Fans cheered as the troupe after another took to the stage to make a well prepared performance amid mixtures of old and modern music depicting the heritage of the Arabs and the Qataris in particular.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, speaking at the opening ceremony of soccer’s World Cup, said the event gathered people of all nationalities and beliefs.
“From Qatar, from the Arab world, I welcome everyone to the 2022 World Cup,” he said in a speech at a tent-shaped stadium. “How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together all at once.”
Qatar, the first Arab country to host the major sports event, had built up to eight majestic stadiums in preparation for the event. At least one million of the soccer fans are expected to cram the stadiums, including the iconic Lusail stadium that can accommodate up to 80,000 spectators.
The event kicks off with a match between the team of the host country and Ecuador. Four Arab teams are participating in the championship — Tunisia, Morocco, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.