The World Cup begins with Qatar’s ruler’s call to put aside differences.

Presidents of Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, and the United Nations General Secretary all join the crown prince of Saudi Arabia for the inauguration ceremony.
The first-ever Middle Eastern tournament and the priciest in the competition’s history, it represents the pinnacle of Qatar’s “soft power” campaign.
Crowds of fans have already begun arriving in Qatar, but the real influx won’t begin until later this week.
ALI AL KHOR: Despite widespread criticism of the host country for its treatment of foreign labor and LGBT rights, Qatar’s ruler launched the World Cup on Sunday by urging people of all colors and orientations to set aside their differences and enjoy the event together.

The Muslim Gulf state has disputed allegations of labor maltreatment and discrimination and is betting its reputation on hosting a successful tournament. FIFA, the governing body, is hoping the attention will now go to the actual play on the field.

The organizers have also refuted claims that they bribed their way into hosting soccer’s biggest tournament.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani told the gathering in a tent-shaped stadium that people of “all races, nations, beliefs, and orientations” will congregate in Qatar and around screens across the continents to partake in the thrilling moments.

During the event, in which he kissed the hand of his father, who abdicated in 2013, the emir said, “How lovely it is that people can set aside what divides them to celebrate their variety and what draws them together at the same time.”

A cheering audience greeted Tamim upon his arrival at Al Bayt stadium, where he sat with other Arab leaders and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Camels, American actor Morgan Freeman, Jungkook of Korean boy band BTS, and Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi put on a show for the crowd on the field. The night sky exploded with fireworks.

There were many world leaders present, including the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, the presidents of Egypt, Turkey, and Algeria, and the secretary general of the United Nations, and the game ended with Ecuador’s 2-0 victory over Qatar, making them the first hosts to lose their opening game at a World Cup.

Influence without force
After a 3-and-a-half-year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, the tournament in Qatar will be the region’s first and the most expensive ever in 2021.

The United Arab Emirates, whose warming relations with Doha have lagged behind those of Riyadh and Cairo, dispatched their vice president, who also serves as ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup supporters have chosen to stay.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi slapped hands in Doha, a symbol of thawing relations between their countries.

Snapshot from the opening ceremony, courtesy of Reuters
Broad Shot of the Opening Ceremonies – Reuters
In addition, thanks to a contract brokered by FIFA, there is now a direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Doha.

Qatar is hosting the tournament in the hopes that it will help solidify the country’s position on the international stage, send a message of strength to its regional adversaries, and calm locals’ nerves in the face of increasing criticism.

Team captains from Denmark and Germany will wear “One Love” armbands as they get ready to compete in a strict Muslim state where same-sex partnerships are prohibited. The event’s organizers welcome everyone but urge caution when showing affection in public.

Causing mayhem at a fan convention
Many eager spectators have already arrived in Doha, but the real rush won’t begin until later in the week. Still, an hour before the game started, chaos ensued inside and outside the fan event because organizers let in too many fans.

More than a third of Qatar’s population, which consists primarily of foreign workers who greatly outnumber Qatari natives, is expected to visit the city, making crowd control a top priority.

Ahmed Al-Kuwari, 69, a Qatari, stayed at home to watch the opening ceremony and the game with his family. Considering the harsh criticism of Qatar to be “hypocrisy,” he told Reuters that the country had been a “workshop and bees’ nest” during the building boom.

Despite being prohibited inside stadiums, alcoholic beverages are sold at the FIFA Fan Festival and other events. Julio Cesar, an Argentine supporter, predicted a lively atmosphere before the game, adding, “we’ll drink before the match.”

Reuters photo of fans jumping over barriers to escape the fan event crowd.
The gathering at the fan festival is so large that some fans have resorted to jumping over barriers to escape. – Reuters
Dutch player Daniel Oordt felt “continuous pressure” to avoid offending anyone and said, “it’s not a good atmosphere to have at a World Cup.”

Workers who were priced out of the stadiums they helped construct and other event infrastructure can watch the games at a sports facility in an industrial zone on the outskirts of the city. There was no booze available.

“Naturally, I didn’t go out and get a ticket. They’re costly, and I could put that money to better use elsewhere, like supporting my loved ones back in the States “Ghanaian Kasim, who has been working as a security guard in Qatar for four years, spoke to Reuters about his experience there.