Qatar 2022 World Cup Officially Kicks Off With Colourful Opening Ceremony

The long awaited Qatar 2022 World Cup officially commenced today (Sunday) with a colourful opening ceremony inside the Al Bayt stadium.

Veteran Hollywood actor, Morgan Freeman, kicked off the World Cup opening ceremony in front of the country’s royals.

Freeman narrated the event’s opening segment titled ‘The Calling’, telling viewers ‘we all gather here in one big tribe’ as fans descended on Doha city centre for the opening game.

Hollywood star Morgan Freeman

He spoke with Qatari entrepreneur Ghanim al Muftah – a FIFA World Cup Ambassador who was born with Caudal Regression Syndrome, a rare disorder which impairs the development of the lower spine – who said: “We sent out the call because everyone is welcome. This is an invitation to the whole world.”

Freeman replied: “I remember, even after hearing the call, instead of seeing another way, we dismissed it and demanded our own way. And now the world feels even more distant and divided.”

Qatar 2022 World Cup mascot

A show then unfolded on the pitch featuring hordes of dancers, a light show, camels and a performance of a new tournament song called Dreamers featuring singer Jung Kook of K-pop boy band BTS, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.

Also Read: 2022 World Cup: Why Messi, Neymar May Struggle In Qatar –Hoddle

This year’s edition will run from run 20 November to 18 December 2022.

This is the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world, and the second World Cup held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.

The opening match is between host Qatar and Ecuador.