Here’s everything you need to know about the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which runs from November 20 to December 18:
When is the opening ceremony going to take place?
The World Cup’s opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, prior to the first Group A match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.
The original plan was for the opening ceremony to take place before Qatar’s first game on Monday, creating the unusual situation of two games taking place before it. Qatar’s first match was then moved up by a day.
Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso has announced that he will not attend his country’s high-profile opening match due to domestic unrest.
When and where will the opening ceremony be held?
The opening ceremony will take place at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Doha.
The Al Bayt Stadium, named and designed after the tents used by Gulf nomads, is the farthest venue from central Doha but also one of the largest, with a retractable roof.
Who will perform during the opening ceremony?
FIFA has yet to release the complete list of performers for the opening ceremony.
South Korean boy band BTS announced that Jungkook, one of seven members, would perform a song titled “Dreamers” at the ceremony.
The Black Eyed Peas, Robbie Williams, and Indian-Canadian performer Nora Fatehi have also been mentioned as possible performers at the opening ceremony.
Williams said it would be “hypocritical” of him not to perform in Qatar in an excerpt from an interview with Italy’s Il Venerd di Repubblica, which will be published next month.
Dua Lipa, a British singer, has denied reports that she will perform. According to some Spanish media reports, Shakira will also not perform.
To read our blog on “FIFA has urged World Cup teams to ‘focus on football’ in Qatar,” click here
