minute ceremony ended with a fireworks display and another dance routine before the Qatar and Ecuador teams took to the pitch to start their warm-ups.
Source: BBC
