The long wait is almost over, as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is just hours away from starting, with millions of fans preparing for the tournament’s most exciting and intriguing moments.
Prior to 2022, the World Cup had never been held in the winter. The global event has never been held in the Middle East.
So, when Qatar kicks off the competition against Ecuador this Sunday, football fans and pundits are in for a wild ride.
Interestingly, the opening ceremony was supposed to take place before Qatar’s first game on Monday, creating the unusual situation of two games preceding it. The first game in Qatar was then pushed forward by one day.
The 60,000-seat Al Bayt Stadium, located 40 kilometres north of Doha, will host the opening ceremony. The Al Bayt Stadium, which is the most remote but also one of the largest venues from central Doha, is named after and modelled after the nomadic tents used in the Gulf. It also has a retractable roof.
The stadium was one of seven stadiums built for the tournament and opened in November 2021. It hosted the opening match of the 2021 Arab Cup between Qatar and Bahrain.
The Al Bayt Stadium will host six group games, a Round of 16 clash and a semi-final at the 2022 World Cup.