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View all search resultsWorld Cup starts with stakes high for host
Inside Al Bayt Stadium many seats were still vacant with gridlock on the expressway leading to the arena, where cheers went up as Qatar's team appeared for its opening match.
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T
he World Cup kicked off in Qatar on Sunday with the Muslim nation, which faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights and social restrictions, staking its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament.
In a show of solidarity, Saudi Arabia's crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations secretary-general, are among leaders at the opening ceremony in a tent-shaped stadium ahead of the first match between the hosts and Ecuador.
Qatar, which has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination, and FIFA hope the spotlight will now turn to action on the pitch. Organizers have also denied allegations of bribery for hosting rights.
Inside Al Bayt Stadium many seats were still vacant with gridlock on the expressway leading to the arena, where cheers went up as Qatar's team appeared for its opening match.
Onstage, singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS will perform a new tournament song, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.
The soccer tournament, the first held in the Middle East and the most expensive in its history, is a culmination of Qatar's soft power push, after a three-and-a-half-year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that ended in 2021.
The UAE, whose rapprochement with Doha has been slower than that of Riyadh and Cairo, sent its vice president who is also ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup fans have opted to stay.
