The 2022 FIFA World Cup was inaugurated today, Sunday, in Qatar before sixty thousand spectators led by the Emir of the country, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who delivered a speech on the occasion welcoming the attendees and calling for investing in the human depth of the sporting event and rejecting disputes.

The opening ceremony lasted 30 minutes and included a program consisting of seven segments performed by international artists, blending Qatari traditions and global culture, while celebrating the 32 participating teams, the previous World Cup host countries, and the tournament volunteers.

The Al Bayt Stadium in the northern city of Al Khor, about fifty kilometers from the Qatari capital Doha, also hosted the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who led the crowds at Al Bayt Stadium north of the capital Doha, where the hosts played their first match against Ecuador in Group A competition, said: "Starting from this evening and for 28 days."

The opening ceremony commenced with Quranic verses on the closeness between peoples and witnessed the presence of famous American actor Morgan Freeman and a recollection of previous World Cup editions. The Emir of Qatar, who was seated beside his father, said: "From Qatar, from the Arab lands, we welcome everyone to the 2022 World Cup." He added, "We have worked, along with many others, to make it one of the most successful tournaments; we exerted effort and invested in goodness for all humanity, and finally, we have reached the opening day that you have eagerly awaited." He continued: "People of various races, nationalities, beliefs, and orientations will gather here in Qatar and across all continents to participate at the same moment," noting that "How beautiful it is for people to put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what unites them at the same time."

After that, FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a brief speech in Arabic in which he said, "My dear football family, welcome to Al Bayt Stadium. Congratulations, a thousand congratulations." Before adding in English that "Football unites the world, let the show begin."

Also, several heads of state and government participated in the ceremony, including the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Presidents of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairman of the International Olympic Committee, German Thomas Bach, were also present.