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.
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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