The first World Cup to be held in the Middle East has kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony inside Al Bayt Stadium, a facility designed to resemble a traditional Bedouin tent.
The 30-minute show featured performances by international and local actors, singers and dancers, including Hollywood star Morgan Freeman, K-pop sensation Jungkook of South Korean superband BTS and Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi.
It culminated with a dazzling firework display that lit up the sky above the stadium, 44km (27 miles) north of Qatar’s capital, Doha.
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La’eeb, the mascot of the World Cup, soars into the sky during the opening ceremony. The mascot’s name in Arabic means super-skilled player, and it is inspired by the ghutra, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
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About 60,000 fans packed into Al Bayt Stadium, whose exterior was designed to resemble a traditional Bedouin tent. [Al Jazeera]Organisers said the ceremony’s seven-act narration was guided by “a strong visual concept, a bespoke musical project and world class talents, interlacing Qatari tradition with worldwide culture”. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]A giant replica of the World Cup trophy was a centrepiece of the opening ceremony. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]Qatari fans arrived early to show their support for the Maroons, the nickname of the national team, in their first-ever World Cup appearance. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]The opening of the tournament was the culmination of 12 years of preparations for Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
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Hollywood star Morgan Freeman appeared on the pitch alongside Ghanim Al Muftah, a 20-year-old Qatari man who was born with a rare condition that impairs the development of the lower spine. “How can so many countries, languages and cultures come together if only one way is accepted?” Freeman asked. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]The opening ceremony included a performance of al-Ardha, a traditional sword dance, which was originally a war display but now appears at all kinds of of traditional events. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]The theme of the opening ceremony aimed to spread a message of unity, respect and inclusion. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
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