Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani launched the 2022 World Cup on Sunday with a call for the tournament to be a forum for “civilised communication”.
Sheikh Tamim took centre stage after an elaborate display of dancing in a scene involving swirling desert sands, scimitar swords and 21st century pop stars, all taking place in a stadium styled on a Bedouin tent.
“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,” he told the capacity 60,000 crowd.
#Qatar‘s Emir Sheikh @TamimBinHamad Al-Thani had met regional leaders during the opening ceremony of the #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022. @FIFAWorldCup @KSAmofaEN @HHShkMohd pic.twitter.com/tI0zLTbOrY
— TRENDS (@mena_trends) November 20, 2022
With FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman watching on, he added: “We will follow with the whole world, God willing, the great football festival in this open space for human and civilized communication.”
The ceremony in the Al-Bayt stadium, one of seven built specially for the World Cup at a cost of $6.5 billion, featured Hollywood superstar Morgan Freeman giving a message of diversity.
“We worked with many people to make it one of the most successful tournaments,” said the emir. “We made efforts and invested in the good for all humanity.
“How beautiful it is for people to put aside what separates them in order to celebrate their diversity and what unites them at the same time.”
Qatar lose 2-0 to Ecuador
After fireworks erupted over the stadium, and Infantino welcomed all 32 competing nations to the tournament, Qatar kicked off against Ecuador in the opening match.
Qatar, however, became the first home team to lose their opening World Cup match as Ecuador cruised to a 2-0 victory over the hosts, with Enner Valencia scoring twice in the tournament curtain-raiser on Sunday.
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Asian champions Qatar enjoyed the backing of the majority of the crowd at the Al Bayt Stadium, but could not follow a glitzy opening ceremony with a statement performance.
In the 92-year history of the tournament, home countries had previously won 16 and drawn six of their opening matches.
Saudi Arabia, UAE support the event
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has directed all the Saudi ministries and governmental institutions to provide any additional support or facilitations that their Qatari counterparts may need in support of Qatar’s efforts in the hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said that he will follow the implementation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s directives.
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On behalf of the UAE’s leadership and its people, the Gulf country’s Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum congratulated Qatar’s leadership and its people on the successful inauguration of the mega event.
He said Qatar’s successful hosting of the tournament is an achievement for the Arab world in general and a valuable addition to the Gulf region’s sporting landscape. Sheikh Mohammed wished further progress and prosperity for Qatar.
Erdogan, Sisi meet for the first time
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met on Sunday in Qatar for the first time, a picture from Turkey’s presidency showed.
Erdogan and Sisi have been sparring since the military’s 2013 ouster in Cairo of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, personally backed by Erdogan.
A Turkish official confirmed to AFP the handshake in Doha during the opening ceremony for the World Cup.
Turkey has moved to warm ties with some regional foes including Egypt since last year but Cairo has not shown the same level of enthusiasm for a rapprochement as Ankara has.
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The picture, however, showed a sincere handshake between the two leaders. The Egyptian presidency did not comment on the meeting.
Erdogan hinted that Turkey could revisit strained ties with regional countries including Syria and Egypt after next year’s election.
“We can reconsider ties with the countries that we have problems with,” he was quoted as saying by Turkish media this week aboard his plane returning from a G20 summit in Indonesia.
“We can even start from scratch especially after the June election,” he said.
