After a gruelling 12-year build-up marred by off-field controversy, the month-long football extravaganza finally gets under way on Sunday with host nation Qatar taking on Ecuador.
The first World Cup to be held in the Arab world will kick off in the Bedouin-tent-inspired Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, 50 kilometres (31 miles) outside of Doha, with foreign dignitaries, VIPs, and celebrities in attendance.
The stadium is one of many brand-new ones constructed for the competition, which is reported to have cost Qatar $200 billion.
The 30-minute opening ceremony will feature South Korean K-pop sensation Jung Kook as its main act and will focus on “humanity, respect, and inclusivity,” according to organisers on Sunday.
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The commencement of the World Cup is intended to end the controversy that has dogged preparations ever since Qatar was selected as the host nation in a shocking FIFA vote in 2010.
The pre-tournament headlines have been dominated by Qatar’s handling of migrant workers and the Gulf state’s human rights record.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, launched an impassioned defence of the event on Saturday, claiming that much of the criticism was unjustified.
“This moral lesson-giving — one-sided — is just hypocrisy,” Infantino said.
“I don’t want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust.”
Even after the tournament action begins, controversies seem destined to continue.
England, Germany, Denmark, and other participating European countries have announced that their players will wear rainbow-colored “OneLove” armbands as a show of support for the LGBTQ population. In Qatar, homosexuality is forbidden.
The action increases the possibility of disciplinary action from FIFA, who on Saturday disclosed plans to provide teams with their own alternate armbands.
Infantino reiterated that all World Cup guests, regardless of sexual orientation, will be welcomed.
“I’ve been speaking about this topic with the highest leadership,” he said. “They can confirm that I can confirm that everyone is welcome.”
Now that all 32 World Cup teams have arrived, five-time champions Brazil were the last to land in Doha late on Saturday.
current champions Early on Sunday, it was revealed that France’s renowned striker and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema had been forced to withdraw from the competition due to injuries.
The Real Madrid player was forced to leave a Saturday night workout at the French camp due to a left thigh ailment.
The 34-year-old would need “a rehabilitation period of three weeks,” according to a later statement from the French Federation, and would not compete.
“I am extremely sad for Karim, for whom this World Cup was a major objective,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.
“Despite this new blow for the France team I have full faith in my squad. We will do all we can to rise to the huge challenge that awaits us.”
